Chapter Twenty
Annie
Walking in, Aston looks up and smiles. “There she is, the girl who wrote the best song ever,” he says, and a smirk pulls at my lips.
“Well, it’s really the lyrics that make a song great, you know?” I reply, and he rolls his eyes.
“I think this song is going to be great, and I can’t wait to learn it. Hopefully we can perfect it in time for tomorrow night’s gig so we can include it in the music lineup,” Caleb says, and I smile.
Getting Caleb’s approval on a song means everything. It’s like Dad giving his stamp of approval. I walk over to Aston, and he smiles, wrapping his arm around my waist while Caleb grins at us both.
“So, is this thing happening with you two now?” he asks.
A small smile tugs at my lips while Aston nods. “Yep, we’re together, aren’t we?” he says, double-checking.
“We sure are.”
Dad walks in, and Aston immediately drops his arm from around me and takes a step back. Dad’s gaze flicks between us, his brows pulling together, but he doesn’t say anything. Curiosity gets the better of me, so I turn back to Aston, lean in, and press a gentle kiss to his lips.
A few gasps sound around us, but I slip my arm around Aston’s waist, lingering close before pulling back. My gaze lifts to Dad, holding it—waiting.
Everyone watches as his nostrils flare, but he still says nothing.
Aston is tense beside me, not quite holding me back, and I know exactly why. He’s terrified of Dad.
“Okay, right, well… if we’re all here, let’s get started,” Dad says.
A bright smile spreads across my face. Dad looks at me, then gives a small nod, the hint of a smile there. That’s enough.
Aston relaxes beside me and slips his arms around me again.
“Okay, not what I was expecting from you, Colt, but anyway… here’s a new song Annie and Aston were working on outside. Personally, I think it rocks. Can you tell me what you think?” Caleb says, handing Dad the notebook.
Dad glances at us before looking down at the page. “You did this?” he asks.
We both nod.
“You two make a good team,” Dad says.
A laugh escapes me, and Aston chuckles beside me, still looking slightly stunned.
Age 18
Things with Aston and the band are amazing. Dad has loosened the reins, and we’re able to cuddle and kiss when we want, though we’re careful not to overdo it in front of him. The rest of the band is thrilled for us. They all knew, just like everyone else, that we’d end up together eventually.
Aston’s still not allowed in my room alone with me, and I get it. Things between us are more serious now. What I feel for him runs deep, and I know he feels it too. We’ve been writing some incredible songs together, and I can hear and feel it in the lyrics.
It’s been nearly a year since we first got together, and in that time, everything has exploded.
The band has grown faster than any of us expected.
We recorded an album while Caleb was recovering from a car accident, since he couldn’t perform on stage for a while.
Dad suggested we use the time to focus on recording, and his label signed us within hours of hearing it.
Our album “The New Era” went on sale and hit platinum within days of release.
We’ve been doing so many live shows that Susan now travels with us to keep our education on track. Balancing schoolwork with the band isn’t easy, but it’s part of the deal, so we make it work.
Ella is so much more confident now, or at least she gives that impression, but she still stress-eats. She’s lucky she has a fast metabolism because she never gains a thing.
Dad’s band, 12GAUGE-Slayed, is heading out on tour soon, and we’re going as the backing band. Our first real tour. It’s with our parents, which helps because they’ll show us the ropes and keep us grounded. Everyone’s excited, and with May just around the corner, the UK weather is still manageable.
Last month, I turned eighteen. In four months, Aston will be nineteen.
We’ve been trying to take things slow, really slow, and it’s been almost torturous at times. Time alone is rare, unless we sneak away to the willow tree when everyone’s around.
For our first anniversary, he took me there. Our spot. He brought a homemade picnic, I’m pretty sure Mum helped, but it didn’t matter. It was perfect. Candles, the lake, the moonlight… it felt like something out of a dream.
We might be young, but what we have feels real. Steady. Like something worth holding onto. Even with the fans who throw themselves at Aston during gigs, there’s never been a moment of doubt. When he talks to them, his attention always drifts back to me. I see it every time.
My moods have settled a lot, and Dad and I are getting along better than ever.
Everything feels… right.
And honestly, I don’t know what I did to deserve this kind of happiness.
Today marks the first live show of the 12GAUGE-Slayed world tour, with Staked as the backup band. Dad decided to bring on two support acts to extend the concert, and the second band is new, and one he’s been raving about. He loves their sound, so he asked them to join the tour.
We haven’t met them yet, but from what I’ve heard, they’re incredible. The band is called Recoil, and they’re opening the show before we go on, with 12GAUGE-Slayed headlining after us.
