Page 95 of Shattered Melodies

And if there was even the slightest chance that he still felt the same, that there was still a spark between us that could be rekindled then I had to try. Had to lay my cards on the table, had to risk my heart for the chance to win his.

“Liam,” I said, my voice shaking with emotion. “I’m going to be honest with you, because I’m tired of hiding, tired of pretending.”

I took a deep breath, gathering my courage. “The truth is, I never stopped loving you. There wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t think of you, didn’t wonder what might have been if things had been different.”

His eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat. But he didn’t speak, didn’t interrupt, just waited for me to continue.

“But I also know that you’ve moved on, that you’ve built a life without me. And I don’t want to presume anything, don’t want to push you into something you’re not ready for.”

He frowned, his brow furrowing in confusion. “Wait, what? You think I’ve moved on? With who?”

I shrugged, feeling a flush of embarrassment heat my cheeks. “I don’t know. That guy, Jimmy. The one who came to visit you, who seems to know you so well.”

And then, to my utter shock Liam laughed. A full-bodied, head-thrown-back laugh that shook his whole frame and brought tears to his eyes.

“Caleb,” he gasped, wiping at his face. “Jimmy’s not… we’re not together. He’s my best friend, has been for years. We dated briefly, back when I first moved to the city, but we quickly realized we were better off as friends.”

I stared at him, my mind reeling. All this time, all these years of thinking he’d found someone else, that he’d left me behind for good…

And it was all in my head. All a misunderstanding, a miscommunication that had kept us apart for far too long.

“So you’re not… you’re single?” I asked, hardly daring to hope.

He nodded, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Single as a dollar bill. Have been for a long time now.”

I felt a rush of something that might have been joy, might have been the purest, most intense relief I’d ever known.

Because this was it. This was my chance, my opportunity to make things right, to start over and build something new and beautiful from the ashes of our past.

I reached out, taking his hand in mine and holding on tight. “Liam, if you’re willing, I want to try again. I want to get to know you, the man you are now. I want to see if there’s still something here, still a chance for us to be together the way we always wanted.”

He bit his lip, his eyes searching mine like he was looking for answers, for some sign that I was serious, that I meant every word.

“I don’t know, Caleb,” he said softly, his voice trembling with emotion. “We’ve been through so much, hurt each other in so many ways. What if it doesn’t work out? What if we’re just setting ourselves up for more heartbreak?”

I shook my head, my grip on his hand tightening. “We won’t know unless we try, Liam. And I’m willing to take that risk, willing to put my heart on the line if it means a chance to be with you again.”

He was silent for a long moment, his eyes shining with unshed tears. And then, slowly, hesitantly…he nodded.

“Okay,” he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. “Okay, Caleb. Let’s try. Let’s see if we can make this work, if we can find our way back to each other.”

Part Three

A PASSIONATE FORTE

CHAPTER 27

Distorted Harmony

LIAM

“Peanut, come on,” I sighed, trying to keep my focus on brushing down midnight in front of me. “I’m working here, girl. Can’t you find a mouse to chase or something?”

I was in the stables, tending to the horses and trying to keep Peanut entertained at the same time. She was being her usual restless self, darting around my feet and meowing loudly for attention.

But she just looked up at me with those big, innocent eyes, her tail swishing back and forth like she didn’t have a care in the world.

I shook my head, a smile tugging at my lips despite my exasperation. She was a handful, but I couldn’t imagine my life without her.

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