32. Roping in the Past

CHAPTER 32

Roping in the Past

CALEB

L iam words from earlier admittedly stung, but I understood. Now, as I watched Liam from across the room, I noticed how he flinched at every little sound. The poor guy was wound tighter than a spring, and I couldn't blame him. This whole situation was a mess, and he was feeling the pressure from all sides.

We'd been hammering out details for the fundraiser for hours now, and I could see the fatigue setting in on everyone's faces. It was time to call it a day, but before I could suggest it, Liam caught my eye.

"Hey," he said, his voice low as he approached me. "How much longer do we have? Before the bank's deadline, I mean."

I ran a hand through my hair, doing some quick mental math. "About a week and a half, give or take. Not a ton of time, but we're making progress."

Hank, who'd been listening nearby, chimed in. "Why don't we aim for this coming weekend? Give us enough time to pull it all together, but not so long that we're cutting it too close to the deadline."

I nodded, mulling it over. It was a solid plan. "Good thinking, Hank. Let's do it. This weekend it is, folks. We'll nail down the final details tomorrow."

"Alright, everyone," I said, raising my voice to address the room. "I think we've made some good progress here. Let's break for the night and pick this up tomorrow with fresh eyes."

There was a collective sigh of relief around the room. Dean stretched, his back cracking audibly. "Sounds good to me, boss. My old bones aren't cut out for these marathon planning sessions anymore."

Mike, ever the jokester, piped up. "Yeah, and I'm starting to forget what my wife looks like. She might file for divorce if I don't show my face at home soon."

That got a chuckle out of everyone, even Liam, though his smile didn't quite reach his eyes. I made a mental note to check in with him later.

As the group started to disperse, Hank lingered behind. "You know, Caleb," he said, his voice low, "this fundraiser idea of Liam's it's a good one. Might be just what we need to turn things around."

I nodded, feeling a surge of pride for Liam. "Yeah, I think so too. We're lucky to have him here."

Hank gave me a knowing look. "Mmhmm. Lucky indeed. Just make sure you're taking care of him too, you hear? He's putting himself out there for us, and that can't be easy after everything he's been through."

I felt a twinge of guilt. Hank was right, of course. I'd been so focused on saving the ranch that I hadn't stopped to consider how all this might be affecting Liam.

"You're right," I said, running a hand through my hair. "I'll talk to him."

As the last of the crew filed out, tossing ‘good nights' over their shoulders, I turned my attention back to Liam. He was still tense, his shoulders hunched as if he was trying to make himself smaller. It hurt to see him like this, so unlike the confident, vibrant man I knew he could be.

"Hey," I said softly, approaching him. "You doing okay?"

Liam attempted a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah, sure. Just peachy."

I couldn't help but chuckle at his sarcasm. "Liar. Come on, why don't you come back to my place for dinner? Mom's making her famous pot roast."

To my surprise, Liam actually took a step back, his eyes widening. "I don't know, Caleb. Your parents they must be pissed at me, right? For leaving, for causing all this trouble."

I blinked, taken aback. Was that really what he thought? Without thinking, I reached out and took his arm, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Liam, no. They don't blame you for any of this. Hell, they've been asking about you non-stop since you got back to town. Mom's been dying to see you again."

He looked skeptical, but I could see a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "Really? You're not just saying that?"

I shook my head, a fond smile tugging at my lips. "Nah, I wouldn't lie to you about that. Come on, what do you say? Free food and good company. Can't beat that, right?"

Liam hesitated for a moment longer, then his shoulders relaxed slightly. "Alright, yeah. That sounds nice, actually."

"Great," I grinned, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. "Let's hit the road then. I'm starving."

As we walked out to my truck, I couldn't help but marvel at how natural this felt. Having Liam by my side again, heading home for a family dinner it was like no time had passed at all. And yet, everything had changed.

I climbed into the driver's seat, waiting for Liam to buckle up before starting the engine. As we pulled out onto the road, I snuck a glance at him. He was staring out the window, his profile illuminated by the setting sun. God, he was beautiful.

"You know," I said, breaking the comfortable silence. "I never thought I'd see you back here. In Oakwood, I mean."

Liam turned to look at me, a wry smile on his face. "Yeah, well, that makes two of us. Funny how life works out sometimes, huh?"

I nodded, keeping my eyes on the road. "Sure is. But I'm glad you're here, Liam. Really glad."

From the corner of my eye, I saw his smile soften. "Yeah, me too. Even with all this craziness I'm glad I came back."

We lapsed into silence again, but it was comfortable. That was one thing I'd always loved about being with Liam - we didn't need to fill every moment with chatter. Just being together was enough.

As we pulled up to the house, I could see the nervousness creeping back into Liam's posture. I cut the engine and turned to face him.

"Hey," I said softly. "It's going to be fine. They're going to be thrilled to see you, I promise."

Liam took a deep breath, nodding. "Okay. Okay, let's do this."

