Chapter Forty-Six
Caleb
Annie and Aston told us they’d worked things out and were back together.
The relief that swept through the room was almost tangible.
Watching them apart had been like watching Indi and me apart. It never felt right. They belonged together, just as much as Indi and I did.
Rob looked positively thrilled. “I think we can work with this,” he says, already slipping into business mode.
“We’ll put out a press release explaining that Annie hit a low point after falling in with the wrong crowd.
Aston helped pull her back from the edge.
She’s getting the support she needs, and now she’s back where she belongs. ”
I have to admit, it is brilliant.
Annie had been lost without Aston. Isolation, heartbreak, and old abandonment wounds had sent her down the wrong path, but now she had him again and was finally getting the help she needed. Instead of the story becoming Staked’s downfall, Rob had managed to turn it into one of redemption.
If the public bought it—and he thinks they will—we’ll be back on top.
Better than that…
Rob wants to capitalize on the publicity.
“We’re putting together a headline tour,” he announces.
A grin spreads across my face before I can stop it.
Headline act—we’ve finally made it.
“That’s fucking incredible,” I say, shaking my head in disbelief. “I honestly thought today was going to end with the band falling apart.”
Rob laughs. “Not while I’m your agent.”
“I’ll drink to that.”
Everyone laughs, and the tension that had filled the room finally disappeared.
I cross to Aston and clap him firmly on the shoulder. “You’d better look after her this time.”
He smiles knowingly. “I plan to.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
He glances across the room to where Annie is talking quietly with Ella.
“I’ve already lost her once.” His eyes return to mine. “I’m not making that mistake again.”
I nod. “I believe you.”
“And thanks,” he says quietly.
“For what?”
“For reminding me what mattered.” I smile.
“Just don’t make me remind you twice.”
He laughs. “I won’t.”
As everyone continues celebrating, my thoughts drift to Indi.
I can’t wait to tell her about the tour.
There are still plenty of details to work out—dates, countries, venues—but one thing was already worrying me… being away from her again.
Our last tour hadn’t exactly been a shining success.
I hope things will be different this time.
I hope we’ll be different.
Grabbing my keys, I slip quietly out of the room and head home, eager to catch Indi before she leaves for work.
The smell of cinnamon greets me the moment I walk through the front door, and I smile before I even see her. She’s standing in the kitchen wearing one of my old T-shirts beneath an apron, quietly humming to herself while whisking something in a mixing bowl.
There’s a streak of flour across the end of her nose.
It’s ridiculously adorable.
I lean against the bench. “Well…” She looks up. “…isn’t this a sight?”
She pouts. “Dammit. I was hoping these would be finished before you got home.”
I walk over, kiss her cheek, and gently brush the flour from her nose with my thumb. “I kinda like this look.”
She laughs. “I’m making muffins.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Apple and cinnamon.”
I glance toward the clock… almost four. “What time do you leave for work?”
“I don’t.”
I look back at her. “You’ve got the night off?”
She nods before kissing me softly. “I figured after your emergency meeting, you might need me more than the hospital did, so I swapped shifts with Kenz.” My heart melts. “So…” she grins. “I’m all yours.”
I pull her against me. “Have I mentioned lately how much I love you?”
“Once or twice.” She smiles. “Now thank me for the muffins.”
I laugh and reluctantly let her go. “Thank you for the muffins, baby.”
“Much better.” She goes back to stirring while I watch her for a moment.
God… I never imagined something as simple as watching her bake could make me this happy.
“So…” She glances over her shoulder. “Annie’s photos?”
I nod. “You’ve seen them?”
She winces. “They’re impossible to miss.”
I sigh. “Rob’s putting a positive spin on the whole thing. If it works, we’ll come out the other side stronger.”
“That’s good.”
“It also means…” I hesitate. “We’re going back on tour. Headlining this time.”
She immediately turns around. “Oh my God!” Before I can brace myself, she’s throwing her arms around my neck. “Caleb!” She kisses me so quickly I barely have time to react. “This is amazing!”
I blink… not exactly the response I’d been expecting.
“Headline tour!” she squeals. “You’re finally headlining!” She suddenly stops bouncing and studies my face.
“Why don’t you look excited?”
I smile weakly. “The last tour…”
Understanding softens her expression. “I know.” She slips her hands into mine. “I also know I’m not that girl anymore.”
I hold her gaze. “If Sasha shows up again…”
“I won’t run,” she answers without hesitation. “I trust you. And living without you…” She shakes her head. “I’m never putting us through that again.”
I search her eyes. “You mean that?”
