Maybe, in another life, I could have had him.
She took a backwards step. And then another. Her eyes were on the door before she spun around and made her way back towards her house. When she looked at the steps, she thought of the morning when he’d left. She’d sat on these exact steps. Moments later, she’d had her heart torn out. Placing her bag on the step, Peyton turned around and sat down next to it. Her eyes roamed every inch of the brick house as her heart ached at the years she’d needed him.
My biggest lie: wishing I hadn’t fallen in love with Callum Reid.
Aunt Brenda: We went fishing by the pier. Your uncle is hopeless. We love you, Peyton. Are you eating? How’s the hotel?
Peyton: Aunt Brenda, you should worry about him falling in rather than the fish. I love you both, too. You’re getting good at texting. Hotel’s good. We have everything under control. Jenny turned down Hyatt. The building for Marissa’s dance floor starts today. Yesterday’s weather was too risky to pour the cement for the posts.
Aunt Brenda: Jenny loves the hotel, too. She won’t leave unless you do. Your uncle wants to go down to the shops. We both love you. LOL.
Peyton: I think you’re using LOL wrong.
Aunt Brenda: We are sending you lots of love.
Peyton: You might want to find out what LOL means, Aunt Brenda. I’ll speak to you soon x.
“God, this town got uglier!”
Peyton lifted her eyes off her screen to see her door burst open. She knew that voice. She wasn’t surprised when her best friend, Madilynne Woodside, walked through the door. As usual, Madilynne wore her blonde hair in her natural curls, her long, dark eyelashes framed her blue eyes perfectly, and her lips were coated in a matte-red lipstick. Peyton placed her phone on her desk and stood up.
“What happened to calling me from Ryder’s?” Peyton asked as she walked towards the door.
Madilynne rolled her eyes. “Drove right past. Kinda forgot to look out for it. Dammit, I forgot how pretty you are. I’m glad that I don’t have to compete with you in the city.”
Peyton shook her head. “I’m sure you do just fine in the guy department, Mads.”
Madilynne shrugged. “It’s a tough department. The city isn’t very kind, Peyton. Neither are some of the girls. But enough about me. How’s everything in ‘Peyton Spencer is a hotel owner’ world going?”
I should tell her about Callum…and Jay…and Graham.
As Peyton looked at her best friend, a sense of relief washed over her. She finally had someone in town to spend time with. Someone she could be around. Someone to distract her. It had been two years since Madilynne had last been in town, too busy with university and city life. They had continued their friendship through calls and messages.
“Mads, it’s Friday. You should have been here a lot earlier,” Peyton said, deciding that she’d keep Callum’s return to Daylesford from Madilynne for a little longer.
Madilynne wrapped her arms around Peyton and said, “It’s good to see you, boss. I’m also happy to see that you haven’t been struck by lightning.”
After a laugh and a quick hug, Peyton stepped back and adjusted her silk blouse. “Would you rather we get work orientation over and done with or catch up and go through work stuff tomorrow?”
Madilynne made a gagging sound. “The work bullshit now and then we can go drink and talk.”
“I would much rather be doing this internship under your rules than Jenny’s,” Madilynne complained as Peyton locked the hotel’s front door.
By the time Peyton had explained what Madilynne would be doing and filled out the paperwork, it was late in the afternoon. She’d agreed when Madilynne had slammed the stack of papers on the desk and stated that wine was necessary.
“How are you supposed to learn anything from me, Mads? I know nothing,” Peyton said, throwing the keys into the bottom of her bag.
“We would have so much fun.”
“You’re not here for fun. You’re here for a recommendation,” Peyton stated.
“Ugh, you are such a boss. Come on. Let’s go drinking and unwind at the pub,” Madilynne said excitedly.
Peyton winced. She hadn’t been at the pub since Callum and Jay had had their confrontation. She also hadn’t spoken to Jay since they’d both called each other traitors. Before Peyton could even suggest wine at her house, Madilynne had made her way towards the turn into town. With a sigh, Peyton followed, knowing it was time to face Jay. With each step she took, she could see the pub’s large sign more clearly. Her breathing became unsteady as she tried to control her nerves.
All Peyton could hear was Madilynne’s voice, but she wasn’t listening. Instead, she tuned out her best friend and kept her eyes on the old brick building on Main Street. When they got closer to the doors of the pub, she saw Graham. Peyton halted at the sight of him. It had been almost five days since she’d spoken to him.