I nodded, feeling a surge of emotion. “Yeah. I love you, Liam. More than I ever thought possible.”
His face softened, a smile spreading across his features. “I love you too, Caleb. So much.”
As we danced, lost in our own little world, I couldn’t help but think about all the twists and turns that had led us here. The misunderstandings, the years apart, the shattered melodies of our past.
But now, here we were. Putting those pieces back together, creating something new and beautiful from the fragments of what was broken.
“Hey,” I said, a thought suddenly occurring to me. “What do you say we get out of here? Go for a ride, just the two of us?”
Liam raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Why, Mr. Winchester, are you propositioning me?”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Get your mind out of the gutter, Denison. I just want to show you something.”
“Alright, alright,” Liam chuckled. “Lead the way, cowboy.”
We slipped out of the barn, the sounds of the party fading behind us. The night air was cool and crisp, stars twinkling overhead.
I led Liam to the stables, where Pancakes was waiting, already saddled up.
“You planned this,” Liam accused, but he was smiling.
I shrugged, trying to play it cool. “Maybe. Come on, up you get.”
I helped Liam onto the horse, then swung up behind him. With a click of my tongue, we were off, riding out into the open fields of the ranch.
We rode in comfortable silence for a while, Liam leaning back against my chest. Finally, we reached the top of a small hill overlooking the property.
“This is it,” I said, bringing Pancakes to a stop. “This is what I wanted to show you.”
Liam gasped as he took in the view. The ranch spread out below us, bathed in moonlight. In the distance, the lights of the barn twinkled like earthbound stars.
“It’s beautiful,” Liam breathed.
“Yeah,” I agreed, but I wasn’t looking at the view. I was looking at him, at the way the moonlight played across his features, at the wonder in his eyes.
“Liam,” I said, my heart pounding in my chest. “I have something to ask you.”
He turned to look at me, curiosity written all over his face. “What is it?”
I took a deep breath, suddenly nervous. “I know we’ve only been back in each other’s lives for a few months. And I know we’ve still got a lot to figure out. But I also know that I love you, more than I’ve ever loved anyone. And I don’t want to waste any more time.”
Liam’s eyes widened as he realized where this was going. “Caleb…”
I reached into my pocket, pulling out the ring I’d been carrying around for weeks. “Liam Denison, will you marry me?”
For a moment, everything was silent. Even the crickets seemed to be holding their breath, waiting for his answer.
Then, slowly, a smile spread across Liam’s face. “Yes,” he said, his voice choked with emotion. “Yes, of course I’ll marry you, you big idiot.”
I laughed, relief and joy flooding through me as I slipped the ring onto his finger. Then I was kissing him, pouring all my love and happiness into it.
When we finally broke apart, both of us breathing hard, Liam rested his forehead against mine.
“You know,” he said, a teasing note in his voice, “this is going to make one hell of a story for our kids someday.”
I froze, my heart skipping a beat. “Kids?”
Liam’s eyes widened, like he hadn’t meant to say that out loud. “I mean, if you want them. Someday. No pressure or anything.”
I laughed, pulling him close. “Kids sound perfect. Someday.”
As we sat there, on top of that hill with the whole world spread out before us, I felt a sense of peace settle over me. Whatever challenges lay ahead, whatever obstacles we might face, I knew we’d face them together.
Because that’s what we did. We took the shattered melodies of our past and turned them into a beautiful new song. Our song.
And I couldn’t wait to see what the next verse would bring.
