Sometimes Moments (Sometimes Moments, #1)(82)

His smile grew larger. “As the mayor and not your best friend’s father, it fills me with joy to hear a business owner love this town. That is why I stopped by to give you this,” he said, handing her a letter.

Peyton unfolded it and started reading. Her breath fled the moment she read the words: building permits granted.

“This is impossible. I just submitted these recently,” Peyton uttered breathlessly. When she looked up from the letter, she saw the glint in his eyes.

“I was able to put them ahead of the pack as the father of your friend. But as the major of Daylesford, I was able to lobby and support your plans. The scale and design are beautiful. I have always believed in your parents, but you, Peyton... You are the image of sheer belief and determination. You are my inspiration to make this town better. I believe in you and your plans for The Spencer.”

As a friend of his daughter, Peyton threw her arms around him and graciously thanked him. Tears of relief ran down her face when she pulled away from Mayor Woodside.

“Thank you. Thank you so much.” She wiped her cheeks. “I can start building my hotel next week.”

Mayor Woodside adjusted his suit jacket and said, “You may not believe what I’m about to say, but I am proud of you, Peyton. The things you have done in the last four years? It’s incredible, and I know your parents would be proud of you, too.”

“I appreciate that so much, sir.”

“You go on home now, Peyton. Tomorrow is a brand-new day,” he said before he turned and walked to his car.

Peyton looked back at the letter and kissed it before she whispered, “Thank you,” to the cold night.

She quickly grabbed her keys, her phone, and her bag. She couldn’t wipe the smile off her face as she locked the door behind her—the first smile she wore since Callum. After unlocking her phone as she walked down the path, Peyton quickly messaged Madilynne.



Peyton: Thank you for what you did with your dad and the town council.

Madilynne: I did it because I believe in you and your dreams, Peyton. My father does, too. Make us proud.

Peyton: I will do my best. This is for us.

Madilynne: No. This is for you. Do this for you. Goodnight, Peyton.



Peyton placed her phone in her bag and nodded to herself.

This is for me.



The moment she got home, she was too excited for sleep. She worked through the estimated quotes and made a list of all the things she had to prepare and the people she would have to call in the morning. She also would have to call June about next week’s album release party. She’d wanted the singer to stay, but June had insisted that she return to the city to make sure the record company agreed and the right promotions was done.

Peyton sat in bed as she stared at Callum’s blueprints for The Spencer. Her fingers ran across the way he had written her last name. It was all she had of him—a blueprint of her future. No matter how sad she was that she couldn’t be with him, she was thankful for their sometimes moments. They were the most beautiful description of the short amount of time they’d loved again. When she had thanked the stars earlier in the night, she had been thanking him, too, hoping that, wherever he was, he’d heard.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Peyton froze. She missed him so much that her heart had decided she would hear things. Shaking her head, she breathed out and began to relax in bed, looking over the newly designed hotel.

Tap. Tap.

Peyton held her breath as she turned to face her bedroom window.

Tap.

The final tap drew out the air from her lungs. Then suddenly, on her bedside table, her phone buzzed. Without taking her eyes off the window, she picked up her phone and answered it.

“Tell me it’s you outside my window,” she said into the speaker, reciting the words she had told him when she was seventeen.

There a long and slow silence that had her heart accelerating.

“It’s me, Pey. Go to the window,” Callum said, also repeating what he had said over four and a half years ago.

Peyton’s heart relaxed after two days of being twisted. She didn’t hang up as she pulled the covers off her and got out of bed. Then she quickly made her way to the curtains and pushed them back to see him on the other side with his phone to his ear.

“Thank God,” she breathed out before she threw her phone on the bed behind her and opened the window.

Callum put his phone in his pocket and looked up at her. “I couldn’t take it anymore. I can’t be without you, Peyton. I want to stay with you for as long as I can.”

Heavy tears flowed without care. Reaching out, she placed her hands on his cheeks and brought his lips to hers. Meeting, moulding, and mending.

“God, I’ve missed you,” she said against his mouth and between their kiss. When she drew back, she asked, “Are you really here right now?”

He nodded. “Yes. I knew I’d left behind my reason for living here in Daylesford. I couldn’t take it anymore.”

He hadn’t said that his stay would be forever, but she didn’t care. She should. But she didn’t. She wanted as much time as humanly possible with this man.

Peyton stroked his cheeks once. He felt real. His lips felt real. He was here with her again.

“Say it,” she said.

Callum broke into a beautiful and memorable smile. “I love you, Peyton. I can’t leave you again.”