34. Alone Again

CHAPTER 34

Alone Again

CALEB

T he weight of Peanut in my arms was the only thing keeping me grounded. Liam had left her with me, a living, purring promise that he'd come back. But damn if it didn't feel like the universe was trying to tear us apart again.

"You sure you've got everything?" I asked for probably the tenth time, helping Liam with his bag.

Liam rolled his eyes, but there was a fondness in his expression that made my heart ache. "Yes, Mom. I've triple-checked."

"Hey, can't blame a guy for worrying," I said, trying to keep my tone light. "Just making sure you're not gonna call me from New York asking me to FedEx your lucky socks or something."

Liam chuckled, but it sounded strained. "Trust me, if I forgot anything, Jimmy's probably got three backups packed."

Jimmy, who was checking in their bags, shot us a grin. "You know it, boss. I've got everything from extra toothbrushes to emergency bow ties."

We all laughed, but it felt forced. The reality of what was happening, of Liam leaving, hung heavy in the air.

As we approached the security checkpoint, I felt panic rising in my chest. This was it. In a few minutes, Liam would be gone, and I'd be left here, waiting and wondering .

"Hey," Liam said softly, pulling me aside. "It's gonna be okay. I'll be back before you know it."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Instead, I pulled him into a tight hug, breathing in his scent, trying to memorize the feel of him in my arms.

"I love you," I murmured into his hair. "Come back to me, okay?"

Liam pulled back slightly, his eyes shining with unshed tears. "I will. I promise. I love you too, Caleb. More than anything."

We kissed then, not caring who saw or what they thought. It was desperate and tender all at once, a promise and a goodbye wrapped into one.

When we finally broke apart, Jimmy was there, looking apologetic. "Hate to break this up, but we gotta go if we're gonna make our flight."

I nodded, stepping back. "Right. Yeah. You guys better get going."

Liam squeezed my hand one last time. "I'll call you as soon as we land."

"You better," I said, managing a weak smile.

I watched them walk away, Liam turning back every few steps to wave. Just before they disappeared into the security line, Liam blew me a kiss. I caught it, pressing my hand to my heart.

And then they were gone.

"Caleb? Son, you with us?"

My dad's voice jolted me back to the present. I blinked, realizing I'd been staring at the same nail for who knows how long.

"Yeah, sorry," I mumbled, shaking my head to clear it.

Dad nodded, understanding in his eyes. "Thinking about Liam?"

I sighed, not bothering to deny it. "Is it that obvious? "

"Only to someone who knows you," Dad said, clapping me on the shoulder. "Want to talk about it?"

I shrugged, hammering the nail with maybe a bit more force than necessary. "Not much to talk about. He's gone, I'm here. End of story."

Dad was quiet for a moment, and I could practically hear the gears turning in his head. Finally, he said, "You know, when your mom and I first got together, we had to do long distance for a while."

I looked up, surprised. This was news to me. "Really? I never knew that."

Dad nodded, a wistful smile on his face. "Yep. I was here, working on the ranch, and she was off at college. Felt like the longest six months of my life."

"How'd you handle it?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Honestly? Not great at first," Dad chuckled. "I moped around, drove everyone crazy with my brooding. But then I realized something."

"What's that?"

"That the time apart was just making our time together that much sweeter," he said. "And that if we could make it through that, we could make it through anything."

I let his words sink in, feeling a glimmer of hope in my chest. "Yeah?"

Dad nodded, his expression serious. "Yeah. And let me tell you, son, the way that boy looks at you? He'll be back. No doubt in my mind."

I felt a lump form in my throat. "Thanks, Dad."

He squeezed my shoulder, then gestured to the barn around us. "Now, how about we get this place in shape for when he does come back, huh?"

I nodded, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. "Yeah. Let's do it."

As we got back to work, I felt Peanut weaving between my legs, her purrs a constant, comforting presence. I reached down to scratch her ears, smiling as she leaned into my touch.

"You miss him too, huh?" I murmured. Peanut mewed in response, as if to say, "Of course I do, dummy."

