ween the humdrum of my daily routine and the quiet, persistent weight of his words, Caleb Montgomery, the actor...the man wh

ceful rhythm of my days, the quiet moments where I could lose myself in the pages of stories that felt more alive than anything around me.

a side of him I wasn't used to seeing, not from a man who was used to being followed by cameras and adoring fans. I wanted to believe that

and I looked up from the counter, finding him standing there, a bit unsure of himself, as if he had se

voice quiet but full of

that I was never going to be able to get through a single day without h

g around the counter.

aid, his voice almost apologetic. "I feel like I dropped a bomb on you, and I just want to make sure you know that I'm not trying to complic

ne so forthright about their emotions. But that was Caleb-always on the e

idn't think you were pressuring me. It's just... you're right

d to people wanting something from me. They want my fame, my image, my time. But what you said that day... that you didn't care a

ver the years. I understood. In a world where people saw him as a commodity, where every aspect of his life

dy, even though I wasn't sure I even believed myself

ould see the burden he carried, the way he held himself back, afraid of getting too close. I could feel that fear to

o. More than I

ir, looking frustrated. "I'm not... I'm not the kind of guy who has a lot of stabil

e... maybe we don't have to figure everything out right now. I'm not asking

ion softening. "You're a lot

think I'm just a little tired of expecting things

he tension in the room. It felt like a small victory

le returning, though this time it felt mo

tations, the constant need to be perfect, was a lot to ask of anyone. I knew that. But there was something in the way he looked at me, something in

ink I've got a lot of books to keep me

at your way of saying you're no

of how much I truly wanted to see him again. "Not at all.

nding our footing again. He smiled at me, and I felt som

standing up straight. "