33. Discombobulated

CHAPTER 33

Discombobulated

LIAM

T he incessant buzzing of my phone pulled me from a deep sleep. I groaned, my body feeling like it was made of lead. After making love twice with Caleb last night, I was utterly spent. I cracked open an eye, squinting against the bright sunlight streaming through the window. Caleb was still fast asleep next to me, his arm draped protectively over my waist.

"Shit," I muttered, carefully extracting myself from his embrace. I stumbled around the room, searching for my jeans. Where the hell had I tossed them?

Finally locating them draped over a chair, I fished out my phone. Jimmy's name flashed on the screen. What could he want at this ungodly hour?

"Hello?" I mumbled, my voice still thick with sleep.

"Liam!" Jimmy's voice came through, sounding frantic. "Thank god. You need to come home. Now."

I blinked, trying to clear the fog from my brain. "What? Jimmy, slow down. What's going on?"

"I can't explain over the phone," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Just get here as soon as you can, okay? It's important."

Before I could ask any more questions, he hung up. I stared at my phone, a knot of anxiety forming in my stomach .

"Everything okay?" Caleb's sleepy voice came from the bed.

I turned to see him propped up on one elbow, his hair adorably mussed. "I don't know," I admitted. "That was Jimmy. He wants me to come home right away."

Caleb sat up fully, instantly alert. "Did he say why?"

I shook my head, already pulling on my clothes. "No, just that it was important and he couldn't explain over the phone."

Caleb was out of bed in an instant, reaching for his own clothes. "I'm coming with you."

"You don't have to do that," I protested weakly, even as relief flooded through me at the offer.

Caleb paused in buttoning his shirt to give me a look. "Liam, come on. Of course I'm coming. We're in this together, remember?"

We dressed quickly, pausing only to say a hurried goodbye to Caleb's parents before jumping into his truck. As we pulled out of the driveway, Caleb reached over and took my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"Any idea what this could be about?" he asked, his eyes flicking between me and the road.

I shook my head, my leg bouncing nervously. "No clue. Jimmy sounded pretty anxious though, which isn't like him."

Caleb nodded, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on the back of my hand.

As we drove, my mind raced with possibilities. Had someone discovered my identity? Was there a problem with my record label? Or was it something to do with my parents?

"Hey," Caleb's voice broke through my spiraling thoughts. "You're thinking so loud I can practically hear it. Try to relax, okay? We don't know anything yet."

I let out a shaky laugh. "Yeah, easier said than done. I just hate not knowing, you know?"

Caleb nodded, understanding in his eyes. "I know. But we'll find out soon enough. And whatever it is, I've got your back."

I squeezed his hand, feeling a warmth spread through my chest.

We lapsed into silence for the rest of the drive, but it was a comfortable one. Just having Caleb there, solid and steady beside me, helped calm my nerves.

As we pulled up to my house, I spotted Jimmy pacing on the front porch. My stomach dropped. This couldn't be good.

Caleb squeezed my hand. "Ready?"

I took a deep breath. "As I'll ever be."

We climbed out of the truck, and Jimmy rushed over to us. His face was pale, his usual cool demeanor nowhere to be seen.

"Liam, thank god you're here," he said, his eyes darting between Caleb and me. "We've got a situation."

"What's going on, Jimmy?" I asked, my heart racing. "You're freaking me out here."

Jimmy ran a hand through his hair. "It's your parents, Liam. They're inside."

The world seemed to tilt on its axis. "What?" I choked out.

"They just showed up about an hour ago, demanding to see you." Jimmy said.

I felt panic rising in my chest. This was exactly what I'd been afraid of. My carefully constructed life here in Oakwood Grove was about to come crashing down around me.

"Caleb," I said, turning to him. "You should go. This is going to get ugly."

But Caleb's grip on my hand only tightened. His eyes met mine, fierce and determined. "If they're going to try and take you away again, I'm not letting you go without a fight. We just found each other again, Liam. I'm not letting you go once more."

I felt a lump form in my throat at his words. How had I gotten so lucky to have this man in my life?