The next few hours passed in a blur of sawdust and sweat. Everyone was pitching in to get the barn ready for the fundraiser. Even Mom had rolled up her sleeves, painting signs and arranging decorations.

As the sun started to set, casting long shadows across the barn floor, Dad called for a break. We all gathered around a cooler of beers, gratefully accepting the cold bottles.

"Looking good, folks," Dad said, raising his beer in a toast. "At this rate, we'll be ready with time to spare."

There were murmurs of agreement and clinking bottles. I took a long swig of my beer, feeling the cool liquid soothe my parched throat.

"So, Caleb," Mom said, sidling up to me. "Have you heard from Liam?"

I nodded, pulling out my phone to check for messages for the hundredth time that day. "Yeah, he texted a few hours ago. Said the meetings were going well, but he's exhausted."

Mom's expression softened. "Poor thing. I hope he's taking care of himself."

"Jimmy's with him," I reminded her. "He'll make sure Liam doesn't work himself into the ground."

"True," Mom said, then hesitated before adding, "And how are you doing, honey? Really?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I'm managing. It's not easy, but I'm trying to stay focused on the fundraiser. On making sure everything's perfect for when he gets back."

Mom pulled me into a hug, and I let myself sink into her embrace. Sometimes, no matter how old you get, you just need your mom.

"He'll be back before you know it," she murmured. "And when he does, we'll all be here to welcome him home. "

I nodded against her shoulder, feeling a rush of gratitude for my family. They'd been so supportive, so understanding. It meant more than I could ever express.

As the evening wore on and people started to head home, I found myself alone in the barn. Well, not entirely alone. Peanut was still there, curled up on a hay bale, watching me with those big green eyes.

Peanut's purring was like a tiny motor against my chest. I couldn't help but smile, remembering how Liam's eyes had lit up when he first saw her. "You know, furball, your dad's gonna flip when he sees how much we've done with the place."

I glanced around the barn, pride swelling in my chest. It was really coming together. The fairy lights strung across the rafters gave the whole space a warm, inviting glow. Perfect for a fundraiser.

My watch beeped, reminding me of my lunch plans. "Shit, is it that time already?" I muttered, gently setting Peanut down. "Sorry, girl. Duty calls."

As I headed out to the open area where the outdoor portion of the fundraiser would be held, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement. This was going to be big - bigger than anything Oakwood had seen in years.

"Hey, boss!" one of the workers called out. "Where do you want these speakers set up?"

I pointed towards the makeshift stage we'd constructed. "Over there should work. Just make sure they're not blocking the view from anywhere."

As I supervised the setup, my phone buzzed in my pocket. My heart did a little flip when I saw Liam's name on the screen. Damn, when did I turn into such a sap?

"Hey, you," I answered, unable to keep the grin off my face.

"Caleb," Liam's voice came through, sounding tired but happy. "God, I miss you."

I felt a warmth spread through my chest. "Miss you too, city boy. How's New York treating you? "

He groaned dramatically. "It's awful. All suits and ties and boring meetings. I'd rather be mucking out stalls with you."

I chuckled, picturing Liam in a fancy boardroom, dreaming of horse manure. "Never thought I'd hear you say that. The country air must be getting to you."

"Maybe it is," he laughed. "Or maybe it's just you. How're the preparations going?"

I glanced around at the bustling activity. "Pretty good, actually. We're making progress. All we need now is you."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. "I wish I could be there right now," Liam said softly. "Hey, I had an idea. I'm gonna ask Jimmy to give you a call. He might be able to help with the marketing side of things."

"That'd be great," I said, feeling a surge of gratitude. Even from miles away, Liam was still looking out for us. "Every little bit helps."

"Alright, I should go. Got another meeting in five," Liam sighed. "I love you, Caleb."

Those three words still made my heart skip a beat. "Love you too," I replied, my voice gruff with emotion. "Come back to me soon, yeah?"

"As soon as I can," he promised before hanging up.

I stood there for a moment, phone still pressed to my ear, lost in thought. Hearing Liam's voice had both soothed and intensified the ache of missing him. But there was work to be done, and I had a surprise to prepare.