The shows have completely sold out, and even though we’re not the headlining act, it still feels surreal.
This is our first tour, six months of performing around the world.
Doing this with Dad and the band, the people I love most—it means everything.
The only downside is leaving the dogs behind, but Uncle Joseph and Uncle Danny are taking care of Sassy and Snaggy, so at least I know they’re in good hands.
We arrive at Wembley Stadium, and the energy in the air is electric.
Aston walks over in the green room and wraps his arms around me while the others chat nearby. “Tonight is going to be amazing, Lennox. Rocking it out with you by my side at Wembley. I can’t think of anything better than that.”
A smile spreads across my face as I loop my arms around his neck and press a soft kiss to his lips. “I still can’t believe it. I mean, Wembley fucking Stadium? It doesn’t get much bigger than that, right?”
“Well… maybe Madison Square Garden,” he says with a grin. “But other than that, nope. We’re gonna kill it tonight, baby.”
I nod just as Ella walks over.
“Have you guys met the members of Recoil yet?” she asks, and Aston releases me.
I shake my head. “Nope. You?”
“No, but I can’t wait. We’re stuck with them for six months, so I’m hoping they’re decent,” she says.
A quiet huff leaves me. “Don’t get your hopes up. Bands picked up by 12GAUGE-Slayed tend to get a bit full of themselves.”
“Who’s full of themselves?” a deep American voice cuts in.
We all turn.
He’s tall, with short, dark curls and tattoos covering his arms. Early twenties, maybe. Attractive in that dangerous, rough-around-the-edges way. But it’s the way he’s looking at Ella that immediately sets me on edge.
“And you are?” I ask.
Aston’s arm slides around my waist, pulling me closer.
“Danger,” he says, extending his hand straight to Ella. His gaze never leaves her.
We all exchange a look.
“What makes you… dangerous?” Ella asks, her voice softer than usual as she takes his hand.
My brows pull together at her reaction.
“The name fits,” he says with a slow smirk. “Everyone’s got a little danger in them, don’t they, sugar?”
His eyes lock on hers, and I swear she forgets how to breathe.
“Uh… I guess,” she replies, still holding his hand.
Still holding it.
“Do you want a little danger in you?” he asks, his tone low and suggestive.
A shiver runs through me, and not in a good way.
Ella giggles. Actually giggles.
Right. This is happening.
“Okay, thanks for the introduction, Danger, but we should probably get ready,” Aston cuts in, his tone polite but firm.
Danger barely acknowledges him. “What’s your name, sugar?”
“Ella,” she says, biting her bottom lip.
“Sexy name for a sexy lady.”
My eyes widen as Ella flushes bright red.
“Okay… nice to meet you, Danger,” I say, my tone cooling. “Interesting name.”
He glances at me briefly, unimpressed, before turning straight back to Ella. “Until next time, sugar.” He lifts their still-joined hands and presses a kiss to the back of hers.
She giggles like a damn schoolgirl.
He smirks, licking his lips like he already knows the effect he’s having.
Yeah… absolutely not.
“You do realize she’s only seventeen, right?”
Ella shoots me a glare. “I’ll be eighteen soon.”
“Age is just a number,” he replies with a shrug, eyes still on her. Then he winks.
She giggles again.
Unbelievable.
“Nice to meet you, sugar,” he murmurs, leaning closer. “I wonder how sweet you really taste.”
We all freeze.
Then he releases her hand and walks off like he owns the place.
I glance at Aston. He’s trying, and failing, to hide a smirk, his brows raised high. “What the fuck was that?” he asks, looking at Ella.
“I know!” she gushes. “Wasn’t he… spectacular?”
Aston and I both laugh, assuming she’s joking.
She looks between us, frowning.
Fuck! She’s not joking.
“Oh, wait… you’re serious?” I ask, and she frowns, folding her arms over her chest.
“What, a guy can’t like me?”
“No, I didn’t mean it like that. I just mean… maybe Danger isn’t exactly someone you should be getting close to. He doesn’t seem… inexperienced.”
“Oh my God, Annie, I wasn’t thinking like that. I don’t even know him,” she says, though the look on her face tells a different story.
I smile and place a hand on her shoulder. “Just be careful around him, okay? I saw the way you were looking at him. Stay on your guard because a guy like Danger doesn’t get a nickname like that for no reason.”
“I bet he’s actually soft underneath all that. You just don’t give people chances like I do, Annie.”
“Ella, you’re like my little sister, and trust me… he’s after one thing, and one thing only,” Aston says.
Ella shrugs. “What does he want?”
Aston hesitates for half a second before answering, “To get close to you… faster than he should. Just don’t fall into anything you’re not ready for, okay?”