"Okay," I nodded, swallowing hard. "Okay. Let's do this."

We made our way into the house, my heart pounding so loud I was sure everyone could hear it. As we entered the living room, I saw them. My parents, looking as polished and put-together as always, sitting on my couch like they owned the place.

The moment they spotted us, my father's face darkened. His eyes locked onto Caleb, and I could practically see the steam coming out of his ears.

"What is he doing here?" my father demanded, rising to his feet.

I felt a surge of anger, hot and fierce. Who was he to come into my home and start making demands?

"Caleb has every right to be here," I snapped. "I know everything."

My father's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. "I'm talking about the night of the accident. About how Caleb was there at the hospital, how he tried to see me. And about how you lied to me, told me he never even bothered to visit."

My mother gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "Liam, sweetie, we were just trying to protect you."

I laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Protect me? By lying to me? By keeping me away from the one person who actually understood me?"

"We did what we thought was best for you," my father said, his voice hard. "That boy was a bad influence. He was leading you down a dangerous path."

"That ‘boy'," I snarled, "is the man I love. The man you kept me from for twenty years because of your own prejudices and fears."

My mother stood up, reaching out towards me. "Liam, please. We only wanted what was best for you. We wanted you to have a good life, a successful career."

I stepped back, out of her reach. "And did you ever once ask me what I wanted? Did you ever consider that maybe, just maybe, I knew what was best for me?"

"You were just a teen," my father argued. "You didn't know what you wanted. "

"I knew I wanted Caleb," I shot back. "I knew I wanted music. But you couldn't accept that, could you? It didn't fit into your perfect little plan for my life."

Caleb's hand was warm in mine, grounding me. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions raging inside me.

"Now what do you want?" I asked, my voice tired. "Why are you here? I thought you never liked this place."

My father's jaw clenched. "We're here to bring you home, Liam. This little adventure of yours has gone on long enough."

I stared at him, disbelief washing over me. "Home? This is my home. Here, with Caleb, with my music. I'm not going anywhere with you."

The vein in my father's forehead throbbing, his face turning an alarming shade of red. But I wasn't that scared kid anymore. I wasn't going to let him bully me into submission. Not this time.

"Don't be ridiculous, Liam," he spat, his voice dripping with disdain. "You have responsibilities in New York. The company needs you."

I let out a bitter laugh. "The company needs me? Or you need me to play the role of the perfect son?"

"This isn't a game!" He slammed his fist on the coffee table, making my mother jump. "We're in the middle of the biggest acquisition in the company's history. The Tektron deal could make or break us, and you're the lead lawyer on this!"

I felt my temper rising, matching his. "I never asked to be the lead on that deal! I never asked for any of it! You pushed me into law school, pushed me into the company."

My mother gasped, her eyes darting between us. "Liam, please. Your father's just trying to look out for you."

I turned to her, feeling a pang of guilt at the distress on her face. But I couldn't back down. Not now. "By controlling every aspect of my life?"

"We did what we had to do," my father growled. "That boy was a distraction. He would have ruined your future."

I felt Caleb tense beside me, but I squeezed his hand, silently asking him to let me handle this. "Caleb didn't ruin anything. You did. You took away the one person who actually understood me, who supported my dreams."

"Dreams?" My father laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Wake up, Liam. The music industry is brutal. One day you're on top, the next you're forgotten. The law, the company - that's stability. That's a future."

I shook my head, feeling a strange calm settle over me. "No, Dad. That's your future. Your dream. Not mine."

"So what?" He threw his hands up in exasperation. "You're just going to throw away years of education, years of hard work, for what? Some small-town fantasy with your high school sweetheart?"

I felt Caleb's hand tighten around mine, giving me strength. "It's not a fantasy. It's my life. The one I choose."

My father's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You have obligations, Liam. A contract with the company. You can't just walk away."

"Watch me," I said, my voice steady despite the anger bubbling inside me.

