Page 120 of Shattered Melodies

Discombobulated

LIAM

The incessant buzzing of my phone pulled me from a deep sleep. I groaned, my body feeling like it was made of lead. After making love twice with Caleb last night, I was utterly spent. I cracked open an eye, squinting against the bright sunlight streaming through the window. Caleb was still fast asleep next to me, his arm draped protectively over my waist.

“Shit,” I muttered, carefully extracting myself from his embrace. I stumbled around the room, searching for my jeans. Where the hell had I tossed them?

Finally locating them draped over a chair, I fished out my phone. Jimmy’s name flashed on the screen. What could he want at this ungodly hour?

“Hello?” I mumbled, my voice still thick with sleep.

“Liam!” Jimmy’s voice came through, sounding frantic. “Thank god. You need to come home. Now.”

I blinked, trying to clear the fog from my brain. “What? Jimmy, slow down. What’s going on?”

“I can’t explain over the phone,” he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Just get here as soon as you can, okay? It’s important.”

Before I could ask any more questions, he hung up. I stared at my phone, a knot of anxiety forming in my stomach.

“Everything okay?” Caleb’s sleepy voice came from the bed.

I turned to see him propped up on one elbow, his hair adorably mussed. “I don’t know,” I admitted. “That was Jimmy. He wants me to come home right away.”

Caleb sat up fully, instantly alert. “Did he say why?”

I shook my head, already pulling on my clothes. “No, just that it was important and he couldn’t explain over the phone.”

Caleb was out of bed in an instant, reaching for his own clothes. “I’m coming with you.”

“You don’t have to do that,” I protested weakly, even as relief flooded through me at the offer.

Caleb paused in buttoning his shirt to give me a look. “Liam, come on. Of course I’m coming. We’re in this together, remember?”

We dressed quickly, pausing only to say a hurried goodbye to Caleb’s parents before jumping into his truck. As we pulled out of the driveway, Caleb reached over and took my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

“Any idea what this could be about?” he asked, his eyes flicking between me and the road.

I shook my head, my leg bouncing nervously. “No clue. Jimmy sounded pretty anxious though, which isn’t like him.”

Caleb nodded, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on the back of my hand.

As we drove, my mind raced with possibilities. Had someone discovered my identity? Was there a problem with my record label? Or was it something to do with my parents?

“Hey,” Caleb’s voice broke through my spiraling thoughts. “You’re thinking so loud I can practically hear it. Try to relax, okay? We don’t know anything yet.”

I let out a shaky laugh. “Yeah, easier said than done. I just hate not knowing, you know?”

Caleb nodded, understanding in his eyes. “I know. But we’ll find out soon enough. And whatever it is, I’ve got your back.”

I squeezed his hand, feeling a warmth spread through my chest.

We lapsed into silence for the rest of the drive, but it was a comfortable one. Just having Caleb there, solid and steady beside me, helped calm my nerves.

As we pulled up to my house, I spotted Jimmy pacing on the front porch. My stomach dropped. This couldn’t be good.

Caleb squeezed my hand. “Ready?”

I took a deep breath. “As I’ll ever be.”

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