Chapter Twenty-Five
Caleb
Walking off stage feels like stepping out of a lightning storm.
Every atom inside me is buzzing so violently with adrenaline and energy that I swear I could probably float straight through the fucking ceiling. Performing does something to me that nothing else in the world can. It charges me from the inside out until I feel unstoppable.
Well…
Almost nothing else.
Because Indi still somehow tops this feeling.
All I want to do right now is get backstage and celebrate with the band. The only thing missing is her. God, I wish she were here tonight to see all this.
The second I push through the backstage doors, chaos erupts around me. Everyone’s grinning, laughing, yelling over each other, still riding the same high I’m drowning in.
“Caleb, you were on fire tonight,” Dad says immediately. “You’re always good, but tonight you had a completely different energy about you.”
I grin because I know exactly why. “Yeah,” I admit. “I’m in a really good place right now. Everything finally feels right.”
Dad smiles proudly and slaps my shoulder as Mum wraps me in a hug. “Well done, honey. You worked that crowd beautifully.”
“Thanks, Mum.”
“Caleb, you son of a bitch!” Chad yells from across the room while waving a beer bottle around wildly. “Where the hell did that stage dive come from?”
I burst out laughing as the memory flashes through my head. Honestly, I don’t even know what possessed me to launch myself off the stage and crowd surf for the first time in my life. One second I was singing, and the next, I was flying over a sea of screaming people.
“I don’t know.” I laugh. “It just felt right in the moment.”
The whole room erupts into laughter.
“Well, the crowd absolutely lost their minds over it,” Colt says with a grin. “That’s what real rock stars are made of, Caleb.”
Hearing that from him means more than he probably realizes. Colter Slade is a fucking legend. If I become even half the performer he is one day, I’ll consider my life complete.
“Thanks, mate,” I say honestly. Looking around the room at everyone laughing together, something hits me hard in the chest.
I love these people.
This family.
And it’s strange because the only reason I even know them is that I got sick.
If my kidneys hadn’t failed when I was a kid, my life probably would have stayed trapped in misery and poverty forever.
I never would have met the Slades. Never would have found music.
Never would have found people who genuinely love me.
Hell, I probably never would have found Indi again either.
Funny how life works.
I never thought I’d say kidney failure was the best thing that ever happened to me, but standing here now surrounded by the people I love most in the world…
Maybe it was.
Sure, there was pain—a lot of fucking pain. Everything with Mum and Colt nearly destroyed all of us at one point. Those years were messy, complicated, and heartbreaking, but somehow, it all led here.
To family.
To music.
“I love you guys!” I suddenly yell across the room, and every single person turns toward me with identical expressions like I’ve completely lost my mind.
“What?” I ask defensively. “A man can’t announce his feelings now?”
Laughter immediately breaks out again.
“You’re weird,” Annie says flatly.
“Yeah,” I reply proudly. “I really am.” Walking over, I throw her into a headlock instantly.
She squeals while Aston laughs his ass off beside her.
“Oh my God, Caleb!” she shrieks while trying to smack my arm away. “I’m not five anymore! I’m eighteen, for crying out loud. You can’t just headlock me and scruff my hair like a caveman, you big dick!” She shoves at my chest while glaring at Aston.
“And stop laughing, you!”
Aston immediately schools his face into seriousness, but his eyes are still laughing.
I release Annie and ruffle her hair again just to annoy her. “You’re my little cousin. I’m legally obligated to treat you like a child forever. Those are the rules.”
She rolls her eyes dramatically. “Whatever. Why are you in such a good mood anyway?”
I instantly smirk and mime zipping my lips shut.
Her eyes widen. “Oh… my… God…” She gasps loudly. “You’re seeing someone!”
“No, I’m not,” I say way too quickly.
Aston immediately smirks.
Caught.
“You totally are,” Annie whispers excitedly while leaning closer. “Who is it?”
“No one.”
“So it’s Indi.”
I freeze. “What?”
How the fuck did she guess that so fast?
Annie grins triumphantly. “You said in the hospital that Indi was ‘no one,’ which means she’s definitely someone.”
“Shit, Annie,” I mutter, dragging my hand through my hair.
“I knew it!” she practically screeches.
I immediately duck lower. “Annie, shut the hell up,” I hiss quietly. “She doesn’t want anyone knowing yet.”
Both Annie and Aston stare at me in confusion.
“What? Why?” Annie asks.
Leaning closer, I lower my voice further.
“It’s complicated. Her past is really rough, and neither of us wants tabloids dragging everything back up for her.
We’re taking things slow, okay? You absolutely cannot tell anyone.
Not your parents. Not Ella. Nobody.” I point between them seriously.
