Page 81 of Shattered Melodies

Jake flinched, his eyes squeezing shut like he was in physical pain. And for a moment, I almost felt sorry for him. Almost felt a flicker of sympathy for the boy he had been, the mistakes he had made and the guilt he would carry for the rest of his life.

But then I remembered the look on Liam’s face that night, the betrayal and the heartbreak and the utter devastation. And any sympathy I might have felt vanished like smoke in the wind.

“I know,” Jake said finally, his voice rough with emotion. “I know I don’t deserve his forgiveness, or yours. But I’m trying, Caleb. I’m trying so damn hard to be better, to make up for all the ways I hurt you both.”

I nodded, my throat tight with unspoken words. Because I could see it, could hear the sincerity in his voice and the regret in his eyes.

“I hope you can,” I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. “I hope you can prove yourself, Jake. To Liam, and to everyone else in this town who still sees you as the bully you used to be.”

He nodded, his jaw tight with determination. “I will, Caleb. I swear it. I’ll do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes.”

“I’ll be staying here for the night,” I said finally, my voice quiet but firm. “He shouldn’t be alone right now. He needs someone to watch over him, to make sure he’s okay.”

Jake nodded, understanding shining in his eyes. “Of course. And I’ll make sure the Marley boys get what’s coming to them. They won’t get away with this, Caleb. I promise you that.”

I felt a rush of gratitude, a swell of affection for this man who had once been my enemy, but who now felt like an ally. Like a friend, in the truest sense of the word.

“Thank you, Jake,” I said softly, my voice rough with emotion. “For everything. For being there for Liam, for having his back when I couldn’t.”

He shook his head, a small, sad smile tugging at his lips. “You don’t have to thank me, Caleb. It’s the least I could do, after everything.”

With a final nod and a clasp of hands, I watched as Jake climbed back into his car and drove away into the night. The tail lights disappeared around the corner, leaving me alone in the quiet darkness.

I stood there for a moment, breathing in the crisp night air and trying to gather my thoughts. My emotions were all over the place, a jumbled mess of worry, anger, and a deep, aching sadness that I couldn’t quite shake.

And so, with a deep breath and a squaring of my shoulders, I turned and headed back inside. The house was quiet, the only sound the soft ticking of the clock on the mantle. Peanut was curled up on the couch next to Liam, her tiny body rising and falling with each breath.

I stopped in the kitchen to grab a can of cat food, popping it open and emptying it into Peanut’s dish. She perked up at the sound, her ears twitching as she jumped down from the couch and trotted over to me.

“There you go, sweet girl,” I murmured, giving her a scratch behind the ears. “Gotta keep your strength up, yeah? Got a big job ahead of you, keeping an eye on our boy.”

Peanut purred, rubbing her head against my hand before diving into her food. I watched her for a moment, feeling a rush of affection for this tiny, fierce little creature who loved Liam just as much as I did.

Then I made my way into the living room and over to the fireplace. It was one of those new electric ones, all sleek lines and modern convenience.

But as I flipped the switch and watched the flames spring to life, casting a warm, flickering glow over the room, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia for the old wood-burning fireplace at my folks’ place. There was something about the crackle and pop of real logs, the smell of wood smoke and the way it seemed to warm you from the inside out, that just couldn’t be replicated.

But this would do. Would provide some comfort and light, a bit of warmth to chase away the chill that seemed to have settled into my bones.

I settled myself on the couch next to Liam, careful not to jostle him. He was still out cold, his face relaxed and peaceful in sleep.

I reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. My fingers lingered, tracing the lines and angles of his face, committing every detail to memory.

“I never stopped caring, you know,” I whispered, my voice barely audible over the hum of the fireplace. “Not for a single second. Even when things were at their worst, even when I thought I’d lost you forever…I never stopped loving you.”

The words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of all the years and all the miles that had stretched between us. All the misunderstandings and the missed opportunities, the hurt and the heartache that had brought us to this moment. Because we were here. Together, after all this time. And maybe, that meant something.

Maybe it meant that there was still a chance for us. Still a way to rebuild what had been broken, to find our way back to each other and the love that had always been the bedrock of our lives.

It wouldn’t be easy. I knew that, knew that there were so many hurdles to overcome and so many wounds to heal. But I was ready to try. Ready to put in the work, to be there for Liam in whatever way he needed me to be.

Whether that was as a friend, a confidant, a shoulder to cry on…or something more, something deeper and truer and more lasting. I would be there. Would stand by his side and hold his hand, would help him pick up the pieces and put himself back together again.

Because that’s what love was. Not a fairy tale, not a happily-ever-after wrapped up in a neat little bow. But a choice. A commitment, a promise to weather the storms and brave the fires, to never give up even when the going got tough.

CHAPTER 23

Unspoken Melodies

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