Page 149 of Shattered Melodies

Reality came crashing back. Right. The fundraiser. The concert. The big reveal of my secret identity. Suddenly, it all felt overwhelming again.

Caleb must have sensed my tension because he squeezed my hand. “Hey,” he said softly. “One step at a time, okay? We’ve got this.”

I took a deep breath, nodding. “Yeah, okay. One step at a time.”

CHAPTER 40

Piecing Back the Melodies

CALEB

Icould hear the buzz of the crowd outside, a mix of excited chatter and the occasional burst of laughter. It was showtime, or near enough. I tugged at the collar of my shirt, still not quite used to the fancy duds Jimmy had picked out for us. But I had to admit, the man had taste. Even managed to work in my request for a cowboy hat. Couldn’t imagine going on stage without it.

I gave myself one last once-over in the mirror. Not too shabby for a ranch hand, if I did say so myself. Sarah and Mark had already changed and were probably out there somewhere, soaking up the pre-show jitters. We all looked good together, I had to admit. Like a real band, not just a bunch of friends playing at being rock stars.

The only piece missing was Liam. I hadn’t seen what he was wearing yet, but knowing him, it’d be something that’d make my heart skip a beat. Guy always did clean up nice.

A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts. “Come in,” I called out, figuring it was probably Sarah or Mark coming to drag me out.

Instead, Jimmy’s head poked in, looking like he’d been through the wringer but still managing a grin. “Five minutes, cowboy. Everyone’s seated and I’ve got the media circus under control. For now, at least.”

I nodded, impressed. “Nice work, Jimmy. You holding up okay?”

He shrugged, that easy smile still in place. “Nothing a week-long nap won’t fix. Oh, and Liam’s asking for you. He’s in his dressing room.”

My heart did a little flip at the mention of Liam’s name. Some things never change, I guess. “How’s he doing?”

“Good,” Jimmy said, already backing out of the room. “Nervous, but good. Better go see him before he works himself into a tizzy.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “Yeah, yeah. I’m on it.”

As Jimmy disappeared, I took one last look in the mirror, adjusting my hat. Here goes nothing, I thought.

The walk to Liam’s dressing room felt both too long and too short. I paused outside his door, taking a deep breath before knocking.

“Come in,” Liam’s voice called out, and I swear I could hear the nerves in those two words.

I pushed the door open and… holy shit. I actually had to blink a few times, make sure I wasn’t seeing things. Liam stood there in a sleeveless jacket over a tank top, and suddenly I forgot how to breathe.

“Hey, cowboy,” Liam said, a slow smile spreading across his face as he crossed the room. “You clean up nice.”

Before I could get my brain to form words, he was kissing me hello, and all thoughts flew out the window. When we broke apart, I was pretty sure I had a goofy grin on my face.

“You’re one to talk,” I finally managed, my eyes roaming over him appreciatively. “Trying to upstage the rest of us?”

Liam laughed, but I could see the tension in his shoulders. “Please. You guys are the real stars tonight. I’m just the opening act.”

I raised an eyebrow at that. “You kidding me? Liam, you’re Corey King. You’re about to blow everyone’s minds out there.”

He shrugged, trying for nonchalance but not quite hitting the mark. “Yeah, well. We’ll see about that.”

I reached out, pulling him close. “Hey. Talk to me. What’s going on in that head of yours?”

Liam sighed, leaning into me. “Just… nerves, I guess. What if this whole thing backfires? What if everyone hates me for lying to them?”

I stroked his back, feeling the tension in his muscles. “First off, you haven’t lied to anyone. You’ve just been… selective with the truth. And second, anyone who matters already knows and loves you. The rest? They don’t matter.”

He pulled back slightly, looking up at me with those big blue eyes that always made me weak in the knees. “Always the voice of reason”

---