Page 151 of Shattered Melodies

I felt my cheeks heat up as people turned to look at us. Mom was dabbing at her eyes with a tissue, and even Dad looked a bit misty.

“Alright,” Liam continued, “let’s make some music, shall we?”

As Liam launched into his first song, I felt my jaw drop. This wasn’t one of his usual hits - it was something completely new. I glanced at Jimmy, who was nodding along with a knowing smile.

“Did you know about this?” I whispered.

Jimmy shrugged, his eyes still on the stage. “He might have mentioned working on some new material.”

I turned my attention back to Liam, really listening to the lyrics. It was raw, honest in a way his music hadn’t been before. I could hear echoes of our story in every line.

As the night went on, I realized that every single song was new. The crowd was eating it up, cheering louder with each unfamiliar tune. I felt a swell of pride in my chest. This was Liam - my Liam - up there, baring his soul to the world.

After what felt like both an eternity and no time at all, Liam addressed the crowd again. “Thank you all for being such an amazing audience. Before I finish up, there’s something I want to share with you.”

He paused, and I could see him take a deep breath. “All the songs you’ve heard tonight are from my upcoming album. It’s the most personal work I’ve ever done, and I have someone very special to thank for that.”

My heart started racing. What was he up to?

“Caleb Winchester,” Liam said, his voice ringing out clear and strong. “Could you join me up here, please?”

For a moment, I froze. Me? On stage? But then I felt Jimmy give me a gentle shove.

“Go on,” he hissed. “Don’t leave the man hanging.”

On autopilot, I made my way to the stage. Liam held out his hand to help me up, and I took it, feeling like I was in a dream.

“Hey,” Liam said softly, just for me. “Trust me, okay?”

Before I could respond, he pulled me close and kissed me. Right there, in front of everyone. I heard a collective gasp from the audience, followed by complete silence. You really could have heard a pin drop.

When Liam pulled back, he was smiling. Not his stage smile, but the real one - the one that made his eyes crinkle at the corners and never failed to make my heart skip a beat.

“Sorry,” he murmured, not looking sorry at all. “I’ve been wanting to do that all night.”

I chuckled, feeling a bit lightheaded. “Warn a guy next time, will ya?”

Liam grinned, then turned back to the audience. “For those of you who don’t know, this is Caleb Winchester. He’s the reason we’re all here tonight, the reason this ranch is going to stay in his family where it belongs.”

I felt my cheeks heat up as people started to applaud. “Liam,” I muttered, “what are you doing?”

He squeezed my hand. “Something I should have done a long time ago.”

Addressing the crowd again, Liam continued. “But Caleb is so much more than just the organizer of this fundraiser. He’s the love of my life, the inspiration behind every song on this new album.”

I stared at him, stunned. We hadn’t talked about going public with our relationship. Hell, we were still figuring things out ourselves.

“Liam,” I said, my voice low. “Are you sure about this?”

He nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”

Then, to my complete shock, Liam reached up and removed his mask. There was a moment of confused silence, and then the barn erupted in chaos.

“My name is Liam Denison,” he said into the mic, his voice somehow carrying over the noise. “And I’m Corey King.”

The crowd went wild. I could see reporters frantically scribbling notes, fans screaming in disbelief. But all I could focus on was Liam - Liam without his mask, Liam smiling at me like I was the only person in the world.

“Come on,” he said, taking my hand. “Let’s get out of here.”

---