Calum smiled, kissing the top of her head. “Just thinking about the playlist.”
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. Kygo, Gryffin, Calum Scott - Woke Up in Love
He heard the rustle of sheets from the bedroom. A few moments later, she appeared in the doorway, wearing his oversized tour hoodie, her hair a messy crown of blonde tangles. She didn’t say anything at first; she just walked over and leaned her head against his shoulder while the coffee dripped. Calum smiled, kissing the top of her head
He looked back at the view. He realized then that the music wasn’t just about the melody or the drop—it was about the transition. The shift from the cold, blue hues of a lonely night to the warm, orange glow of a shared morning. Calum woke up to a silence that felt heavy, yet peaceful
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.
“You’re thinking too loud,” she whispered, her voice gravelly with sleep.
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.
