Sometimes Moments (Sometimes Moments, #1)(76)

“Promise me something,” she said and looked up at his jaw.

Callum took a sharp breath before his eyes focused on her and said, “For you, Peyton, anything.”

“It’s two promises.”

He nodded. “Okay. What’s the first one?”

It was her turn to inhale deeply. These promises had constantly lingered her thoughts over for the last few days. It was a thought she had known that she’d have to voice.

“Promise me you’ll find someone to love you more than I could. You know how much I love you, and if someone can love you more than I do…then keep her. Have forever moments with her. Promise me that,” she begged.

“I-I.” He sighed. “I promise to keep her forever. What’s your second promise?”

Peyton took a step away from him and looked at his note one last time before she met his cautious stare. “I will read this when you leave if you promise you’ll give me a goodbye.”

He tensed and his fists balled tight beside his body. He didn’t say anything as he looked at her. The agony that filled his eyes almost had her retracting her requests. She wanted his pain gone, but she had thought of her closure first. She needed closure in order to live a life without him.

“I promise,” he said before he hung his head.

Peyton inched forward, placed the letter in his pocket, then cupped his face. “I mean it, Callum. I don’t want to wake up and find that you left me at some point during the night. I deserve a goodbye. You and I both know that.”

He looked up at her and nodded. “I know you do, Peyton. You always deserved one. I was a coward last time. This time, I’ll do it right. I promise.”

She kissed him slowly enough to remind herself of the pain in her chest. If she let his mouth quicken or deepen their kiss, she’d never get back to the wedding and goodbye would be far more impossible.

Then she pulled back. “Thank you. We better get back or Jenny will kill me.”

She didn’t let him say anything as she took his hand and led him out of the forest.

Goodbye, Callum. Goodbye, forever, and goodbye, my heart.





“Pick a country,” Callum said.

Peyton gazed down at her lap to find him staring at her. Gently, her fingers continued to stroke his hair as she thought about her answer.

“Austria.”

“Why Austria?”

She picked off the cherry blossom that landed in his hair and said, “Because of Mozart, Belvedere Palace, Wiener schnitzels, and sachertorte.”

He chuckled. “Liar. I know the real reason why you want to go to Austria.”

Her eyebrows furrowed. “Oh yeah? What is the real reason why I want to go to Austria?”

Callum raised his eyebrow and confidently stated, “Inspector Rex.”

“Don’t you dare make fun of Komissar Rex!”

Callum sat up and placed both palms on her cheeks. “I will not make fun of your beloved detective dog.” His lips lightly touched hers before he said, “We need to go to Austria one day.”

She tilted her head at him. “We?”

Callum nodded once. “I need to try Wiener schnitzels.”



We’ll never make it to Austria together.

Peyton frowned at the thought and the memory. It would only be a dream. The idea of going to Austria without him left her empty inside. Those were their dreams, and she didn’t want to share them with anyone but him. But it was a broken dream they’d never live. Tonight would be their last.

“That’s him, isn’t it?” June asked next to her.

“That’s him,” Peyton agreed.

“So I should thank him for my album?”

Letting out a laugh, Peyton turned to face June. It was incredible that a famous, Billboard-charting artist consider her a friend. June was smart, talented, and absolutely stunning with her green eyes, black hair, and sun-kissed skin tone. June was flawless and every inch the celebrity. But Peyton saw the real June, the June who struggled with writer’s block and enjoyed sitting by the lake with her guitar.

“That album was all you, June.” Peyton smiled.

June rolled her eyes. “I wouldn’t have been brave enough to show my producers without you. I was thinking about having a small release party here, promote the hotel’s rebuild.”

Peyton’s mouth dropped. “Really?”

“Of course, Peyton. This hotel was my inspiration and I want to be part of its new beginning. How is next week? It’ll be enough time to market it and I’ll have the team set up a giveaway for some fans to come down for an intimate concert.”

Just as Peyton was about to reply, June’s guitarist was dragging her to the stage.

“We’ll talk in the morning, Peyton,” June told her.

Peyton smiled at June before she let her eyes sweep the wedding. Everything looked perfect. People seemed to be enjoying themselves as they laughed and danced. Somehow, she pulled it off.

Towards the end of the cliff, she noticed Callum talking to Jenny. Callum nodded a few times and gestured with his hands before he hugged Jenny. When they finished their embraced, Jenny wiped her cheeks and then they both started walking in Peyton’s direction.

“You okay?” Peyton asked once they stopped in front of her.