"And what about your identity?" He sneered. "How long do you think you can keep up this little charade? How long before someone figures out that Liam Denison and Corey King are one and the same?"

I felt a chill run down my spine. There it was. The threat I'd been waiting for. "Is that what this is about? You're worried I'll embarrass you? Tarnish the precious Denison name?"

"Don't be naive," he snapped. "If word gets out, it could jeopardize everything. The deal, the company's reputation - everything we've worked for."

"Everything you've worked for," I corrected him. "I never wanted any of it."

My mother stepped forward, her eyes pleading. "Liam, sweetie, please. Just come back to New York. We can work this out together. As a family. "

I felt a pang of guilt at the pain in her voice, but I stood my ground. "I'm sorry, Mom. But I can't. I won't live a lie anymore."

"And what if you don't have a choice?" My father's voice had gone cold, calculated. It was the tone he used in the courtroom, when he was going for the kill. "What if I told you that if you don't come back, if you don't finish this deal, I'll make sure that your life becomes a living hell."

I felt the blood drain from my face. "You wouldn't."

He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Try me."

"That's enough!" Caleb's voice cut through the tension like a knife. He stepped forward, placing himself between me and my father. "You don't get to come in here and threaten Liam. This is his home, his life. You don't control him anymore."

My father's eyes flicked to Caleb, filled with contempt. "This doesn't concern you, boy. Stay out of family business."

With that, they left, the door closing behind them with a slam that seemed to echo in the sudden silence of the room.

I felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room. My legs were shaking, and I stumbled towards the liquor cabinet, desperate for something to take the edge off. But when I yanked open the door, I found nothing but empty shelves

"What the hell?" I muttered, my hands shaking as I searched for a bottle, any bottle.

Jimmy cleared his throat behind me. "I got rid of them all, Liam."

I whirled around, anger flaring hot and fast. "You did what?"

Jimmy stood his ground, his chin lifted defiantly. "I threw them out. All of them. You don't need that shit, Liam. Not anymore."

"That wasn't your decision to make!" I shouted, frustration and fear making my voice crack. "Who the hell do you think you are?"

"Your friend," Jimmy shot back, his voice rising to match mine. "Someone who gives a damn about you and doesn't want to see you drown yourself in a bottle every time things get tough! "

I opened my mouth to argue, but Caleb stepped between us, his hands raised placatingly. "Alright, alright. Let's all take a breath, okay?"

He guided me to the couch, his touch gentle but firm. As I sank into the cushions, I felt the fight drain out of me, leaving nothing but exhaustion in its wake.

"You okay?" Caleb asked softly, his eyes searching mine.

I let out a bitter laugh. "Okay? No, Caleb, I'm not fucking okay. My parents just showed up out of the blue, threatened to expose my identity, and now I find out Jimmy's been playing sober coach behind my back. So no, I'm not okay."

Caleb nodded, his hand finding mine and squeezing gently. "I know. I'm sorry. That was a stupid question."

I sighed, leaning into him. "No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't snap at you. This isn't your fault."

"It's not yours either," Caleb said firmly. "Your parents had no right to come here and try to bully you like that."

I nodded, but my mind was already racing ahead, thinking of the implications of what had just happened. The Tektron deal, my parents' threats, the potential exposure of my identity… it was all swirling together in a nauseating mess.

"I have to go back," I said finally, the words tasting bitter in my mouth. "To New York. I have to finish this deal."

"What?" Caleb sat up straighter, his eyes wide. "Liam, no. You can't let them manipulate you like this."

I shook my head, feeling a strange sense of calm settle over me. "It's not manipulation, Caleb. It's taking responsibility. I started this deal, I should see it through."

"Then I'm coming with you," Caleb said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

But I knew I couldn't let him do that. Not with everything going on here. "No, Caleb. You need to stay here. The ranch needs you, the fundraiser needs you."

"Fuck the fundraiser," Caleb said, his voice rising. "You need me. "

"I do need you," I said softly. "But right now, I need you here more. Keeping things going, making sure we have something to come back to when this is all over."

