Chapter Two
Annie
Moving as fast as I can without breaking into a run, I leave the hallway and head straight for the kitchen. The sliding door is already open by the time I reach it, and I step outside, knowing exactly where I’m going.
My safe place.
The only place on this massive property where I can breathe.
I cross the manicured lawn, the summer air warm against my skin, and spot the two Yorkiepoos racing toward me.
Queen Sassypants and King Snagglepuss.
Yeah… the names are questionable. Ella and I were six when we chose them, which explains a lot. They were meant to live up to Princess Sophia, our first dog, and somehow, in our minds, those names made perfect sense, but it all got lost in translation.
“C’mon, Sassy. Snaggie,” I call, and they fall into step beside me as I head toward the lake and the willow tree.
My place.
The one spot where I can think without everything closing in.
I scuff my boots along the freshly cut grass, the rhythm helping to burn off the last of my anger. I shouldn’t have said what I did. I know that. But the moment it starts, it’s like I can’t stop myself. The words just come out sharp, cutting, and aimed at the people I care about most.
I hate that about myself.
Ella always says Dad and I are too similar, that’s why we clash. I don’t get how that’s even possible. Nothing is tying us together like that. No shared blood. No shared DNA. We are adopted, so it’s not possible.
And yet… she might be right.
I drop down beneath the willow tree, leaning back against the thick trunk as a breeze cools my skin. The dogs climb straight into my lap, their weight grounding me as I close my eyes and try to steady myself.
Tears burn behind my eyelids.
Anger.
Regret.
Probably both.
One slips free, trailing down my cheek before I can stop it.
I wipe it away, forcing myself to breathe, to think of something, anything, that isn’t what just happened.
Aston.
The thought of him settles something inside me, and just like that, I feel it, that quiet awareness that he’s close. I don’t even need to open my eyes to know he’s here.
“That was quite a show you put on in there, Lennox.”
I open my eyes, and the tears come harder this time. He drops down beside me, his arm sliding around my shoulders, pulling me in without hesitation.
“Are they all talking about me?” I ask.
He huffs a quiet laugh, leaning his head lightly against mine. “Do you want the truth, or something that’ll make you feel better?”
I manage a weak half smile. “Truth.”
“Your mum’s pretty upset. When I left, your dad was with her. She looked close to tears.”
Guilt hits hard.
“I don’t know why I do that,” I admit. “I get angry and just… go for the worst thing I can say. Mum doesn’t deserve that.”
He’s quiet for a moment, his fingers moving slowly over my shoulder.
“I get why you were upset,” he says. “They should’ve been there. That part? You’re right.”
I glance at him. “But throwing the adoption thing at them like that…” he continues, his voice steady. “You know that cuts deep. Especially for your mum.”
I wince, looking away. “I know.”
“They love you, Lennox. Both of them. You know that,” he adds. “And yeah, they screwed up tonight. But it’s not the end of the world. There’ll be more shows. Bigger ones. And when that happens, they’ll be right there.”
I let out a slow breath, wiping at my cheeks again. “I know it’s not the worst thing,” I say. “But it still hurt. Dad choosing… that… over us. It just… yeah. It sucked.”
“I know,” he says simply.
There is no argument.
There is no dismissal.
Just understanding.
“And I knew the second I saw them leave that this would blow up,” he adds. “But you’ve gotta start thinking before you fire off like that. You can’t keep going straight for the jugular every time something hurts.”
I turn to look at him.
Those blue eyes don’t miss anything.
“You went too far,” he says, not unkindly. “Even for you.”
I swallow, nodding. “Do you think they hate me?” I ask quietly. “That everyone in there thinks I’m an idiot?”
He snorts softly. “No. They don’t hate you. And no one thinks you’re an idiot.”
I raise an eyebrow.
“They probably think you went a bit nuclear,” he adds. “But they also know why.”
That pulls a small laugh out of me. “What would I do without you?” I ask.
He grins, that easy, confident smile that always gets to me. “Probably fall apart.”
I nudge him lightly, and he chuckles.
“Hey,” he adds, his tone shifting slightly. “You’re stronger than this. Don’t let one bad moment take you down.”
I nod, reaching down to pat Sassy as she settles in my lap.
“We’re good, you know,” he continues. “The band. We’ve got something. And yeah, support matters right now, but when it really counts? Your parents will be there. Your dad didn’t teach you guitar all these years to miss your big break.”
I exhale slowly.
I know he is right.
Even if I don’t love how much their world is tied to ours.
“I guess so.”
“Good,” he says. “So… you ready to go back in?”
I hesitate. “I’m not angry anymore. Just… miserable. I don’t know how I’m supposed to face Mum after that.”
