Page 53 of One Day Like This (Excess All Areas 1)

“No, I’m serious. Think about it. We have time to figure this out. Time to plan and fundraise.”

Ibrahim ran his hand through his hair. “Izabel. We pay rock bottom rent. You looked, and the only places even remotely in our price range were miles outside the city centre. I think when we get turfed out of here, I might dissolve this place.”

“What, no. What about all those people in there?” she said, pointing toward the sleep areas.

“They’re the city’s problem.”

“You don’t mean that, Ibrahim. You sound jaded.”

“I don’t mean it callously. But maybe if there were less charities and more homeless people on the street, the city council would be forced to change the policies they have in place that led to them being there. We’re the final part of the solution, Izabel. We catch people when every other system has failed them. Mental health funding, housing benefit policies, employment support, addiction treatment. Everything is underfunded, and the only discussion the city council wants to have is how it’s the government’s fault for shorting the city.”

“Do you know what, Ibrahim? I refuse to be defeated. This is the dark moment, you know, like in every movie; things have to look bleak before something miraculous happens. I’m not giving up on the shelter without a fight. So, I’m going to go home, get some sleep, and come back tomorrow and start to figure out how we raise funds to get through this.”

Ibrahim grinned. “You’re an angel. I’m glad you did your Duke of Edinburgh Award here. And I’m glad you applied for this job when you did. I’d be lost without you. You’ve been a constant force of optimism.”

“Thanks, Ibrahim. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

As her bus came to a halt at her stop, she noticed the time. Nearly eleven. How had it got so late? Her stomach grumbled and she realised she’d missed dinner.

As she approached the gate, she noticed Matt walking toward her from the opposite direction. She’d recognize his confident swagger anywhere.

“Hey, I thought you had a—”

His lips collided with hers, the taste of beer and mint met her tongue. Hands slid inside her jacket, gripping her, pulling her close. The scent of leather and cigarettes surrounding her.

“You want to know ...”

He kissed her neck.

“How many times ...”

Shivers ran through her as he gently bit her ear lobe.

“I thought about sliding my dick deep inside you today?”

Matt ran his tongue along her lower lip, kissing her deeply.

She wanted to know. But not as much as she wanted him to keep kissing her like their lives depended on it. His arms snaked around her, his palms running up and down her back beneath her denim jacket.

When he stepped back, she realized she’d wrapped her hands around his neck. “How many times?”

“So many that I can’t wait to take you upstairs and fuck you. Right. Now.” He took her bags and put them over his own shoulder.

“Wait,” she said, reality hitting her as he let them into their building. “What about Luke. If you’re—”

“On his way to Oldham with a blonde called Dani. Come stay with me tonight.”

“What if he comes home later?”

“Then tell him you spent the night at Gemma’s. Because tonight, you’re mine.”

* * *

Adrenaline still burned through his veins like it always did after a concert. Riding the natural high of a gig that went better than expected and the chemically induced high that made him feel like a king. Now, he wanted nothing more than to rip Iz’s clothes off before spending the next ten hours in bed, savouring every inch of her.

You’re mine.

The words sounded better than any lyric. Two words conveying the wonder of finding the one. The person meant to be yours as much as you are theirs.

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