Page 86 of Shattered Melodies

Liam shook his head, his expression mirroring my own. “No. I don’t think so, anyway.”

I stood up, my chair scraping against the tile floor. “I’ll get it. You stay here, finish your breakfast.”

He looked like he wanted to protest, but I was already moving towards the door. My mind was racing, trying to figure out who could be dropping by unannounced on a Saturday morning.

Maybe it was one of the construction crew, coming to finish up some last-minute details on the renovation. Or maybe it was a neighbor, stopping by to welcome Liam to the block.

But when I opened the door, when I saw the man standing on the other side my heart stopped. My breath caught in my throat, my eyes going wide with shock and something that felt uncomfortably like jealousy.

He was short, but well-built. With dark hair and sharp, intelligent eyes that seemed to take in everything at once.

And he was carrying a suitcase. A big one, the kind you took on long trips or extended stays.

“Is Liam around?” he asked, his voice deep and smooth and faintly accented.

Before I could answer, before I could even process what was happening Liam was there. Pushing past me, his face breaking into a huge, beaming smile as he launched himself at the man on the porch.

“Jimmy!” he exclaimed, wrapping his arms around him in a tight, enthusiastic hug. “What are you doing here? I thought you weren’t coming until next week!”

I felt something curl in my gut, something hot and bitter and achingly familiar. Because the way Liam was looking at him, the way his whole face lit up like the sun breaking through the clouds…

It was the same way he used to look at me. The same joy, the same love and affection and bone-deep connection.

And for a moment, just a split second, I hated him. Hated this man who had been there for Liam when I couldn’t be, who had seen him through all the ups and downs of his life in the city.

But I pushed the feeling down, forced it back into the dark, hidden corners of my mind where it belonged.

Because this wasn’t about me. This was about Liam, about his happiness and his healing. And if Jimmy was a part of that, if he brought some light and laughter back into Liam’s life then I would suck it up and deal. Would put on a smile and play nice, even if it killed me inside.

So I stepped aside, gesturing for them to come in. “Come on in,” I said, my voice only a little bit strained. “Make yourself at home.”

Liam beamed at me, his arm still slung around Jimmy’s shoulders. “Caleb, this is Jimmy. Jimmy, Caleb.”

I held out my hand, forcing a smile that felt more like a grimace. “Nice to meet you, Jimmy.”

Jimmy took my hand, his grip firm and confident. “Likewise.”

I cleared my throat, dropping Jimmy’s hand and taking a step back. “Well, I should probably get going. Got a lot of work to do at the ranch today.”

Liam frowned, his brow furrowing with concern. “Should I come with you? I don’t want to leave you with all the chores.”

I shook my head, my heart clenching at the thought of spending the day with him. Of working side by side, of falling back into the easy rhythm we had once had.

But I knew I couldn’t. Knew that I needed some time to process everything, to sort through the tangled mess of my thoughts and emotions.

And I knew that he needed this time with Jimmy. Needed to catch up, to reconnect with his old life and the people who had been such an important part of it.

“No, I’ve got it covered,” I said, forcing a smile that felt like a lie. “You stay here, enjoy your day. Take it easy, rest up.”

I could see the hesitation in his eyes, the doubt and the worry. But he nodded, his hand squeezing my arm in a silent gesture of thanks. And then I was walking away. Out the door, down the steps, across the lawn to where my truck was parked.

I climbed in behind the wheel, my hands shaking as I gripped the steering wheel. And for a long moment, I just sat there. Staring out the windshield, trying to breathe past the ache in my chest.

Liam needed me, I could see that even if he didn’t want to admit it. Needed me to be strong, to be steady. To be the rock that he could lean on, the shelter that he could turn to when the world got too dark and too heavy.

And I would be that for him. Would be anything and everything that he needed, even if it killed me. Because he was worth it. Worth the heartache, worth the sacrifice. Worth every single moment of pain and uncertainty and gut-wrenching, soul-destroying love.

He was my forever. My always, my everything.

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