Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
It was Saturday, and London had done that rare thing where it gave them a sliver of blue sky. Not warm exactly, but bright enough to feel like something good could happen.
Esme stood outside Brew & Bloom, coat buttoned, scarf wrapped twice, phone clutched in her hand. She wasn't usually nervous about leaving her own shop, but there was something different about seeing Will not across the counter. No steaming coffee between them, no apron, no excuse to be busy. Just her. Just him.
Her phone buzzed.
WILL Outside when you're ready!!
She exhaled, laughed softly to herself, and headed toward the street corner.
Will was leaning against the wall, black hoodie under a puffer jacket, hands shoved into his pockets. He smiled when he saw her.
"You clean up well," he teased.
"Not bad yourself," she replied, trying not to smile too much as they fell into step together.
As they walked to the station, the conversation settled into something easy — light teasing, bits about their week, their mutual dislike of Southern train etiquette.
The pub was tucked into a side street in Shoreditch, already humming with noise. A black-and-white banner hung above the entrance, and inside, it was like they'd stepped into a different city. Geordie accents everywhere. Pint glasses clinking. A table full of lads in Toon shirts arguing over lineups. Esme's whole face lit up.
"God, it's like being back home," she said, grinning.
Will watched her with quiet amusement. "Told you."
They found a spot at the bar and ordered pints. The match was about to start, the volume from the speakers ramping up as the crowd swelled. When the opening whistle blew, Esme leaned in just a little closer to Will to hear him better.
"Be warned," she said, "I shout."
He grinned. "Good. I like a bit of chaos."
She did shout, at the ref, at a near miss, at a dodgy call — and so did he. And somewhere between the second pint and the second half, Will leaned over and murmured, "You're worse than my uncle Kev."
"That's the highest compliment you could've given me." She laughs
By the time Newcastle scored, the room erupted. Esme threw her arms up without thinking, yelling, and Will laughed, steadying her pint before it could spill. They bumped shoulders, eyes bright. She didn't step away immediately.
As the noise simmered down, she tugged her phone from her coat pocket. "Wait- stay there," she said.
Will blinked. "What?"
She leaned in, held her phone up, and smiled. "Photo. For my dad. I'll send it later — he'll love this."
He didn't hesitate. They took the picture, both flushed and smiling, a little windswept and tipsy, black-and-white scarves knotted messily at their necks.
Will looked down at the screen as she saved it. "You've got a good side."
She glanced at him. "You're not too bad yourself."
They stepped back out into the street a while later, still warm with laughter and post-match buzz.
"That was class," Esme said, wrapping her arms around herself as the chill returned.
"Told you," Will said, nudging her. "You've gotta trust me more."
She looked up at him, the streetlights catching the curve of his smile.
"Maybe I will."
And maybe she meant it more than she should've.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
MAIS SPEAKS 💋ྀིྀི MY BABIES, they're so cute😩 Don't forget to vote and comment ♥️