“Promise me. Indi will murder me if she finds out, you know.”
Annie studies me carefully before frowning. “Is little pixie ashamed of you?”
“No,” I answer immediately. “Nothing like that. I promise. One day I’ll explain everything properly, just… not tonight.”
She finally nods. “Well, lucky I like her anyway.” Her smile softens warmly. “I’m really happy for you, cuz.” She throws her arms around my neck and hugs me tightly.
Laughing softly, I hug her back while Aston watches us with a grin.
“Yeah, it’s good seeing you happy for once, mate,” Aston says. “Honestly, I’m stoked for you.”
Annie immediately starts swaying me back and forth dramatically.
I laugh loudly. “What the hell are you doing, you lunatic?”
“Happy dancing,” she says proudly. “I’m happy dancing because I’m so damn happy for you.”
After another few ridiculous seconds, I finally pry myself free while Aston shakes his head, laughing.
“Mate,” I say to him. “You really wanna date her?”
Annie scoffs loudly and slaps my shoulder. “Excuse me? You love me.”
I tilt my head skeptically.
“Say you love me!” she demands.
Laughing harder now, I hold my hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay. Love you. There… happy now? Please don’t throw a tantrum.”
“I do not throw tantrums!”
Aston and I exchange identical looks, but she glares at both of us.
“Okay, fine. I hate all of you. I’m going for a wee.” She storms off dramatically.
“Too much information, cuz,” I yell after her.
I glance toward Aston and notice the completely lovestruck expression on his face while he watches her walk away.
The idiot looks gone.
Completely and utterly gone for her.
Honestly? I like seeing that.
“So how’s everything going with you two?” I ask.
Aston looks back at me, and the smile on his face reaches all the way to his eyes. “Amazing,” he says. “She’s my light, man. I’m so fucking lucky she gave us a chance.”
Jesus Christ.
Another lovesick idiot.
“So… serious serious?” I ask knowingly.
His grin widens instantly. “As in, have I been using your advice?”
“Exactly.”
He laughs and nods proudly. “Yeah, every single thing you told me works perfectly.”
“Oh my God.”
“I’m serious!” He laughs. “Every spot you said to touch works exactly how you said it would.” I bark out a laugh.
“We haven’t actually had sex yet, though,” he adds quickly.
“We’re waiting for a while. But everything else…
” He shakes his head like he’s overwhelmed.
“Holy shit, I didn’t know being in love could feel this—”
“Orgasmic?” I supply.
Aston bursts out laughing. “Yeah! Exactly that.”
I slap his shoulder. “Well, just take care of her. I don’t need to give you the whole ‘if you hurt her’ speech because I’m sure Colt’s threatened your life enough already.”
Aston snorts. “Only about a thousand times.”
“All I’ll say is be careful and always use protection when the time comes.”
“Yeah, definitely.” He smiles softly. “But Annie wants to wait. She made a promise to Dee, and I respect that. So I’m willing to wait.” He pauses before grinning. “I just hope it’s worth it.”
I smirk instantly. “Oh, mate, trust me. It’s worth the wait.”
Before he can reply, Annie suddenly reappears and cuddles herself into Aston’s side. “What are you two wanks talking about?” she asks suspiciously.
I roll my eyes. “You’ve developed a horrific potty mouth, you know that?”
She grins proudly. “I’m a rock star now, Caleb. You should try it sometime.”
I snort while she looks up at Aston lovingly. “The after-party’s starting. You wanna go?”
“Yeah,” I answer before Aston can. “I’d love to sit around watching idiots get drunk.”
Annie laughs while Aston shakes his head at me.
Together we leave the green room and head toward the ballroom where the after-party’s being held. Thankfully, it’s inside the same venue as the concert because I’m way too hyped to sit through another car ride tonight.
Inside, the room looks incredible. Everything’s styled like an extravagant 1920s ballroom, with vintage décor, gold lighting, jazz music, and staff dressed in old-fashioned uniforms. I have absolutely no idea why they committed so hard to the theme, but it looks cool.
“Wow,” Annie breathes dramatically. “This place is absolutely pulchritudinous.”
Aston and I both stop dead.
“What the fuck did you just say?” he asks.
Annie rolls her eyes immediately. “It means beautiful,” she says smugly. “Susan taught us that word during homeschooling, remember? I’ve been waiting years to use it.”
Aston and I instantly lose it laughing.
Annie straightens proudly, as if she’s just delivered a Nobel Prize speech.
“God, I love you, kid.” I laugh.
She immediately scowls. “I know, I know,” I interrupt before she can start. “You’re not a kid anymore. Blah blah blah… now c’mon, let’s go watch wannabes get drunk.”