He turns toward me, sliding his hand under my chin and lifting my gaze to his.
“Then you go in there, and you apologize,” he says.
“It’s going to suck. But it’s the right thing to do.
” I nod. “I’ll be right there,” he adds quietly.
“You won’t be doing it alone.” He leans in and presses a soft kiss to my forehead.
“C’mon, Miss Slade,” he murmurs. “Let’s go fix this. ”
I nod as he stands and holds his hand out to me. Shifting the dogs from my lap, I take his hand, and he pulls me up with more force than I expect. I stumble forward, colliding straight into his chest, and we both burst out laughing.
I shove lightly at his shoulder, still grinning, and he lets me go.
He’s so good to me.
“Okay, but can you put your arm around my shoulders instead of holding my hand?” I ask.
He lifts an eyebrow. “Okaaay…” he draws out, clearly confused.
“I don’t want them thinking anything is going on between us. You know what Dad’s like.”
He slides his arm around my shoulders, pulling me in as we start walking back toward the manor. “And is there?” he asks quietly.
I glance up at him, eyebrows drawn. “Is there what?”
“Anything going on between us?”
I scrunch my nose and laugh, giving his chest a small shove. “What? No. Why would you even ask that?”
He chuckles under his breath. “Just checking.”
We cross the lawn and head up the path, the house looming ahead. The closer we get, the tighter my chest feels.
Nerves settle in fast.
“You okay? You’re tensing up,” Aston says.
I force myself to relax by dropping my shoulders. “Just nervous. I’m not angry anymore, but I feel… awful. I don’t know which version of me is about to walk in there.”
His arm tightens slightly around me as we move through the kitchen and into the hallway. “Just apologize,” he says. “It’ll be fine.”
I nod, but my heart is already racing.
As we near the music room, the sound of voices drifts toward us, but I can’t make out any of the words. My stomach twists, my pulse kicking harder with every step.
Aston stops us just before the doorway. “I’m right here,” he says, looking down at me.
I nod, and together, we walk in, the room going quiet as everyone turns toward us.
I fidget with my hands, staring at the floor, unable to meet anyone’s eyes.
“Well, if it isn’t the out bursting twelvie,” Caleb says.
My head snaps up, anger flaring instantly. “Shut up, you piece of—”
Aston’s arm tightens around me, cutting me off before I can finish.
Goddammit! I exhale slowly, drawing in a steadying breath and forcing the anger back down where it belongs.
When I finally look at Mum, my chest tightens.
She’s been crying.
What did I expect!
Dad sits beside her, quieter than usual, his expression heavy. It’s not something I see often—him looking unsure.
Aston gently guides me forward.
“Annie, sweetheart, I’m so sorry,” Mum says. “We’re so sorry we upset you. We know we should’ve been here. We were selfish.”
Dad inhales sharply beside her.
Aston nudges me lightly.
“Yes, you were selfish—”
“Annie!” Aston warns.
I shoot him a look. “I’m not finished.”
I turn back to Mum and Dad, steadying myself.
“You were selfish,” I say, softer now. “But so was I.” The room stays silent.
“I let my anger take over, and I said things I should never have said. I didn’t mean any of it.
I love you both, and I’m really sorry for bringing that up.
” I swallow, forcing myself to hold their gaze. “You didn’t deserve that.”
Mum’s face crumples, tears spilling over.
“Please don’t cry,” I say quickly, stepping forward and wrapping my arms around her.
She hugs me tight, and I press into her, holding on. Her hugs always make everything feel a little less broken.
“I’m s-sorry,” I whisper again.
She pulls back, brushing my hair away from my face. “Sweetheart, I’m crying because we let you down. We should’ve been here. We know how much this meant to you… and that makes it just as important to us.”
I glance at Dad, and he nods, his expression still serious but softer now.
“Do you think… maybe you’d like to play a song for us?” Mum asks gently.
I blink. “Really?” Excitement sparks through me before I can stop it. Dad nods again, and I push to my feet, a small smile breaking through as the heaviness finally starts to lift.
Dad stands and walks over to me. “I’m sorry, Annie. This was my fault. What you said, we didn’t deserve, but the anger behind it? We did. So let’s make it up to each other by letting us hear you and your band play?”
I smile and loop my arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. He wraps his big tattooed arms around me and lifts me clean off the ground in a bear hug.
“I love you, Annie,” Dad says quietly in my ear, too low for anyone else to hear. He sets me down, and I look up at him and nod.
Aston grabs my hand and pulls me toward our guitars. A little laugh slips out of me as Ella comes over with hers and kisses me on the cheek.