Chapter Seventeen
Annie
Aston and I finally come up for air and make our way back to the party. We’ve been gone long enough that I’m sure people have noticed.
I quickly wipe the smudge of lipstick from his mouth before we step out from behind the partition, only to find Caleb and Chad watching us with matching grins.
I glance at Aston.
He’s smirking.
“Do you think they know?” I murmur.
He shrugs. “So what if they do? I like you, Annie. I don’t care who knows.”
My stomach flips as he takes my hand and presses a soft kiss to my cheek, and we join the rest of Staked at a table, and he keeps hold of my hand beneath it for the rest of the night.
Later, after the after-party winds down, Rob gathers us together to go over how everything went.
And apparently… it went really well.
He’s already talking about ramping things up, more gigs this week to build momentum before we head into the studio to record the album. Then we’ll submit it to the label Dad was speaking to tonight.
They loved our sound.
Our chemistry.
Now they want to hear what we can do.
It’s all happening so fast.
Dad’s been glued to his phone, watching Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook blow up. Staked is trending, and the energy around us is unreal.
We’re actually doing this.
Dad seems to have quietly dropped his no-touch-Aston rule too.
He definitely saw us holding hands under the table.
He frowned, but then Mum gave him a look, and that was the end of it.
Honestly, if anyone can change his mind, it’s her.
She has this way of flipping things so he thinks it was his idea all along.
I don’t know how she does it, but after nearly twenty years together, I guess she’s had practice.
By the time we’re driving back to Oxfordshire, I’m exhausted.
It’s been a long day, and an emotional one. But also… the best day of my life.
Ella’s already asleep beside me, and Mum and Dad are talking quietly up front about Dad’s tour next year. They're even talking about us possibly joining them, maybe playing a support act.
I don’t let myself get too carried away with that idea just yet.
One step at a time.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out and smile when I see Aston’s name.
Aston: U make my world spin in a completely new direction, and I luv the dizziness I feel around u. A1 xo P.S. Ur boobs r amazing!
A laugh escapes me before I can stop it, and I quickly cover my mouth so I don’t wake Ella.
But his words…
They make me blush.
I’ve known him my entire life, and yet somehow everything feels different now. How my body’s always reacted to him—the tingles, the way my skin prickles when he’s near. I just never understood what it meant.
Now I do.
This isn’t normal.
This is something more.
And for the first time, I’m letting myself feel it as I type out a reply.
Me: I luv the feeling u give me 2. I never knew whatever we were doing could feel so… good! All I know is that I want more, and I hope u do 2. A2 xxxx P.S. My boob’s r amazing, hey!
I giggle internally as I hit send, watching the screen for his reply, and it doesn’t take long.
Aston: I definitely want more Annie. I want so much more with u! And it will come with time. This is new to both of us, and I want to do it right. A1 xo
My chest tightens in the best possible way. He always knows exactly what to say. I hold the phone to my chest for a moment before typing again.
Me: Well, so far ur doing it perfectly. I just hope tmro we can find some alone time. There’s a song in my head I can’t get out, and I want u 2 help me with it. A2 xxxx
Aston: Sounds perfect to me Lennox. I’ll be at your place by ten, and we’ll find a way 2 slip out somewhere. Your dad can’t keep us apart forever :) A1 xo
I glance up at the back of Dad’s head, wondering if that’s actually true.
What is his problem, anyway?
Aston’s been nothing but respectful. If he’d wanted to rush things, he could have tonight.
But he didn’t.
He stopped.
That has to count for something.
I type another message.
Me: Ur right, we’ll find some time to slip out to the willow tree tmro. It’s far enough away that we can talk about the song and cuddle while doing it. If you want to, that is? A2 xxxx
I hesitate, my thumb hovering over the screen.
Too much?
Too obvious?
I go to delete it and accidentally hit send instead.
“Shit,” I whisper under my breath, scrambling to type a follow-up, but his reply comes through before I can.
Aston: I wouldn’t want to cuddle with anyone else, Lennox. I’ve been waiting to cuddle you my entire life <3 A1 xo
My breath catches, and my heart does this ridiculous little flip in my chest.
He really does know exactly what to say.
I smile and type back.
Me: U can talk sweet as well as dirty then? ;) A2 xxxx
I hit send, grinning to myself as I sink back into the seat. Tomorrow suddenly can’t come fast enough.
Aston: U have no idea how sweet I can be, but ur going to find out. That’s a promise. I’m so glad u stopped pushing me away. The last two days has been perfect for me. Other than your dad threatening to castrate me, but u well and truly make up for his downfalls. A1 xo
I smile and bite my bottom lip.
Me: Well, I’m glad that ur happy, and I’m sorry it took me so long 2 figure out what the hell was happening to me. It’s nice 2 finally realize what I was feeling isn’t just friendship, and that I want u in my life as more than just Aston, the best friend. A2 xxxx
I hit send.
Aston: I thought I wasn’t imagining it, and that u felt the same surge of electricity I feel when I’m around u. Every time I’m near u, I get a shiver down my spine that tells me when ur near. I luv that feeling. A1 xo
I open my eyes wide and gasp, realizing that he feels something like I do when we’re close by, and it’s so nice knowing we’re on the same page. I hit reply.
Me: Oh no, I feel it, trust me, I feel it! Well, we’ve just pulled into the driveway, so I better go before Dad catches me texting u. I’ll see u in the morning. Can’t wait. A2 xxxx
Aston: Sleep well my beautiful, Lennox. A1 xo P.S. I can’t wait to kiss you again, under the willow tree xoxo
A smile lingers on my lips as Dad pulls the car up outside the house.
“So, did you girls have a good time at the after-party?” he asks.
Ella jolts awake beside me. “What? Huh?” she mumbles, stretching and yawning.
“Did you have a good time?” Dad repeats.
I smile, my fingers brushing lightly over my lips as the memory of Aston flickers through my mind, his kiss, the way he held me, the way he made me feel like I was the only person in the room. Yeah… that definitely counts as a good night.
“It was okay,” Ella says sleepily.
Mum turns in her seat, her gaze landing on me as I drop my hand, and I smile quickly.
“I had a blast,” I say.
She smiles knowingly before climbing out of the car.
We all follow, heading toward the big, beautiful manor we call home. The dogs start barking the moment we reach the door, and as soon as Dad opens it, they come barreling toward us. I crouch to pat Sassy as she jumps up at me, laughing softly, but I don’t linger.
“Night, Annie,” Mum calls.
I glance back with a smile. “Night. I’m exhausted.”
They all nod, drifting toward the kitchen while I head upstairs, and the grin doesn’t leave my face the entire way to my room. I slip inside, shutting the door behind me, the quiet wrapping around me like a cocoon.
Kicking off my boots, I change into my oversized 12GAUGE-Slayed T-shirt and climb straight into bed, still buzzing from everything that happened today.
God… what a day.
I reach into my nightstand drawer and pull out the picture of Aston and me, settling back against the pillows. The soft purple glow from my lanterns fills the room as I trace the outline of his face with my finger, and my chest tightens in the best way.
The butterflies come rushing back, fluttering wildly as I think about the way he looked at me… the way he kissed me… the way he made me feel.
I press a soft kiss to the photograph, smiling to myself. Carefully, I tuck it under my pillow before snuggling down into the sheets. My eyes drift closed as I let it all wash over me…
The music, the lights, the crowd…
… and him.