Callum laughed, took the papers out of her hand, and returned them to her desk. “She hasn’t been formally diagnosed, but I suspect she is.”
Peyton glared at him. “This is not a joke, Callum. I don’t have the resources for this. You’ve seen this hotel. It’s not in its prime. My parents were the ones who had the big ideas for it, not me.” She let out a sigh and covered her face with her hands. Then she noted that she would never allow last-minute wedding bookings ever again, no matter the price.
“Hey,” Callum said as his hands touched hers, pulling hers away from her face.
The way her heart throbbed at his contact surprised her.
He held her hands for a moment, staring at them. Peyton watched as he got lost in the moment.
“Callum,” she breathed out, gaining his attention.
He slowly looked up until their eyes met. “Want to walk around the grounds? Maybe we can come up with a location for a second dance floor together,” he suggested.
He squeezed her hand once before she pulled back. The way her heart had leapt from that one squeeze was too much.
Peyton stood up and nodded. “Let’s go.”
Stepping out of the hotel and onto the path that led to the cliff, Peyton felt like she was a teenager all over again. The days she used to spend holding his hand as they’d roamed the hotel’s grounds. He’d let go at one stage and kiss her or she’d run down to the cliff and he’d chase her. But now, years later, they stood some distance apart as they searched for the perfect location of a second dance floor.
Her heart missed when he used to reach for her hand as they walked together. But she knew it wouldn’t happen between them. Yet she couldn’t help but want it to happen, to confirm whether or not she still felt the same.
The vibrating of her phone had Peyton stopping. Callum stopped, too, turning to see why she had. When she pulled out her phone from her pants pocket, she saw that she had a new message.
Graham: Sprinklers have faulted again. I’m gonna have to go into the city and pick up some new ones or find a whole new system. I’ll see you in a couple days. Be good!
Peyton: You be careful driving.
Graham: Yes, wife.
Peyton: IF I have no other options.
Graham: Someday you will.
Peyton: Is this sudden need to fulfil our promise because of you-know-who?
Graham: Yes. I’m about to leave your place. Be careful around him, Peyton. If he hurts you and I’m in the city, I will never forgive him. And Jay wouldn’t either.
Peyton: He’s not going to hurt me. I’m not going to fall in love with him.
Graham: Peyton, I think we’re well past fall. We both know you’re still in love with him.
Still in love with him.
Peyton stared at Graham’s message. Her chest constricted at the thought. Still being love with Callum Reid would bring problems. And she didn’t need them. No, she’d gotten over Callum a long time ago.
“You okay?” Callum asked, his voice was as sweet as she remembered.
Dammit!
“Fine,” she said, returning her phone to her pocket. “Now, do you have any ideas for a spot?”
Callum looked at her and gave her a small smile. “I have an idea,” he said, turning around and leading her down a path.
She followed him as they walked away from the hotel and to a path that led to the forest. Peyton hesitated as she realised just where he was leading her.
Just as she was about to tell him no, Callum reached over and took her hand.
“Trust me,” he said.
Peyton looked at him and her eyebrows furrowed. “Like I trusted you not to break my heart, Callum Reid?”
He let out a sigh but never let go of her hand. “I had my reasons, Peyton. You wouldn’t understand.”
“Try me,” she said firmly.
“In time. Now, come on,” he said, pulling her into the forest.
Each step they took, her breathing heaved. She hadn’t been this far into the forest in years. Peyton noticed a round rock that was almost perfectly smooth. She knew what that rock meant; it was a marker. They’d only have to walk a few more metres, take a turn at the broken tree, pass the small embankment, and they’d find their spot.
Peyton stopped next to the round rock, yanking her hand from Callum. The loss of his hand left her confused with old emotions. His touch was one she used to crave, but she couldn’t anymore.
“What’s the matter, Peyton?” he asked, a worried look consuming his face.
“I can’t go there with you. I’m sorry, but I can’t. I can’t let strangers see our spot. I’d rather give up the wedding than let them all see,” she confessed only loud enough for them to hear.