Page 75 of London, Love, & A Little Something Irish

I groan dramatically as I get both of my feet on the pegs. I love the feel of him like this. Steady, strong, mine.

“Ready?” he asks over his shoulder.

“Let’s go.”

And then we’re off.

London at this hour is otherworldly.The usual chaos is stripped away, leaving a city that feels like it belongs to just us.Streetlights glow softly, reflecting off empty roads. The windrushes past, crisp and biting, but I don’t mind. Nathan’s warmth is right here in front of me.

By the time we reach Liverpool Street, my heart is thrumming.Not just from the ride, but from the moment.From the knowledge that this is exactly where I want to be—at 4 a.m., with him.

Duck & Waffle is one of those rare 24-hour restaurants in London, placed high in the sky around the corner from Liverpool Street. It’s classy, it’s beautiful, and it’s got a 360 view around London.

I found this blogger called The Londoner, and I love everything Rosie posts. One of the things she posted about was having a sunrise breakfast at Duck & Waffle at 4am. The thought of that thrilled me. To watch the sun rise from there? It must be magical. Hence, today. Getting up at the crack of dawn for something new, different, and exciting.

We climb off the bike, and I barely get my helmet off before Nathan is pulling me in. His hands frame my face, his lips brushing mine in that slow, teasing way that makes my knees weak.

“Good morning.” His voice is barely above a whisper.

I don’t even try to hold back my grin. “Took you long enough.”

He laces his fingers with mine, and we head inside.

The elevator ride is silent except for the occasional ping as we ascend. The anticipation builds.

“I can’t believe we’re here so early! It’s the perfect day for it!” I whisper-squeal.

He lets out a low chuckle. “I love how excited you get.”

And then, the doors open.

Duck & Waffle is breathtaking.Floor-to-ceiling windows wrap around the space, offering a 360-degree view of London. The city stretches out before us, bathed in the softest shades of blue and purple, the first hints of sunrise brushing the horizon.

I can’t help myself. I dig into my bag, pulling out my secondhandcamera. The one I finally bought after saving up to replace my old one. This is why I wanted to come. To capture this moment, this light, thismagic.

Nathan watches me as I adjust the settings, peering through the lens. I love getting these shots now so we can fully appreciate the sun rising.

I glance up. “What?”

He shakes his head, that lopsided grin I love tugging at his lips. “Just watching you be you.”

Wow. That gets me right in the chest.

We settle into our seats, the city waking up beneath us. The food is unreal. Eggs that are somehow fluffier than should be possible, waffles that taste like happiness itself. I pause mid-bite just to take it all in.

It’s magic. Pure, maple-syrupy magic.

“Nat, I’ve got a surprise for you,” he says, that slow grin spreading across his face, fully aware it’s about to blow my mind.

“A surprise?” My eyes go wide. Immediate heart rate spike.

“Well, since your twenty-first birthday is a few days away, I thought I’d tell you what I’ve got planned for you.”

“Yes?” I practically bounce.

“I know you’ve always wanted to go?—”

“Wait. No. Don’t tell me it’s?—”

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