Harri

as younger, imagining myself strolling through the streets, carefree and unbothered by deadlines, respon

old. The streets, though awake, weren't yet choked with tourists. This was the

ls. No phone calls. No Damian breathing down my neck about meetings and schedules. Just m

stood on his balcony, sleeves rolled up, watching the city with something almost wistful in his expression. The way

e done under normal circumstances. That was what unsettled me most-t

ppeared beneath the weight of overthinking. Pushing my chair back, I

weaving through the air. Every turn led to something breathtaking-a hidden courtyard, an artist se

leather-bound books lined the shelves, their spines worn from years of love. Thi

g work a

tanding a few feet away, hands in his pockets, looking entirely

st my ribs. "I though

the bookstore. "But I had

up my neck. "Y

"I had my

e, it was because he had decided to be. That fact sent a st

d my arms. "Going to dr

gaze flickering to the bookst

omething-a piece of himself he didn't usually

ice even. "But if you're comi

ree

stepped into the shop, the scent of paper an

n Cal

to be uncovered. Lily moved between the shelves with quiet reverence, finger

s and ensuring that nothing fell through the cracks. Instead, I was here, in a diml

ch and English, picking one up and flipping thro

in French?

admitted. "But

st people would have tried to impress me, to make

out you? Do you read anything

literature, something I hadn't

yebrow. "That's

ner of my mouth. "It's th

to the shelves, but there was some

ken. The weight of expectations, of

ok and brought it to the cou

"I can pay for my

handing the cashier my car

handed her the bag, and for a moment, she

hat moment settle

isen higher, the streets busier

tch and sighed. "I gue

but it lingered in

was waiting. Instead, I let my fingers brush hers as we walked, a si