Calum smiled, kissing the top of her head. “Just thinking about the playlist.”
It had been a blur of neon lights, high-tempo beats, and the kind of laughter that makes your chest ache in the best way. He remembered the feeling of the bass—Kygo’s signature tropical synths dancing with Gryffin’s driving guitar melodies—echoing through the canyon as they drove with the top down.
“Still?” She laughed, reaching for a mug. “The song is finished, Calum. It’s perfect.” Kygo, Gryffin, Calum Scott - Woke Up in Love
The sun climbed higher, hitting the speakers on the shelf. He reached out, pressed play on the demo, and let the first few notes of the guitar fill the house. As the vocals kicked in, he realized he wasn't just singing a story anymore. He was living it. He hadn't just woken up. He had finally arrived.
“You’re thinking too loud,” she whispered, her voice gravelly with sleep. Calum smiled, kissing the top of her head
The morning light in Malibu wasn’t just bright; it was gold. It spilled over the edge of the balcony, catching the condensation on a half-empty glass of water. Calum woke up to a silence that felt heavy, yet peaceful. He didn’t need to look to his left to know the space was occupied, but he did anyway. There she was.
He didn't feel the urge to run. He didn't feel the weight of a looming goodbye. For the first time in a long time, the song in his head matched the life in his living room. “Still
He stood up, his bare feet hitting the cool hardwood. He walked to the window, watching the Pacific tide pull back from the shore. The lyrics of the song they’d been working on circled his head like a soft hum.