I couldn't help but grin at his nervousness. It was kind of adorable, really. I grabbed his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze before leading him into the ranch house.

"Wait here a sec," I told him, gesturing to the hallway just outside the dining room. "I want to surprise them."

Liam nodded, looking like he might bolt at any second. I gave him a wink before heading into the dining room.

"Hey, folks," I called out, spotting my parents setting the table.

Mom looked up, her face brightening. "Caleb! Right on time. Dinner's almost ready."

I made my way over, giving Dad a quick hug and planting a kiss on Mom's cheek. "Actually, I've got a bit of a surprise for you two."

Dad raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What's that, son?"

I couldn't keep the grin off my face. "Well, why don't I just show you?" I turned towards the hallway, motioning for Liam to come in. "Come on in!"

Liam stepped into the room, looking a bit like a deer caught in headlights. For a second, nobody moved. Then Mom let out a delighted gasp.

"Liam!" she cried, rushing forward to envelop him in a hug. "Oh, sweetie, it's so good to see you!"

Liam looked stunned for a moment before his arms came up to return the hug. "Hi, Mrs. Winchester," he mumbled, his voice muffled against her shoulder.

Dad approached next, clapping Liam on the back as Mom finally released him. "Welcome home, son," he said, his voice gruff but warm.

I watched the whole scene unfold, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. This was exactly what I'd hoped for - my family welcoming Liam back with open arms.

"Alright, alright," Mom said, wiping at her eyes. "Let's eat before the food gets cold. Liam, honey, you sit right here next to Caleb."

We all settled around the table, the air filled with the delicious smells of Mom's cooking. As we started to dig in, I could see Liam gradually relaxing, the tension easing out of his shoulders.

"So, Liam," Mom said after a few minutes of comfortable silence. "What made you decide to come back to Oakwood Grove? Not that we're not thrilled to have you, of course."

I paused, my fork halfway to my mouth. I was curious about this too. Liam had never really explained why he'd chosen to come back here, of all places.

Liam set down his fork, seeming to gather his thoughts. "Well," he started, his voice quiet but steady, "I guess I just wanted to live my life the way I wanted to, you know? I was so exhausted of living under my parents' rule. Always trying to be what they wanted me to be, never feeling like I could just be myself."

I nodded, understanding completely. Liam's parents had always been a sore spot, always pushing him to be something he wasn't.

"And Oakwood Grove?" Dad prompted. "Why here specifically? "

Liam glanced at me, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I guess it felt like coming home. Even after all these years, this place it means something to me."

I felt my heart skip a beat at his words.

"What about your parents?" Dad asked, his brow furrowed in concern. "Do they know you're here?"

Liam shook his head. "No, they don't at first but they recently found out by hiring an investigator."

I took Liam's hands and gave it a gentle squeeze. I wish that I could take all his stress away from him.

Mom said. "We're just happy to have you here, Liam. However long you want to stay."

I could see the relief wash over Liam's face. "Thank you," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "That means a lot."

As dinner continued, the conversation flowed easily. Mom and Dad caught Liam up on all the town gossip, and Liam shared some stories about his life in the city. I mostly just sat back and watched, content to see Liam fitting so seamlessly back into our family dynamic.

After dinner, as Mom was clearing the plates, we offered to help but she refused as usual. Dad leaned back in his chair, fixing Liam with a thoughtful look.

"You know, Liam," he said, "I hope you know that what happened all those years ago that's water under the bridge. We never blamed you for leaving."

I tensed, not sure how Liam would react to this topic. But to my surprise, he just nodded, a small smile on his face.

"I appreciate that, Mr. Winchester," he said. "I've carried that guilt for a long time. It means a lot to hear you say that."

Dad reached out, patting Liam's shoulder. "Please, call me John. Mr. Winchester makes me feel old."

I couldn't help but smile at the exchange. It was like a weight had been lifted, not just from Liam's shoulders, but from all of us.

"Hey, want to see my room? It's pretty much the same as you remember it. "

Liam's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Sure, why not? Lead the way."

We excused ourselves from the table, thanking my mom for the meal one last time. As we climbed the stairs, I felt a flutter of nervousness in my stomach. It was silly, really. Liam had been in my room countless times when we were younger. But this felt different somehow.

I pushed open the door, letting Liam step in first. He paused in the doorway, his eyes scanning the room.

"Wow," he breathed. "It's like stepping back in time."

I chuckled, moving to stand beside him. "Told you it hadn't changed much. Well, except for the bed. Had to upgrade to something that could actually fit me after I hit my growth spurt."

Liam wandered further into the room, his fingers trailing over the dresser, the desk, the old guitar stand in the corner. "You kept all this stuff?"

I shrugged, trying to play it cool even as my heart raced. "Yeah, well. Guess I'm a bit of a pack rat."