"Alright, folks!" I called out, clapping my hands to get everyone's attention. "Let's wrap it up here. We'll pick this up tomorrow."

As the workers started packing up, I headed back to the house. I found Mom in the kitchen, Peanut immediately went to her and curled up on her lap as she read a book.

"Hey, sweetie," she said, looking up with a smile. "Heading out?"

I nodded, leaning down to scratch Peanut behind the ears. " Yeah, meeting Sarah and Mark at The Grove. Mind keeping an eye on this little troublemaker?"

Mom waved me off. "Go, go. Peanut and I will be just fine. Won't we, sweetheart?" she cooed at the kitten, who purred in response.

I shook my head, grinning. "You're gonna spoil her rotten, you know that?"

"That's what grandmas are for," Mom replied with a wink.

As I drove into town, my mind wandered to the surprise I had planned for the fundraiser. I hadn't told Liam about it yet - partly because I wanted it to be a surprise, and partly because I was nervous as hell about it.

The Grove was bustling when I arrived. I spotted Sarah and Mark at our usual booth and made my way over.

"Well, look what the cat dragged in," Sarah teased as I slid in across from them. "We were starting to think you'd stood us up."

I rolled my eyes, reaching for a menu. "Please, like I'd miss a chance for Sarah's famous apple pie. How's it going, guys?"

The Grove was quieter than usual, perfect for the conversation we needed to have.

Mark leaned forward, his elbows on the table. "So, Mr. Busy, finally remembered your old friends, huh?"

I winced, feeling a pang of guilt. "Yeah, about that… I'm sorry, guys. Things have been kind of crazy lately."

Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Crazy enough to forget about us completely? We've barely heard from you since Liam showed up."

I ran a hand through my hair, sighing. "I know, I know. I got caught up in everything. It's not an excuse, but…"

Mark waved his hand dismissively. "Don't sweat it, man. Sarah filled me in on some of it. We're just a little hurt you didn't come to us sooner."

I looked between them, seeing the concern in their eyes. These were my best friends, had been for years. How had I let myself get so wrapped up in everything that I'd pushed them aside ?

"I'm really sorry," I said, meaning it. "It won't happen again. I promise."

Sarah reached across the table, squeezing my hand. "We forgive you, Caleb. Just don't shut us out, okay? We're here for you, whatever's going on."

I nodded. "Thanks, guys."

Mark leaned back, crossing his arms. "So, spill. What's been going on? And don't leave anything out this time."

I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. Where to even begin?

For the next hour, I filled them in on everything. Liam's return, our rekindled relationship, the drama with his parents, the fundraiser, all of it. It felt good to get it off my chest, to share the weight of it all with friends who truly cared.

When I finished, Sarah let out a low whistle. "Wow, Caleb. That's a lot."

Mark nodded, his expression thoughtful. "No kidding. How are you holding up with all of this?"

I shrugged, trying to play it cool. But who was I kidding? These were my best friends. They could see right through me.

"Honestly? I'm a mess," I admitted. "I'm happy Liam's back, happier than I've been in years. But I'm also terrified. What if it doesn't work out? What if his parents manage to pull him away again?"

Sarah reached out, squeezing my hand. "Oh, Caleb. It's okay to be scared. This is a big deal."

Mark nodded in agreement. "Yeah, man. But from what you've told us, it sounds like Liam's all in this time. You've got to trust that."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I know, I know. It's just after everything that happened before…"

"Hey," Sarah cut in, her voice gentle but firm. "You're not the same people you were back then. You've both grown, matured. Give yourselves a chance."

I nodded, feeling some of the tension ease from my shoulders. They were right, of course. But it was still hard to shake off years of hurt and doubt.

"I don't know what I'd do without you." I said, managing a small smile.

Mark grinned, reaching over to punch my arm lightly. "Probably mope around the ranch like a lovesick cowboy."

I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help chuckling. "Very funny."

