𝙀𝙧𝙞𝙣 𝙋𝙊𝙑:
After breakfast, we decided to head into town. Arthur had mentioned needing to pick up a few things, and I wanted to do some shopping too, so it worked out. The morning air was crisp, the kind of fresh chill that hinted at the transition between seasons. I pulled my coat a little tighter around myself as we walked side by side down the bustling streets.

The city was alive with people—shoppers carrying bags, couples walking hand in hand, kids running ahead of their parents. I loved this time of day, the energy of it all. Arthur, on the other hand, seemed perfectly content just strolling beside me, hands in his pockets, occasionally making some sarcastic comment about a ridiculous window display or an overpriced coffee shop.

At one point, we passed a street musician playing the violin, and Arthur nudged me with his elbow. "Bet you ten quid you can't name the song."

I paused, listening carefully. It took a second, but then I grinned. "Canon in D."

Arthur groaned. "Of course, you'd know that."

I smirked, holding my hand out. "Pay up."

He grumbled something under his breath but reached into his pocket and slapped a ten-pound note into my palm. I laughed, stuffing it into my coat.

We continued wandering through the shops, stopping whenever something caught my eye. Arthur didn't complain or seem bored—he just walked beside me, making the occasional sarcastic remark that had me giggling.

"Do people actually buy this?" he muttered, holding up a T-shirt that had some ridiculous inspirational quote plastered across it.

I snorted. "Apparently."

"Humanity is doomed," he declared, shoving the shirt back onto the rack dramatically.

I rolled my eyes but smiled, grabbing his hand and tugging him toward another section of the store.

Eventually, we ended up in a home goods shop, where I got caught up looking at a display of candles. They had an entire wall lined with different scents—vanilla, cedarwood, lavender, cinnamon. I picked up a couple, twisting off the lids and inhaling deeply, trying to decide which one I liked best.

"Which one smells better?" I asked absentmindedly, holding out two candles.

Silence.

I turned, expecting to see Arthur standing beside me, but he was gone.

A small pit formed in my stomach as I glanced around the store. He wasn't by the entrance, or near the checkout. Maybe he'd gotten fed up with waiting and left. Maybe this was too much for him—shopping, walking around, spending all this time together.

I sighed, putting the candle back on the shelf, suddenly feeling a little silly. I should've known. This wasn't his thing.

Just as I was about to pull out my phone and text him, I heard his voice behind me.

"Hey, sorry, got distracted."

I turned, and my breath caught in my throat. Arthur was standing there, holding a small bouquet of flowers in his hands.

My heart stuttered. "What...?"

He shrugged like it was nothing, but I didn't miss the faint pink dusting his cheeks. "I saw them and thought you'd like them."

For a second, I just stared at him. The flowers weren't anything extravagant—just a simple mix of daisies and roses, but the fact that he had left just to get them for me made my chest ache in the best way.

"You're such a dork," I said, but my voice was softer now, laced with something else.

Arthur smirked. "But you love it."

I rolled my eyes but didn't deny it. Instead, I reached up on my tiptoes and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. "Thank you, Arthur."

His grin widened. "Anytime."

As we walked out of the store together, his hand found mine, lacing our fingers together like it was the easiest thing in the world. And maybe it was.