Sometimes Moments (Sometimes Moments, #1)(77)

Jenny nodded and said, “Everything’s perfect. Listen, Peyton, I have things here covered. You’ve been up since five. You go home and rest. I’ll make sure everything is taken care of. It hasn’t been an easy week for you.”

Peyton’s eyebrows met as she looked at Jenny and then Callum. “I can’t leave the wedding. Oliver and Ma—”

“Peyton, Oliver and Marissa won’t care. I just have to stay a little longer and then I’ll come by your place,” Callum said.

“Fine,” she said. Truth be told, she was tired. Hanging fairy lights and setting up lanterns had really done a number on her. It wasn’t how she’d wanted her last night with Callum to go.

Callum stepped forward, placing his palms on her jaw as he lips softly grazed her forehead. “I won’t be long,” he promised.

She gave him a tight smile. “Goodnight, Jenny,” Peyton said before she walked over to the small, portable building that acted as her office and grabbed her things.



Peyton stared at the ceiling as she waited for the bathtub tap to drip. Once the drop landed in the hot tub of water, she breathed out.

“Twenty-seven.”

Then another drip.

“Twenty-eight.”

And another.

“Twenty-nine.”

And another.

“Thir—”

“Peyton?”

Callum’s voice stopped her count. She turned her head to the side and stared at the bathroom door.

“In here,” she called out. Then she submerged herself a little more into the hot water and let her head rest on the porcelain tub.

Seconds passed before Callum walked into the bathroom. Then he walked over to her before he crouched so they were eye level. Her lips curved into an honest smile, grateful to see that he hadn’t left. As she’d walked home, that’s what she had feared the most—his leaving without a goodbye. After a call to Aunt Brenda about the success of the wedding, she had tried to silence her over-calculating mind with a hot bath. But the silence of the bathroom had just served to further increase her mind’s activities.

However, seeing him squashed the doubts. Having him in front of her made her heart leap and ache. Her heart was bipolar when it came to him.

“How’s the rest of the wedding?” she asked as she placed both hands on the tub and turned her body to face him better.

“Beautiful. You and Jenny did an amazing job,” Callum said.

“You helped, too.”

He leant forward and gave her a chaste kiss. “Don’t sell yourself short, Peyton.”

Her mouth tugged upwards at his compliment. Each drip she heard behind her made her realise just how quickly seconds were passing them. Soon, morning would come and they’d say goodbye.

“Take your clothes off and hold me,” she instructed in a soft voice.

Callum didn’t say anything as he removed his suit jacket and dropped it on the floor. She took in every movement he made until he was only left in his dress pants. Then his hands were on his belt as he unfastened it and unbuttoned his pants. Her heart beat fast against her chest as he pulled down the zipper and let the slacks fall to his feet. Stepping out of them, he stood naked in front of her.

Crouching back down to face her, Callum stroked her wet hair back and kept his grey eyes on her. She saw it in the way he looked at her—he wanted tonight to be memorable as they closed their book. They’d had a lifetime of love in a short period of sometimes. It was more than she thought she’d have with him and more than most people would have in life.

“I will never forget you, Peyton Olivia Spencer,” he whispered. His words travelled through her veins and settled into her burning heart.

Afraid she would plead for him again, she pushed up from the tub, away from his touch, and sat straight. She gave him the room to sit and hold her. Carefully, he placed one foot in the water and then the other before he lowered himself behind her. He stretched out his legs on either side of Peyton’s body and rested his hands on her hips, pulling her in to lean into his chest.

Peyton drew up her legs as Callum’s chin settled in the curve of her neck and his hands were on her shins. She felt all of him against her back as she stared at the bubbles that surrounded their bodies.

“Callum,” she said, trying to ignore the sad tone to her voice.

“Yes, Peyton.”

“This is going to end horribly for us, isn’t it?” she asked, already knowing the answer.

His lips grazed her neck, sending shivers down her spine, and then he pressed another one just below her ear. His breath touched her skin before he said, “Yes.”

Peyton’s lips made a fine line, and she nodded. “Then bring it on.”

His soft chuckle influenced the smile on her face. The moment Peyton moved, his hands left her, giving her the space to turn her body to his. When she positioned both palms on his chest, his breathing was heavy rather than consistent intakes of air. Then she tilted her head slightly and stared into his eyes.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked, covering her hands with his before bringing her left hand to his lips and kissing her palm.

“Austria,” she replied.

“Oh,” he let out, staring at their connected hands. “I’m sorry we never got there.” The remorse was thick in his voice.