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.

“If you don’t tell her, I will! She doesn’t deserve this. You shouldn’t have come back!” Graham yelled.

Peyton and Madilynne had stumbled across the heated argument that Graham had been involved in.

“I know that, Graham. I’m trying to fix things.” Callum’s voice drew out the air from her lungs. She couldn’t see him from behind Graham, but she heard him.

“Peyton, what’s going on?” Madilynne asked next to her.

“You deserve my fist in your face. How dare you do this to her. I’ve spent over four years trying to help her and you come back and ruin her all over again.”

“Whoa. What’s the issue here?” Madilynne asked.

Graham turned around, and Peyton’s eyes met Callum’s.

“Oh my God,” Madilynne breathed out and looked at Peyton.

Peyton ignored her and stared at Callum. She didn’t understand the hurt and pain in his eyes. And he wouldn’t let her. So she slid her gaze to Graham, and an unspoken apology consumed his eyes.

Graham swore out loud and ran his hands through his hair before he walked to her. “I’m sorry, Peyton. I shouldn’t have done that to you on Monday. It’s the first Monday I’ve missed. I was angry and I shouldn’t have been. But this, Peyton? This, you don’t deserve. You don’t deserve what he’s doing to you. You’re one of the best people I know and it’s not fair!”

“Graham,” Peyton said before he wrapped his arms around her. She breathed in the lavender fragrance that lingered on his clothing and hugged him. She had missed him. The concept of losing him was one she couldn’t fathom.

“You have to walk away now, Peyton. He’s only going to hurt you. Please walk away,” Graham begged.

Peyton blinked slowly before she said, “It’s too late, Graham. I’m sorry.”

In that moment, she chose. She chose Callum Reid breaking her heart over salvation with Graham Scott.

Graham untangled his arms from around her body and took a step back. “I want to say that I’m disappointed in you but I’m not. I get it. I get why he’s doing this. I would do it, too. Just know that I’m always here, Peyton.”

He didn’t let her reply. Instead, Graham walked past her and down Main Street.

“I’ll go after him. I’ll speak to you later, Peyton,” Madilynne said before she left Peyton and Callum alone.

Alone with Callum was not what she wanted. Because all she wanted to do was kiss him, feel him, feel pleasure because of him, and forget the impending pain.

She looked up at the terrified expression on his face. No words were shared, only glances. She should listen to Graham. She should also listen to the voice in her head that was telling her to run and never look back. But instead, her heart instructed her to stay.