“I’ve never meant anything more.” She smiles. “This is your dream, Caleb.” She squeezes my hands. “I’m not going to let fear steal it from you.”
Emotion catches in my throat. “I love you.”
“I know.” She grins. “But I love hearing you say it.”
I kiss her hard, unable to stop smiling.
When we finally pull apart, she laughs.
“You won’t be saying that six weeks into the tour when I’m crying down the phone because I miss you.”
“Then come with me.”
She raises an eyebrow. “You already know I can’t.”
“Worth asking.”
She laughs. “It always is.” Then she throws both hands into the air. “Headline act!” She starts dancing around the kitchen, laughing to herself, and I can’t help laughing with her.
She’s completely impossible.
And completely perfect.
Before she knows what’s happening, I scoop her into my arms and spin her around the kitchen.
She squeals, laughing so hard she almost drops the bowl.
The sound fills the house.
And for the first time in a very long time…
Everything feels exactly the way it is supposed to.
One Month Later
Annie’s photo scandal broke just over four weeks ago, and tomorrow we leave for a five-month headline tour.
If I’m honest, I’m terrified.
Not of the tour.
Of Sasha.
Dad had someone speak to her again, reminding her of the agreement they’d made after Germany. Apparently, she’s adamant she’s staying away from me—and from Staked—for good.
I hope she means it because I couldn’t go through that again, and neither could Indi.
Tonight, though, none of that matters.
Tonight is about us.
Aston is still the only person who knows we’re back together. I made him swear he’d keep it to himself, and I trust him enough to believe he has. Whether Annie knows now they’re together again, I honestly don’t know.
Personally, I am amazed we have managed to pull it off for this long.
Indi was able to get tonight off work, and I’ve planned one last evening together before I leave.
A fire crackles in the living room, rose petals are scattered across a thick rug in front of the hearth, candles flicker softly around the room, chocolates sit beside a bottle of wine chilling in a bucket, and dinner is almost ready.
Just me.
Just her.
One last night before five long months apart.
I’m going to miss her more than words can say, but we’ve done this before. We’ve survived tours, late-night phone calls, and countless hours on FaceTime.
This time feels different.
This time we trust each other.
She’s gone to pick up a few groceries while I finish setting everything up.
I step back and admire the room.
It isn’t extravagant.
But it is us.
The front door clicks open, and I hurry into the hallway just as Indi walks in carrying two shopping bags. Before she has a chance to say hello, I take them from her.
She laughs. “What are you doing?”
“Close your eyes.”
She raises an eyebrow. “What?”
“Just trust me.”
Still laughing, she closes them. “There. Happy?”
“Very.” I carry the shopping into the kitchen, then return to her. “Stay right there.” I slip an arm around her waist and gently guide her toward the living room.
“Don’t walk me into anything.”
I grin. “Would I do that?”
She snorts. “Absolutely.”
I laugh. “That’s fair.”
When we reach the rug, I stop. “Okay… sit down.”
She hesitates. “What happened to the coffee table?”
“It’s gone.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
Carefully, she lowers herself onto the rug, running her hands across the soft pile beneath her. “Ooh… this feels nice.”
I sit opposite her. “Okay.” I smile. “You can look.”
She slowly opens her eyes, and her mouth falls open. “Oh, Caleb…” Her gaze drifts around the room, taking in the candles, the firelight dancing across the walls, the rose petals scattered across the rug. “It’s beautiful.”
“I thought our last night together deserved to be something special.”
Her smile softens. “It smells amazing too.”
I disappear into the kitchen, bringing back a tray of hot finger food before pouring us each a glass of wine.
She watches me with a smile that still makes my heart skip.
“I really don’t deserve all this.”
I take her hand. “Yes, you do.” I brush my thumb across her knuckles. “You deserve far more than this.”
She tilts her head. “What do you mean?”
I take a steadying breath. “When I get back from tour…” She waits patiently. “I want us to buy a house.”
Her eyebrows rise. “A real home.”
I smile. “Somewhere with a proper kitchen where you can bake whenever you want. A shed big enough for me to tinker with my cars. A backyard—”
“For dogs?” she interrupts hopefully.
I laugh. “As many as you want.”
She grins. “Two.”
“Done.”
“And I get to choose them.”
“Obviously.”
“And name them.”
“I wouldn’t dare argue.”
She laughs. “I’d love that.”
I squeeze her hand. “Good.”
There’s something else weighing on my heart.
Something I’ve asked so many times before.
Only this time…
This time I have a ring.
I reach into my back pocket, and her smile slowly fades as she notices the velvet box in my hand.
I move onto one knee.
Her hand flies to her mouth. “Caleb…”
I open the box.