27. Distorted Harmony

CHAPTER 27

Distorted Harmony

LIAM

" P eanut, 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.

As I worked, my mind drifted to the conversation I'd had with Caleb the day before. It had been intense. Overwhelming, in a way that I hadn't felt in years. Like all the walls I'd built up, all the defenses I'd put in place to protect my heart they were crumbling, brick by brick.

And it scared me. Scared me more than I wanted to admit, more than I knew how to put into words. Because as much as I wanted this, wanted him I was terrified of getting hurt again. Of opening myself up, of letting him in, only to have it all come crashing down around me like it had before.

I didn't know if I could survive that kind of heartbreak again. Didn't know if I had the strength to pick up the pieces, to put myself back together and start all over. But at the same time I couldn't deny what I felt for him. Couldn't pretend that the spark between us, the connection that had always been there, wasn't real and true and undeniable.

I loved him. Had always loved him, even when I was too angry and hurt and lost to admit it to myself.

And now, with him here, with the chance to start over and build something new and beautiful from the ashes of our past, I wanted to take it. Wanted to grab onto it with both hands, to hold on tight and never let go.

I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders, and started to sing. A soft, gentle melody that I'd written years ago, when the pain of losing him was still fresh and raw.

It was a song about love, about the kind of connection that never really goes away, no matter how hard you try to bury it or forget.

As I sang, my voice echoing softly in the barn, I felt a shift in the air. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and I knew I wasn't alone anymore. I turned, my heart skipping a beat when I saw Caleb standing there, watching me with a soft smile on his face.

"Don't stop on my account," he said, his voice low and warm. "That was beautiful."

I felt my cheeks heat up, suddenly self-conscious. "It's nothing special. Just something I wrote a while back."

Caleb shook his head, taking a step closer. "It's more than special, Liam."

I snorted, trying to brush off the compliment. "Yeah, right. You're just saying that because you haven't heard me sing in years. "

"No, I mean it," he insisted, his eyes serious. "There's something raw and honest about the way you sing. It's like you're pouring your whole soul into every note."

I swallowed hard, feeling exposed in a way I hadn't in years. Because he was right. When I sang, when I let the music flow through me, it was like laying my heart bare for the world to see.

"Thanks," I mumbled, not sure what else to say.

Caleb must have sensed my discomfort because he changed the subject. "So, what brought on the impromptu concert? Peanut being fussy again?"

I glanced down at the kitten, who was now curled up at my feet, fast asleep. "Yeah, she was having a hard time settling down. Music usually helps."

"Well, it certainly worked its magic," Caleb chuckled. Then, to my surprise, he held out his hand. "Care to dance?"

I blinked at him, thrown by the sudden offer. "Dance? Here? Now?"

He shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Why not? The mood's right, we've got music. Well, if you keep singing, that is."

Caleb started humming the melody of the song I'd been singing, and before I knew it, I was reaching for his hand.

"Ah, what the hell," I muttered. "Why not?"

Caleb's grin widened as he pulled me close, one hand settling on my waist while the other held mine. We started swaying gently, our bodies falling into a familiar rhythm that felt like coming home.

I picked up the song where I'd left off, my voice a little shaky at first but growing stronger as we moved together. Caleb joined in on the chorus, his rich baritone blending perfectly with my tenor.

As we danced and sang, I felt something loosen in my chest. A knot of tension I hadn't even realized I'd been carrying started to unravel. For the first time in years, I felt light. Free.

We spun around the barn, narrowly avoiding hay bales and farm equipment. At one point, Caleb dipped me dramatically, making me yelp in surprise.

"Careful!" I laughed, clutching at his shoulders. "I'm not as flexible as I used to be."

Caleb waggled his eyebrows suggestively. "Oh really? That's not what I remember."

I felt my face flame, a mix of embarrassment and something else, something hotter and more dangerous. "Shut up," I grumbled, giving him a half-hearted shove.

He just laughed, pulling me back in close. We kept dancing, even after the song ended, just swaying together in comfortable silence.

Finally, reluctantly, I pulled away. "We should probably stop before someone walks in and gets the wrong idea."

Caleb raised an eyebrow. "And what idea would that be?"

I rolled my eyes, ignoring the way my heart was racing. "You know what I mean. We're supposed to be taking things slow, remember?"

He nodded, his expression turning serious. "I know. And we will. I just… I've missed this, you know? Missed you."

I swallowed hard, fighting against the surge of emotion his words triggered. "Yeah…"

We stood there for a moment, just looking at each other. The air between us felt charged, heavy with unspoken words and long-buried feelings.

Finally, desperate to break the tension, I blurted out, "So, uh, you a fan of Corey King?"

Caleb blinked, thrown by the sudden change of subject. Then, to my surprise, a faint blush colored his cheeks.

"Oh, uh, yeah," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I mean, I know of him. Listen to his stuff every now and then."