Sarah giggled, then her expression turned more serious. "So, what's your plan now? "

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. This was it. The moment of truth. "Actually, that's kind of why I wanted to meet up with you guys. I had an idea, but I'm gonna need your help."

Mark raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Do tell."

I glanced between them, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement. "I was thinking maybe we could get the band back together? For the fundraiser, I mean."

There was a moment of stunned silence, then Sarah let out a squeal of delight. "Oh my god, yes! That would be amazing!"

Mark looked more skeptical. "I don't know, man. It's been a long time. Are you sure we can pull it off?"

I nodded, feeling more confident by the second. "I think we can. We were good back in the day, remember? And it's for a good cause."

Sarah was practically bouncing in her seat. "Oh, this is going to be so much fun! We could do some of our old songs, maybe a few new ones."

Mark held up his hands, but I could see a smile tugging at his lips. "Alright, alright. I'm in. But we're gonna need to practice our asses off."

I grinned, feeling a surge of excitement. "Definitely. We can use the barn at the ranch for rehearsals."

As we started planning, throwing around song ideas and discussing logistics, I felt a warmth spread through my chest. This was more than just a fundraiser now. It was a chance to reconnect with old friends, to rediscover a part of myself I'd almost forgotten.

"Oh!" Sarah exclaimed suddenly. "We should do that song you wrote for Liam back in high school. You remember? The one you never got to perform for him?"

I felt my cheeks heat up. "I don't know, guys. That's pretty personal."

Mark snorted. "Dude, you're trying to win back the love of your life. Personal is kind of the point."

I ran a hand through my hair, considering. The thought of performing that song, of laying my heart bare in front of everyone was terrifying. But maybe that's exactly what I needed to do.

"Alright," I said finally. "Let's do it."

Sarah clapped her hands excitedly. "This is going to be amazing. Liam's not going to know what hit him."

The conversation flowed easily after that, catching up on each other's lives beyond the Liam situation. It felt good to laugh and joke with them, to remember that there was more to my life than just the ranch and my relationship drama.

As the lunch crowd started to filter in, filling The Grove with the usual hustle and bustle, we decided to call it a day.

"Same time tomorrow for our first practice?" Sarah asked as we stood up.

I nodded, feeling a surge of anticipation. "Definitely. I'll clear out a space in the barn."

Mark clapped me on the shoulder. "Don't stress too much about it, alright? We've got your back."

As I walked out of The Grove, I felt lighter than I had in weeks. The sun was shining, a warm breeze rustling through the trees. For the first time in a long time, I felt like everything might just work out.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. A text from Liam.

"Missing you like crazy. Can't wait to come home."

I smiled, typing out a quick reply. "Miss you too. Hurry back. "

As I drove back to the ranch, my mind was already racing with plans for the performance. Song arrangements, stage setup, what to wear it was overwhelming, but in the best possible way.

I pulled up to the house, spotting Peanut sunbathing on the porch. She meowed demandingly as I approached.

"Hey there, furball," I said, scooping her up. "You'll never guess what your dad's got planned."

Peanut just purred, nuzzling into my chest. I chuckled, scratching behind her ears.

"Yeah, I hope he likes it too."

As I settled onto the porch swing, Peanut curled up in my lap, I pulled out my old guitar. The strings were a bit out of tune, but the feel of it in my hands was as familiar as breathing.

I started to strum, the melody of Liam's song flowing from my fingers. It was rusty, sure, but it was there. The words came back to me, a flood of emotions I'd kept bottled up for years.

"Well, what do you think?" I asked Peanut as I finished. "Think we can pull this off?"

She blinked up at me, then stretched and settled back into my lap. I took that as a yes.

As the sun began to set, painting the sky in shades of pink and gold, I played through the song one more time. Each chord, each word, was a piece of my heart laid bare.

It was terrifying, sure. But it also felt right. Because at the end of the day, this wasn't just about saving the ranch. It was about showing Liam - and myself - that I was all in. That no matter what life threw at us, we'd face it together.

And as I hit the final note, letting it ring out into the evening air, I felt a sense of peace settle over me. Because we had each other. And really, that was all that mattered.