“Why?” Peyton asked in a small voice.
“I’ve been drinking. I didn’t think you’d want to see me. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have told Madilynne that I wanted to see you. I’m getting Callum, okay? You’re not going to be alone. You’re never alone. I’ll be here until he gets there.” He was trying to calm her, but Peyton could still hear the fear in his voice.
“He’s not picking up!” Peyton heard Madilynne cry out desperately.
“Try again!” Graham roared. “Don’t slip, Peyton. I don’t want to see you go into that state again. You’re strong. You’ve been strong. Don’t shut down on me.”
Darkness started to encroach, attempting to suffocate the light around her. So she closed her eyes and concentrated on his voice. Her heart pounded violently against her chest and her breathing was gasps as she tried to inhale enough oxygen to calm her body.
She felt her phone slip from her fingers and she whispered, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
She was afraid of the darkness that was swallowing her. But she wanted the pain to stop, so she welcomed it. She’d let it win. She was too tired to fight.
“It’s okay, Graham. I have her now.” His voice sounded so close, but she knew he wasn’t. Physically, he was, but emotionally, he was too far gone. “No, don’t worry. Sober up. I’ll stay with her. I won’t leave her alone tonight. Make your time with Mads count. I’ll let her call you. Okay, bye.”
Peyton squeezed her eyes, seeking the light. She’d spent years fighting the darkness. She didn’t want it to win. But the loneliness enticed the darkness. It fed it temptation.
“Pey, I’m here. Let me take care of you.”
Pey.
She slowly opened her eyes and stared at the Volkswagen logo. His nickname for her drew her out of the state that she’d been falling into. She couldn’t look at him, though. Her heart had bled too much pain. It had been denied too much from him. Her heart decided that it no longer needed a filter.
“I’m in love with you,” she confessed. “Don’t you see that?”
Callum placed a hand on her thigh. Peyton looked down to see the cherry blossoms poking out from the long sleeve top he wore. Then she dropped her hand from the steering wheel and placed it on top of his. Her fingers slowly stroked his until suddenly Callum flipped his hand over and threaded his fingers with hers.
“Look at me, Peyton.”
She turned her head and saw those grey eyes full of pain and relief.
“Let me take you inside. I’ll take care of you.”
Peyton’s eyelids fluttered once and she nodded. Callum stood up and reached over, unbuckling her seatbelt. Then he crouched down and pulled out the key from the ignition. He gave her a reassuring smile before she looped her arms around his neck and he pulled her out of the car. As she held him tightly in her arms, he used his body to close the car door and then carried her up the steps to the front door.
Her car sounded as Callum locked it and she rested her head against his collarbone.
“I think I left the door unlocked,” she said quietly.
He bent down and, from under her, reached for the doorknob. Then twisted it once and the door opened. Not saying anything, he walked into the house and kicked the door close behind him. Looking up, Peyton stared at the way his eyes roamed over the dark and quiet house. The confused expression on his face was like he was thinking of where he should put her.
“Bedroom,” she said, answering a question he hadn’t voiced.
He looked down at her and nodded. The way his eyes flashed gave her a glimpse of the person he was hiding from her. She had confessed that she was still in love with him, but he hadn’t said a word. She had known he wouldn’t. But her heart had needed the relief that came from expressing those words. It had liberated her.
Callum walked them to her bedroom door and pushed it opened with his shoulder. The moment they stood inside, he made his way to the bed and laid her on it. From head to toe, his eyes slowly swept over her. Then he inhaled and exhaled before his eyes met hers.
“I have to confess something and I want to say it right. Tell me yes,” he said as he pulled the shirt over his head.
Peyton sat up the moment his hands were on his jeans. “Yes,” she breathed out and sat on the edge of the mattress.
“Thank you,” he said as he undid the button of his pants.
He gave her a smile that warmed her aching heart. She wanted whatever he could give her.
Peyton’s fingers reached her silk blouse, but Callum’s hands were on hers and stopped her. He didn’t say a word as he unbuttoned the top she was wearing and pulled it off her body. Her breathing was embarrassing. No sequence, just pants of anticipation.