I felt a flutter of anxiety in my stomach. This was dangerous territory. I didn't want to give away my secret identity, but knowing that Caleb listened to my music it meant more than I wanted to admit .

"Oh yeah?" I said, trying to keep my voice casual. "What do you think of his stuff?"

Caleb's eyes lit up, and I could see the excitement bubbling up in him. "It's incredible, man. The way he writes, it's like he's speaking directly to my soul, you know? There's this one song, ‘Echoes of You'… fuck, it wrecks me every time I hear it."

I felt my breath catch in my throat. ‘Echoes of You' was one of the most personal songs I'd ever written. It was about Caleb, about us, about all the regrets and what-ifs that had haunted me for years.

"Yeah," I managed to choke out. "It's a good song."

Before I could protest, he was grabbing my hand and pulling me towards the barn doors. I let him lead me, my mind still reeling from the revelation that Caleb was a fan of my music. Of me.

"Hey," I said as we stepped out into the sunlight. "What were you doing in the barn anyway? Looking for me?"

Caleb nodded, a sheepish grin on his face. "Yeah, actually. I, uh… I wanted to ask you something."

I raised an eyebrow, curious despite myself. "Oh yeah? What's that?"

He took a deep breath, like he was steeling himself for something. "I was wondering if you wanted to go out for lunch. In town, at The Grove."

I hesitated, not sure how to respond. On one hand, I wanted to go. Wanted to spend time with Caleb, to try and rebuild what we'd lost. But on the other, I knew this town. Knew how cruel and unforgiving it could be. I didn't want a repeat of what happened before, didn't want Caleb to see how broken I still was.

The trauma was still there, lurking just beneath the surface. What if I had a panic attack in the middle of the diner? What if someone said something, and I lost it again?

I must have been silent for too long, because Caleb's face fell. "It's okay if you don't want to," he said quickly. "I get it, really. We can do something else. "

"No!" I said, surprising myself with the vehemence in my voice. "We can go."

Caleb's eyes widened, hope flickering across his face. "You sure? You seemed hesitant there for a minute."

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to meet his gaze. "I'm sure. I promised I'd try, right?"

A slow smile spread across Caleb's face, pride shining in his eyes. "Okay. If you're sure. But if at any point you want to leave, just say the word and we're out of there, no questions asked."

I nodded, feeling a rush of gratitude for his understanding.

I was done running. Done hiding from my past, from my feelings. If I wanted to move forward, to build something real with Caleb, I had to face my demons head-on.

The drive into town was quiet, but not uncomfortably so. Caleb had the radio on low, some country station playing soft, twangy ballads. I leaned my head against the window, watching the familiar landscape roll by.

Caleb's truck rumbled down the familiar streets of Oakwood Grove, the sound of gravel crunching under the tires a steady rhythm in the background. I stared out the window, my stomach a knot of anxiety as we passed by places I hadn't seen in years.

"You okay over there?" Caleb asked, glancing at me from the driver's seat. "You're awfully quiet."

I forced a smile, trying to keep my voice light. "Yeah, just taking it all in, you know?"

He nodded, his eyes back on the road. "I bet. Must be like stepping into a time machine or something."

"Something like that," I muttered, my gaze drawn to a familiar building looming ahead.

Oakwood Grove High. The scene of so many memories, both good and bad. As we drove past, it was like someone had pressed play on a movie in my head. Suddenly, I wasn't in Caleb's truck anymore. I was back there, on that night.

The prom. The excitement buzzing in the air, the cheesy decorations, the pounding music. Caleb and I, sneaking glances at each other across the gym, trying to keep our secret safe.

Then Jake. His face twisted with disgust and triumph as he outed us to everyone. The shocked gasps, the cruel laughter, the feeling of my world crumbling around me.

Running. My feet pounding against the pavement, tears blurring my vision. The screech of tires, the blinding headlights, the sickening crunch of metal meeting flesh.

Pain. So much pain.

"Liam! Liam, hey, breathe. Come on, breathe with me."

I gasped, pulled back to the present by Caleb's voice. We were stopped on the side of the road, Caleb's hand on my arm, his eyes wide with concern.

"Shit," I panted, realizing I was shaking. "Shit, I'm sorry. I don't know what happened."

Caleb squeezed my arm gently. "It's okay. You had a panic attack, I think. Are you alright?"

I nodded, embarrassed and angry at myself for losing control like that. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"We don't have to do this, Liam. We can turn around right now if you want." Caleb said softly, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on my arm.

Part of me wanted to say yes. To run away, to hide from all the pain and fear that this town stirred up in me. But a bigger part, the part that was tired of being controlled by my past, rebelled against the idea.

"No," I said, my voice stronger than I felt. "No, I want to do this. I need to do this."

Caleb studied me for a moment, his eyes searching mine. "You sure? There's no shame in needing more time."

I shook my head, squaring my shoulders. "I'm sure. Let's go."

He nodded, giving my arm one last squeeze before putting the truck back in gear. As we started moving again, I took a deep breath, trying to center myself.