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.

In the kitchen, the espresso machine began to hiss. The smell of dark roast filled the air, cutting through the saltiness of the sea breeze. He thought about the years spent chasing ghosts, the nights spent in hotel rooms where the only company was a minibar and a muted television. He had become an expert at the "lonely exit"—leaving before the sun could expose the fact that he didn’t want to stay. But this was different.

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. “Just thinking about the playlist.”