“Pey, wake up,” he whispered in her ear.

She groaned and snuggled into something hard. A chuckle and movement occurred under her.

“Come on, Peyton. Time to get up. We’ll miss it,” he tried once more.

“Miss what?” she asked still half asleep, her eyes remained closed.

“What we used to do. Sneak out and watch the morning pass us by from the pier.”

Peyton slowly opened her eyes to see that the something hard she was sleeping on was Callum’s naked chest. She smiled at the sight she thoroughly enjoyed. Hugging the blanket around her naked body, she removed herself from his chest and glared down at him.

“Really?” she asked biting back a smile.

Callum sat properly and kissed her lips. “Yes. Now stay still. Do not move,” he instructed.

Peyton arched an eyebrow at him. Callum smiled, reached over the bed, and rummage through the bag he’d brought over after dinner. Then he turned to face her, and Peyton noticed what he was held.

She let out a laugh. “You still have that?”

“Don’t knock the Polaroid,” he teased. “Now, stay right there. You look breathtakingly beautiful with the sun seeping through the window.”

When she was just about to burst out laughing, a flash stunned her and a Polaroid picture slid out of the camera. Then Callum held it up to her, and she looked at it, astonished. She blinked twice. The Polaroid had captured a genuine smile that made her look beautiful. Even though her hair was all messy from sleep, she appeared happy and free.

“That’s how I see you, Pey. You are undeniably beautiful when you smile.”

Her heart swelled at his compliment and she knew she was blushing.

After setting the picture down, she took the camera from Callum and held it up. Closing one eye and looking through the tiny glass box, she counted to three before she took a picture of him. Before he could take it away from her, she studied it.

A lump formed in her throat as she asked, “Can I keep this?”

Her eyes met Callum’s, and he tilted his head at her. She returned her focus to the picture she had taken of him. It was there—that smile and look in his eyes. She had the old Callum back, even if it were only in a picture. He was still there, the one who had claimed her heart and was free. She’d treasure this one picture since it was all she’d have of him by the end of the month.

“Only if I can keep the one of you,” he countered.

Peyton looked up and smiled. “You have a deal,” she said.

Callum took the camera from her and brought her close to him. After a moment, he positioned the camera in the direction of their faces and took a picture of them. When she turned to face him, his lips found hers, and the sound of the shutter went off.

“I was not ready for that!” Peyton complained once she pulled back.

Callum had a pleased grin on his face as he held up the picture of them kissing. “You look pretty ready here.”

Peyton stood up from the bed, dragging the blanket from him and leaving him exposed. “I can say the same thing about you,” she said, eyeing his lap.

“Doesn’t help that I know you’re completely naked under that blanket,” he said, not bothering to cover himself. Then Callum turned and snapped a shot of the cherry blossoms on the bedside table.

“Why are you taking so many pictures?” she asked as she walked to the bedroom door.

“To reflect on,” he replied. Then he held the camera up, smiled, and took another one of her.

“Do not come into the bathroom with that. I’m warning you, Callum. I would say come join me, but I really need us to get going so we can get to the pier. Otherwise, I’m going to be late for the Swan’s checking in,” Peyton said firmly to demonstrate her seriousness.

If her were to even kiss her longer than with a quick chaste one, they’d wind up in bed. Last night, he’d taken away the pain. Lost in the pleasure, she’d forgotten Jay’s hurtful actions and the future of the hotel. All she’d cared about was keeping her with him for as long as time and Callum would permit her.

“Meet you back here in thirty?” Callum asked, reaching for his discarded underwear and pants.

Peyton’s eyes lingered below his waist. If she didn’t have to work, she’d jump him right then and there. Instead, she nodded and said, “Thirty.”

His arm brought her closer to him, and Peyton rested her head on Callum’s shoulder. Peeking up at him through her lashes, she saw him staring out at the lake. The sadness that swept his face had replaced the carefree one he’d had while they had been in bed. Something was always hanging over him. That same something had him guarded.

With a deep breath, she turned her gaze back out at the water. She would always love Daylesford. All her favourite memories had happened in various parts of town, especially the ones that were made within the walls of The Spencer-Dayle. Peyton looked over at the hotel. It was beautiful. She would do everything in her power to keep it standing.

“Graham messaged me this morning, Peyton. He said that Jay’s pub terminated their relationship with the hotel. He’s worried that Jay could affect the rest of the town.”

The blame could be heard in his voice, but all she did was nod against him.

“I still have Graham’s farm,” she said.

Callum was silent for a moment before he sighed. “You lost the pub’s business relationship because of me, didn’t you?”

Peyton sat up, lifted her legs from over the edge of the pier, and turned her body to face him. “It’s not your fault, Callum,” she tried to assure him.

His eyes gave her the attention she wanted. Reaching over, she took his hand in hers and pulled him to face her.

“It is not your fault,” she repeated.

His posture slouched. “No, it is. You would have never seen that notice of termination if I had just stayed away. God, Pey, I never wanted this to happen to you or the hotel.”

She smiled when he said Pey. Callum was becoming more comfortable around her. Squeezing his hand once, she grinned before she threaded her fingers with his, loving the feel of his touch. Peyton brought their joined hands to her lips and kissed the spot where their hands connected.

“The hotel will be okay,” she said.

“And what about you?”

“I’ll be fine.”

“And us?”

She stilled at his question. Then she turned his wrist over and stared at where he had marked his skin with her name. Sometime after he’d left, he’d cared enough to tattoo her name on him. It gave her hope, but when she met his eyes, she saw the goodbye in them.

“I’m not sure, Callum,” she answered truthfully.

“You can’t be unsure,” he said softly.

She gave him a tight smile. She didn’t know if they’d be okay when they got to goodbye. Deep down, she had been delusional and believed it would never catch them.

“Sure I can. Just like how grey isn’t sure what colour it should be. If it should be black or white. So, it decides to be unsure. It decides to be grey. I am grey. We are grey.”

She believed they weren’t sure how to get to goodbye. The moment they did, the future would blend with the past and the present. They had less than two weeks left.

Callum’s mouth pressed into a fine line. “That’s a beautiful way to mask our ending, Peyton Spencer.”

Letting go of his hand, she turned and let her legs dangle over the edge of the pier. She looked out at the lake, enjoying the purity in the image. “It gives me enough denial to make it to the ending, Callum Reid. I tell myself that we’ll be okay and part ways with a mutual understanding, but honestly, I’m not sure. There are no bright lights waiting for us at the end.”

Softly swinging her legs above the water, she kept her eyes on her lap. The sound of a camera shutter had her turning her head and Callum held the Polaroid in his hand.