Page 128 of Shattered Melodies

For the next hour, I filled them in on everything. Liam’s return, our rekindled relationship, the drama with his parents, the fundraiser, all of it. It felt good to get it off my chest, to share the weight of it all with friends who truly cared.

When I finished, Sarah let out a low whistle. “Wow, Caleb. That’s a lot.”

Mark nodded, his expression thoughtful. “No kidding. How are you holding up with all of this?”

I shrugged, trying to play it cool. But who was I kidding? These were my best friends. They could see right through me.

“Honestly? I’m a mess,” I admitted. “I’m happy Liam’s back, happier than I’ve been in years. But I’m also terrified. What if it doesn’t work out? What if his parents manage to pull him away again?”

Sarah reached out, squeezing my hand. “Oh, Caleb. It’s okay to be scared. This is a big deal.”

Mark nodded in agreement. “Yeah, man. But from what you’ve told us, it sounds like Liam’s all in this time. You’ve got to trust that.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “I know, I know. It’s just after everything that happened before…”

“Hey,” Sarah cut in, her voice gentle but firm. “You’re not the same people you were back then. You’ve both grown, matured. Give yourselves a chance.”

I nodded, feeling some of the tension ease from my shoulders. They were right, of course. But it was still hard to shake off years of hurt and doubt.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you.” I said, managing a small smile.

Mark grinned, reaching over to punch my arm lightly. “Probably mope around the ranch like a lovesick cowboy.”

I rolled my eyes, but couldn’t help chuckling. “Very funny.”

Sarah giggled, then her expression turned more serious. “So, what’s your plan now? ”

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. This was it. The moment of truth. “Actually, that’s kind of why I wanted to meet up with you guys. I had an idea, but I’m gonna need your help.”

Mark raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Do tell.”

I glanced between them, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement. “I was thinking maybe we could get the band back together? For the fundraiser, I mean.”

There was a moment of stunned silence, then Sarah let out a squeal of delight. “Oh my god, yes! That would be amazing!”

Mark looked more skeptical. “I don’t know, man. It’s been a long time. Are you sure we can pull it off?”

I nodded, feeling more confident by the second. “I think we can. We were good back in the day, remember? And it’s for a good cause.”

Sarah was practically bouncing in her seat. “Oh, this is going to be so much fun! We could do some of our old songs, maybe a few new ones.”

Mark held up his hands, but I could see a smile tugging at his lips. “Alright, alright. I’m in. But we’re gonna need to practice our asses off.”

I grinned, feeling a surge of excitement. “Definitely. We can use the barn at the ranch for rehearsals.”

As we started planning, throwing around song ideas and discussing logistics, I felt a warmth spread through my chest. This was more than just a fundraiser now. It was a chance to reconnect with old friends, to rediscover a part of myself I’d almost forgotten.

“Oh!” Sarah exclaimed suddenly. “We should do that song you wrote for Liam back in high school. You remember? The one you never got to perform for him?”

I felt my cheeks heat up. “I don’t know, guys. That’s pretty personal.”

Mark snorted. “Dude, you’re trying to win back the love of your life. Personal is kind of the point.”

I ran a hand through my hair, considering. The thought of performing that song, of laying my heart bare in front of everyone was terrifying. But maybe that’s exactly what I needed to do.

“Alright,” I said finally. “Let’s do it.”

Sarah clapped her hands excitedly. “This is going to be amazing. Liam’s not going to know what hit him.”

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