Caleb opened his mouth to argue, but Jimmy cut in. "He's right, Caleb. We can't let the ball drop on the fundraiser. Not when we're so close."

Caleb looked between us, frustration clear on his face. But finally, he nodded. "Fine. But I don't like this, Liam. Not one bit."

"I know," I said, leaning in to press a soft kiss to his lips. "I don't either. But I promise, I'll be back for the fundraiser. I just need to get this mess sorted out first."

I turned to Jimmy, who was watching us with a mix of concern and resignation. "Can you book me a flight? As soon as possible. I want to get this over with."

Jimmy nodded, already pulling out his phone. "On it. You sure about this, Liam?"

I took a deep breath, trying to quell the anxiety bubbling in my chest. "No. But I don't see any other choice."

As Jimmy stepped away to make the arrangements, Caleb pulled me close, his arms wrapping around me tightly. "I hate this," he murmured into my hair. "I hate that they can still get to you like this."

I sighed, burying my face in his chest. "Me too. But this is the last time, Caleb. I swear. After this deal is done, I'm out. For good."

Caleb pulled back slightly, his hands coming up to cup my face. "You promise? No more letting them dictate your life?"

I nodded, feeling a surge of determination. "I promise. This is it. The last hurrah of Liam Denison, corporate lawyer. After this, it's just me. Just us."

Caleb smiled, but I could see the worry still lingering in his eyes. "Okay. But you call me every day, alright? And if things get too intense, if you need me, I'm on the first flight out. Fundraiser be damned."

I chuckled, feeling some of the tension ease from my shoulders. "Deal. Though I have a feeling between you and Jimmy, I'll be lucky if I get five minutes to myself."

"Damn straight," Jimmy called from across the room, not looking up from his phone. "I've already booked your flight for tomorrow morning. And I'll be coming with you, by the way. No arguments."

I opened my mouth to protest, but Caleb squeezed my hand, shaking his head. "Let him come, Liam. It'll make me feel better knowing you've got backup."

I sighed, knowing when I was outnumbered. "Fine. But Jimmy, I swear to God, if you try to replace the mini bar with kale smoothies or something…"

Jimmy grinned, finally looking up from his phone. "Wouldn't dream of it, boss. Though I can't promise I won't hide a few protein bars in your suitcase."

As the three of us fell into familiar banter, I felt some of the fear and anxiety start to dissipate. This wasn't ideal, not by a long shot. But I wasn't alone anymore. I had Caleb, I had Jimmy. I had people in my corner, ready to fight for me, to support me.

And maybe, just maybe, that would be enough to get me through this.

Later that night, as Caleb and I lay in bed, I couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had settled in my stomach. The thought of going back to New York, of stepping back into that world of corporate law and family expectations… it made me feel sick.

"Hey," Caleb said softly, his hand tracing soothing patterns on my back. "Where'd you go just now?"

I sighed, turning to face him. "Just thinking about tomorrow. About going back."

Caleb nodded, his eyes full of understanding. "It's okay to be scared, you know. This is a big deal."

I snorted, burying my face in his chest. "Scared doesn't even begin to cover it. I feel like I'm walking back into the lion's den."

"You're not the same person you were when you left, Liam," Caleb said, his voice firm. "You're stronger now. You know who you are, what you want."

I looked up at him, feeling a rush of love and gratitude. "Yeah? And what's that?"

Caleb smiled, leaning in to press a soft kiss to my lips. "This. Us. A life where you get to be yourself, all of yourself."

I felt tears prick at my eyes. "God, I love you. You know that, right?"

"I know," Caleb said, pulling me closer. "I love you too. And that's why I know you can do this. You can face them, finish this deal, and come back to me. To us."

I nodded, feeling a sense of determination settle over me. "You're right. I can do this. I have to do this."

As we drifted off to sleep, wrapped in each other's arms, I made a silent promise to myself. This would be the last time I let my parents, or anyone else, dictate my life. From now on, I was in control. My life, my choices.

And when all of this was done and over with, I'd be ready to start our life together. For real this time.