Page 99 of One Day Like This (Excess All Areas 1)

“Come here,” Matt said, opening his arms to her, sighing as she stepped inside. His worries all quieted by the feel of her body pressed against his. By the scent of rain and her shampoo in her hair. She warmed the chill in his bones and stopped the frenetic churning of his mind, giving him a moment of peace.

Her lips pressed over his heart.

Matt breathed. And breathed again.

“Do you ever feel like just sayingfuck it, Iz? Like throwing your life up in the air and going somewhere, starting it all over again, without any preconceived notions about yourself?”

“I have a whole mood board for this alternate life where I live on a canal boat calledFree Spirit. It’s a fifty-eight-foot, reverse layout, semi traditional stern painted in black and gold. I’ve got it planned out down to the tile in the bathroom and where I’ll store tiny Christmas tree decorations.”

He looked down at her. “You’ve given this some thought.”

Izabel nodded, her lips pursed. “One day I’ll buy one and make it perfect and cruise the canals all year around.”

“That all you want? A canal boat?”

Her arms tightened around him. “I told you once before. I’m happy with what I have. I have you. I have the shelter. I have Luke and Gemma. Doesn’t take much to be happy, Matt.”

And as he lowered his lips to hers, Matt almost believed her.

* * *

Two weeks later, Izabel stepped through the doors into the godawful roar of November. Rain battered the side of her face, and she flipped the collar up on her jacket.

Matt stood against the wall, watching as people trickled into the shelter, often with bundles of belongings in carrier bags. “Hey, Iz,” he said.

“Matt,” she said, cheerfully, despite the rain. She threw her arms around him, and he kissed her thoroughly. God, she’d missed him. He reached for the hood of her coat and pulled it up over her head, before cupping her cheeks to kiss her again.

“Figured I’d come walk you home.”

“You came all the way out here, just so you could travel back with me?”

“I did. I missed you with the gigs we had in Scotland the last few nights. Thought we could perhaps take the bus to Curry Mile and get something to eat, seeing Luke is out of town.”

A date. She sighed at the thought of some time with him. “I’d love that.”

He took some of her bags off her shoulder and took her gloved hand in his. “What do you feel like, Indian? Middle Eastern?”

“Oh, can we go to the Mughli Charcoal Pit?”

“Definitely.”

Once they were on the bus, Matt turned to face her. “How is the planning for the concert going?”

“Ten days to go and we still have so much coming together. I keep thinking about the big blocks. Ticket sales. Sponsors. Artists. Catering. Oh, and Niles from Stryker called the shelter and donated ten thousand pounds.”

“I’m sure he did,” Matt muttered.

“I thought it was a good thing. Why do you sound like it wasn’t?”

“Did Luke tell you Niles asked him to invite you to the party the night Nikhedonia offered us the management deal?”

Izabel grinned. “He did not. Are you suggesting there was more to this donation than the sheer goodness of his heart?”

He kissed her lips softly. “Yeah. I totally am.”

“You aren’t really jealous, are you?”

Matt shook his head. “No, I’ve learned that lesson. But I do feel a bit sorry for Niles.”

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