Adore [H.S.]

66

I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me) - Jay Z

"I just wanna love you, but be who I am... You know you love me." 

HARRY 

Fuck. London was cold. It was too damn cold and it wasn't even mid September yet. I liked the changing season as much as the next guy, but fuck- I wasn't ready for this weather. 

My jacket didn't keep in the warmth as well as it used to. It's leather growing thin with each wear. I zip up the jacket and pull over my hood. I adjust the beanie that sits underneath, bringing it closer to my forehead so that it covers my freezing ears. It felt like it was already winter and autumn hadn't even fully began. 

Thanks London. You're a dream. 

Each of my fingers felt like the were getting colder by the minute. I stuff them into the pockets of my jeans. My legs moving quicker as I neared the bookstore. 

It had been a few weeks since I visited this place that brought us together. Our home away from home. Work at the diner had become more frequent, which was what I needed. Bills were getting higher and rent wasn't cheap. All previous thoughts of re-asking Isabella to move in with me seeming more tempting as time ticked on. 

Maybe I'd bring it up again. I knew that living with Jaz was getting to be too much for her money wise. Something that she had mentioned before. Maybe if she moved in, we'd be able to afford to fucking live in this city. It might also bring a bit more stability to our relationship. 

The fight had been a few weeks ago, but it still felt fresh in my mind. I knew what I did was stupid. Getting drunk and dancing with Rita wasn't my finest moment. The look of pure horror that flashed over her face (as fuzzy as the image may be) still flashes in my mind. I thought I had lost Izzy then and there. 

Yet, she is still here. We're still together. How the hell am I still in a relationship? 

The bell dings as I open the door. Her head pops up from behind a stack of books. Her eyes bright in excitement once she sees me. A cheesy grin is on her lips, causing my own lips to quirk up into a smile. It was an effect she had on me. 

"Hey!" She walks over to me and into a hug. Her small arms squeeze my torso in a quick embrace. 

"Hi baby," I greet her. I leave a kiss to her lips. She smiles into it before pulling away. "How's work going?"

I lace my fingers with hers as we walk towards her previous spot behind books. She groans. Her free hand going to her cheek. Her brows furrowing in discomfort. "Robert is a great old man. Don't get me wrong. But, I think he needs to really consider handing this store over to someone."  She explains, her hand leaving mine to grab a box from the ground. 

Izzy sets the box on top of an empty shelf. "Who would take over?" I ask, taking a book from the box and placing it on the shelf. 

"He has a nephew," she swats my hand away from the box, giving me a scornful look. I back away from the shelf to let her continue her job, amused at her attempts at being domineering. "As I was saying," she giggles lightly, "He has a nephew that has been interested in taking over the store for years."

"Why doesn't he then?" I question, whilst taking a book from another shelf to read. I look over the back cover, skimming the description as Isabella continues to talk. 

"Robert said that he doesn't think his nephew has good intentions for the store. He's worried that he'll decided to change it into a chain bookstore. Which, to be honest, might be a good idea." She lets out a sigh, placing the empty box down and picking up the next. "Robert has an amazing heart but he's getting too old to run the store. Plus, nobody shops here! The only time we see people is when people need to use the bathroom. If we're lucky, we'll get a few sales a day. I don't even know how we're still standing."