The truth was, I'd kept everything exactly as it had been when Liam left. It was like I'd been preserving a moment in time, holding onto the memories of us together in this room.

Liam turned to me, a soft smile on his face. "It's nice. Comforting, you know? To see that some things don't change."

I nodded, taking a step closer to him. "Some things don't," I agreed. "But some things do change. For the better, I think."

Liam's eyes met mine, and I saw a flicker of something there. Understanding, maybe. Or hope. Before I could overthink it, I closed the distance between us, tackling him onto the bed.

We landed in a tangle of limbs, both of us laughing. It was like we were teenagers again, wrestling and rough-housing without a care in the world. But as our laughter died down, I became acutely aware of our position. Liam was beneath me, his chest rising and falling rapidly, his face flushed.

"Hi," I said softly, suddenly feeling a bit breathless myself.

"Hi yourself," Liam replied, his voice equally quiet .

For a moment, we just stared at each other. I could feel the heat of Liam's body, could see the flecks of gold in his hazel eyes. God, he was beautiful. How had I ever let him go?

"Caleb," Liam whispered, his hand coming up to cup my cheek. "I've missed this. Missed you."

I leaned into his touch, closing my eyes for a moment. "I've missed you too, Li. More than you know."

Liam's thumb brushed over my cheek, sending shivers down my spine. I opened my eyes, seeing the longing mirrored in his. "Why did we ever let this go?" he asked softly.

I shook my head. "I don't know. Stupidity, pride…life." My voice trailed off, but my thoughts were racing. How many nights had I lain awake thinking about him? Wondering what could have been?

He leaned in closer, his breath warm on my lips. "Can we fix it?" he murmured, his eyes searching mine.

"I want to," I replied, my voice barely more than a whisper. I wanted to grab hold of this moment and never let it go.

Liam's lips brushed against mine, tentative at first, then more insistent. I could taste the desperation, the need in his kiss. It was a kiss that spoke of lost time, of regret and longing. I matched his intensity, my hands finding their way to his hair, pulling him closer.

"Caleb," he moaned against my mouth, his hands roaming my back, pulling me flush against him. I could feel his arousal, and it only fueled my own.

"Liam, I need you," I breathed, my voice husky with desire. I didn't care how it sounded. I was done pretending, done holding back.

He pulled away slightly, his eyes dark with need. "Here?" he asked, glancing around my sparsely furnished apartment.

I nodded. "Yes, here. Now." My voice was firm, leaving no room for doubt.

Liam's hands were on my shirt, yanking it over my head, and I did the same to him. His skin was warm, smooth under my fingers. I traced the lines of his muscles, marveling at how he felt, how he fit against me.

"God, you're perfect," I murmured, my lips trailing down his neck, tasting his skin.

He let out a shuddering breath, his hands working on my belt. "You always did know how to make me feel good," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

I chuckled, helping him with his pants. "I aim to please."

Liam's hands were on my cock, stroking me with a familiarity that made my knees weak. "Fuck, Caleb," he groaned. "I've missed this so much."

"Me too," I managed to say, my breath coming in short gasps. "I want you, Li. All of you."

He nodded, his eyes never leaving mine as he guided me to the bed. "I want you too," he said, his voice raw with emotion. "I want to feel you, Caleb. I need to."

I lay back, pulling him down on top of me. Our bodies pressed together, skin to skin, and it was like coming home. I reached for the nightstand, fumbling for the lube I kept there.

Liam took it from me, squeezing some onto his fingers. "I'll take care of you," he whispered, his voice soothing. He worked his fingers into me, preparing me with a gentleness that made my heart ache.

"Liam," I gasped, arching into his touch. "Please."

He nodded, positioning himself at my entrance. "I'm here, Caleb," he said softly. "I've got you."

I felt him push into me, slowly, carefully, and it was everything I needed. "God, yes," I moaned, wrapping my legs around him, pulling him deeper.

He moved with a steady rhythm, each thrust sending waves of pleasure through me. "You feel so good," he murmured, his lips on my neck, my collarbone. "I can't believe I let you go."

"Don't," I panted. "Don't let me go."

"I won't," he promised, his pace quickening. "Never again."

I could feel the tension building, the slow burn of pleasure turning into something more intense. "Liam, I'm close," I warned, my voice shaking.

"Me too," he replied, his thrusts becoming more urgent. "Come for me, Caleb."

His words were my undoing. I came with a cry, my body trembling with the force of it. Liam followed moments later, collapsing on top of me, both of us breathing hard.

For a while, we just lay there, our bodies tangled together. I could feel his heartbeat against my chest, the rise and fall of his breath.

"Caleb," he said after a while, his voice soft. "I mean it. I don't want to let you go again."

I turned my head to look at him, seeing the sincerity in his eyes. "I don't want to let you go either," I said, my voice firm. "We can make this work, Li. I know we can."

He smiled, a real smile that lit up his face. "Yeah, we can. We will."