Sometimes Moments (Sometimes Moments, #1)(80)

And once again, I’m here.

Sitting on the same step.

But this time, I know goodbye is imminent.

The double-story brick house she stared at was one she had known all her life, but over four years ago, it’d become a stranger to her. If she could have bulldozed it away, she would have. But unlike the summer he’d broken her heart, they were saying goodbye in winter. A winter’s day where the sun was shining bright, with a cool wind in the air. It was a perfect day to break her heart.

The moment after they’d made love, she’d showered, allowing him the time and space to pack the remainder of his things before he was to leave town. She’d cried in the shower, sitting on the floor as the water fell over her. She’d cried as she walked into her bedroom and saw her unmade bed. She’d cried until the tears had dried up and she’d had enough in her to sit on the step.

When the door opened, the first thing she saw was a suitcase. And then Callum. He closed it behind him and looked over to her. The pain that consumed his face tore her heart wide open. It was like he was conflicted.

His Volvo sounded as his car unlocked. Then he gave her a tight smile before walked to the boot of his car, his back turned to her. Callum didn’t move. After almost a minute of standing there, he lifted the boot, put his suitcase inside, and closed it. Then he turned around and met her eyes.

Callum crossed the road. Each step he took brought goodbye and their end closer. They were moments away from the obliteration of them. She wished he’d take slower strides, but he was at the bottom step within in seconds.

“So, this is it,” Peyton said as she got to her feet.

He nodded. “This is it, Peyton.”

She walked down the steps until she was just in front of him. A sigh left his lips before Callum cupped her face and then stroked her cheeks with the pad of his thumbs.

“I don’t want you to go,” she croaked out. Then she placed her hand on his left arm, turning his arm around to see his tattoo.

“If I could stay, I would,” he said in a tight voice.

Peyton looked down at his wrist. His name was tattooed on her heart. But ink didn’t have to be visible on her skin for her to be reminded. Callum Reid, her heart’s only.

“I’m going to miss you, Callum Reid,” she sobbed.

His arms were around her instantly as he held her close. She wrapped her arms around him, keeping him for just a little longer. Then she cried into his chest, staining the light-grey shirt he was wearing. Her heart burned with her lungs because she wanted the concept of forever. And she wanted him for longer than they had.

“I wish you could have given me the chance to love you for those four years we were apart. I wish you would let me love you for another four years and longer. I wish you’d stay.” She weeped harder. “This is the worst breakup I’ve ever had, and the last one destroyed me.”

“Promise me something,” he said.

Peyton glanced up to see him staring at her. “For you, Callum Reid, I would freeze hell over.”

He smiled. “No matter what you hear or what is done, you live a good and happy life, Peyton Spencer.”

An involuntary whimper escaped. It was honest and beautiful. But she hated that he wanted her to have a happy life without him. She wasn’t sure it would be possible.

“There isn’t one after you’re gone. I love you,” she cried.

He brushed her tears away and pressed his lips to her forehead. The moment he pulled away, he whispered, “There will be. I am your sometimes, Peyton. Go find your forever.”

“No, I don’t—”

He shook his head, stopping her. “I’ve held your heart for far too long. Your forever moments are waiting for you. I will always love you and our sometimes.”

The tears that escaped him made it so much harder for her to let him go. She shook her head.

“Callum,” she struggled out. “I love you,” she said, knowing it was the last time. Their sometimes was their end. No matter how much it broke her heart, a future was no longer valid.

He took a step back onto the path and reached into his jeans pocket. Then he pulled out an envelope she recognised.

“Our epilogue,” she breathed out.

He wrapped her hands around the letter. “You promised me that you’d read this when I left. Please don’t break this. Do this one thing for me, Pey. Read our epilogue.”

She nodded and held it tight in her hand.

“No one loves you like I do,” he promised.

Peyton wasn’t sure why, but she smiled. “No one hurts me like you do.”

Callum’s lips made a fine line before he said, “Touché.”

There was silence until they both let out a light laugh.

“I’m going to miss you, Peyton.”

She closed the distance and tangled her arms around his neck. “You’re my favourite sometimes moments. Not the things we did, but you. All of you.”

His mouth found hers as they kissed one last time. It wasn’t desperate or controlling. It was purely to let their lips know that it was the end and to always remember each other. Each movement of his on hers had her heart aching. Goodbye was bittersweet. She got it in the end, but she didn’t want it. She wanted him.

Once he pulled his mouth away, he rested his forehead on hers. He didn’t close his eyes, and it was almost as if he were almost afraid to. His arms were around her, their bodies meeting.