Chapter Seven #2
“I don’t want this getting out any more than you do, Colt,” he adds. “Staked means too much to me to let something like this take us down before we’ve even started.”
That one cuts deep.
I cover my face in shame with both hands and break, really break this time, my shoulders shaking as the weight of it all crashes down on me.
I don’t hear the rest.
There’s a ringing in my ears, my body drained, my emotions wrung dry. I’ve got to get to bed, so I push off the wall and head upstairs, moving quickly, needing to get away from everything.
As I reach my room, Ella’s door opens.
“Are you okay?” she asks, her voice soft, sleepy. “Dad sounded pretty angry.”
“I’m fine, Elle’s Bells,” I say, forcing something close to normal into my voice. “Just go back to sleep.”
“If you need me, I’m here.”
I pause, then nod. “Thanks, Ella… but I need to be alone right now.”
She gives me a small smile and closes her door.
I slip into my room, shutting the door behind me, and kick off my combat boots before dragging myself toward the bed. I pull my phone from my bra and plug it in, the screen lighting up with missed calls.
From Aston.
My stomach twists.
I stare at the notifications for a second, then delete the messages without opening them.
I can’t deal with that right now.
Too exhausted to even think about changing, I climb into bed fully clothed. My body sinks into the mattress, heavy and drained, my head still pounding.
I curl into my purple sheets and close my eyes, willing sleep to come quickly.
Because right now, I want everything to stop.
***
I dream of music, but it’s wrong.
The notes don’t fit together, clashing and scraping in ways that make my skin crawl.
There’s an uneasiness woven through it, something that settles deep in my chest and refuses to let go.
Then Aston flashes into my mind, and suddenly everything clicks into place.
The melody smooths out, the harmony returns.
But I push him away.
And then music falls apart all over again.
I hate this dream.
It loops over and over, dragging me under just enough to start again before yanking me back to the surface.
Every time I drift off, it starts again.
Every time it ends, I wake up.
I am never drinking again.
The sound of my door opening pulls me out of the same dream for what feels like the hundredth time. I groan softly, my head pounding as I squeeze my eyes shut, not ready to deal with anything just yet.
The door closes again.
Relief settles in for a brief moment, and I start to relax… until I feel the mattress dip and a gentle hand brush against my back. I jump slightly, turning my head to find Mum sitting beside me, a bottle of water and some painkillers in her hand.
“Sorry, honey,” she says softly. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“It’s okay,” I mumble. “I’m not really sleeping anyway.”
She gives me a small, understanding smile. “How are you feeling?”
I push myself up slowly, wincing as my head protests. “Not great.”
“I figured,” she says gently, placing the water and tablets on my bedside table. “Drink this over the next hour, all of it, and take two painkillers. It’ll take the edge off a little. Hangovers are the worst.”
I manage a small smile, but it fades quickly as my thoughts drift. “How’s Dad?” I ask quietly.
She exhales, her expression softening. “Angry, hurt, worried… everything I’m feeling too.”
I pull my knees up to my chest, staring down at my hands. “I’m really sorry, Mum.”
“I know, honey.” She pauses. “But what I don’t understand is why you did it.”
I hesitate.
I want to tell her the truth, but I can’t. If she knows about Aston, Dad will know, and that will make everything worse.
“I just felt… out of place,” I admit instead. “No one was talking to me. I was sitting there on my own. I hated it, and I wanted it to stop. The drink was there, and I didn’t think. I just… did it. And then I kept going.”
She sighs softly, and I can see the disappointment in her eyes, which makes my chest ache even more.
“Annie, you should have come to me,” she says gently.
“I would have taken you home. I don’t like those big parties either.
I would’ve been more than happy to leave with you.
” I swallow hard. “I thought we had an open and honest relationship,” she continues.
“I’ve always told you that you can come to me about anything, anytime. ”
“You did,” I say quickly. “And we do. I just… got overwhelmed so fast. It was a split-second thing. I didn’t plan it. I swear.”
“I know you didn’t,” she says softly. “But you still have to be responsible with your choices. Otherwise, your father will never let you out of his sight again, and trust me, I know how overbearing he can be.” Despite everything, I let out a small breath of a laugh.
“He loves you,” she adds. “More than anything. Sometimes he just doesn’t know how to handle it. ”
I hesitate. “He got really upset after I went upstairs, didn’t he?”
Her eyes widen slightly. “How do you know that?”
“I heard him,” I admit. “Was he crying?”
She pauses, then reaches for my hand. “He was. But only because he was scared. He thought something really bad could have happened to you.” My chest tightens painfully.
“He loves you, Annie. He loves all of us. And when your father loves someone, he loves hard. Yes, it can feel a bit overwhelming sometimes, but that’s who he is.
And we love him for it, just like we love you… no matter what.”
I bite my bottom lip. “Do you think he’ll ever forgive me?”
She smiles gently. “It’s not about forgiveness.
He’s stuck on the ‘what if’ right now. Once he gets past that, he’ll be okay.
You need to remember that your actions affect the people around you, too.
” I nod slowly. “I love you, Annie,” she says softly.
“And I’m sorry you felt like you had to escape like that. I wish I’d noticed.”
I shake my head immediately. “No, Mum, this isn’t your fault—”
“Maybe not,” she says, brushing a tear from her cheek. “But I should have been paying more attention to you instead of everyone else. Those people don’t matter to me. You do. You, your sister, and your father… that’s what matters.”
“Mum,” I say gently. “You didn’t fail. This was on me, okay?”
She cups my chin, giving me a soft smile. “Let’s agree to disagree. Right now, you need to take those painkillers and drink your water. I’ll make you something to eat. That’ll help too.”
“Okay.”
She leans in and kisses my forehead. “And no more doing something like that again. You scared the hell out of us.”
“I promise,” I say. “No more screw-ups.”
She rolls her eyes lightly. “Annie, honestly.”
I give her a small, weak chuckle. “I grew up around rock stars. I’m hardly a model teenager.”
That laugh immediately turns into a wince as my head throbs again.
“Painkillers,” Mum reminds me with a knowing look.
I nod, popping two capsules from the packet. “I love you, Mum,” I say quietly. “Can you tell Dad I love him too?”
She smiles softly. “I love you too, honey. But I think you should tell him yourself… when you’re both ready.”
I nod, chewing the inside of my cheek.
“Can I stay in here for a while?” I ask. “I’m not ready to face him yet.”
“Of course. Rest, drink your water, and I’ll bring something up when it’s ready.”
“Thanks, Mum. For everything.”
“You’re welcome. Now take those tablets.”
I laugh softly at her tone and do as I’m told before she leaves the room, closing the door quietly behind her.
I swallow the pills with a few gulps of water and sink back into my bed, hoping for some decent sleep this time.
Just as I close my eyes, my phone vibrates.
I roll over and glance at the screen.
Aston.
I stare at it as it continues to buzz on silent, my chest tightening.
Part of me wants to answer.
But everything that happened last night… everything I’m feeling now…
I can’t deal with that.
Not yet.
So I let it ring out, turning back over and pulling the covers around me. This time, when sleep finally comes, the dream is different.
I’m back at the party.
Aston is in front of me, his hand brushing my cheek, his eyes locked on mine.
But instead of pulling away…
I lean in.
And I kiss him.
And for the first time in what feels like forever, I sleep peacefully.