Chapter Thirty-One
Annie
As we walk toward the music room, I hear them all talking. I grip Aston’s hand tightly, and he turns to look at me.
“I’ll be right here, with you, okay? You and me, we’re in this together now and always,” he says, and it eases my nerves just enough to let the joy and excitement of his words seep through me.
He loves me.
Of that, I am completely and undeniably sure.
Aston Soulding really loves me.
Who would have thought?
He leans in and kisses my temple. “Okay, let’s do this. You ready?” he asks, and I nod, rising onto my toes to press a quick kiss to his lips. He smiles and grips my hand tightly as we walk through the doorway and into the music room.
Everyone stops talking and looks at us, their attention dropping straight to our joined hands.
“What the hell is this then?” Dad asks, and I tense up.
“Dad, Aston and I have sorted things out. And before you go ballistic about how bad an idea this is, please just think that this is what has been making me so depressed. Not being with Aston was slowly killing me and definitely causing me to make really bad choices. I can see now that he does love me, and I was the one standing in our way. So please, Dad… don’t go off about how you hate this.
I already feel bad enough about my actions.
I don’t need another reason to argue with you,” I say.
He smirks and raises an eyebrow. “You think it’s okay to talk to me like that?”
I huff and shake my head. “No, but I just needed to get it off my chest before I chickened out,” I say, and he smiles wide and stands, walking over to us. I raise my eyebrow, unsure what he’s about to do.
Dad leans down and hugs me tightly. I freeze for a second, completely thrown. Aston lets go of my hand, and I slowly bring my arms up, hugging Dad back, still trying to process what the hell is happening.
“It’s about bloody time,” he says, then leans back, holding me at arm’s length.
He looks at Aston, smiles, then pats his shoulder. “Thank you. She’s been a mess without you, and hopefully now that you’re back together, you can help Annie back to the right path.”
“Wait… what? You approve?” I ask, and Dad chuckles.
“Annie, when you were with Aston, you made better choices. You were happy, and he made you feel good about yourself. Without him, you fell into a cycle none of us could pull you out of. I don’t like that you rely on him so much for your happiness, but if you two can make this work and I get my Annie back, then I’m all for it. ”
“What the hell?” I whisper, completely thrown. “Wait till your mother finds out. She’ll be ecstatic.”
I shake my head, a quiet laugh escaping me.
This is not how I expected this to go at all.
Maybe Dad’s right. Being with Aston steadies me.
Without him, everything felt off balance…
like I was drifting. I know I shouldn’t put all my happiness on one person, but with him beside me, things feel clearer and brighter, like I can actually breathe again.
And for the first time in months, I feel like myself.
“Right, well, if we’re all done with the niceties, let’s get back to the elephant in the room, shall we?” Rob says, and Dad steps back, nodding.
Aston takes my hand again, and we move to the spare spot on the couch.
“Okay, so obviously, Annie, these photographs are not a great thing for any of us to deal with. But in saying that, I think any publicity for the band is good publicity,” he says, and we all look at him, confused.
“What do you mean?” Dad asks.
“Well, just like when you and Hux went into rehab and when Dee had her accident… it was all bad publicity, right?” Rob says, and Dad furrows his brow, nodding.
“Well, think about what happened after those events, Colt.” Dad’s expression shifts slowly, a knowing smile forming. “The fans wanted more of us. They wanted to see the recovery. And when we came back, we hit harder, and they loved us even more for it.”
“Exactly,” Rob says. “So we control the narrative. We put out a statement… something like, ‘Annie had a moment of weakness and got caught up with the wrong people.’ Aston stepped in, brought her back. Now you’re together again, it works perfectly.
Annie was struggling, things spiraled, the band felt it.
But now she’s getting help, and Staked is back on track. ”
I blink at him, stunned by how easily he turns something so messy into something almost… hopeful.
“With that angle, I can fast-track a tour. If you’re all on board?” Rob asks.
“What do you think? Annie? Aston?” Dad says.
I glance at Aston, raising a brow. He nods, steady and sure, and I feel myself relax.
“Sounds good to me. You really think we can spin this into a positive?” I ask.
Rob smiles. “Annie, for a band as talented as yours, I can spin anything. The world needs Staked, and they’re going to get them. Your tour will start soon, and you’ll be headlining for the first time. You can even choose your own backing band.”
I smirk at Aston.
“Not Red Velvet.”
He huffs out a laugh. “Yeah… that’d be awkward.”
A few knowing smiles pass around the room.
“Have a think about it,” Rob says. “I’ll start making calls.
We need to ride this wave before it dies down.
Staked needs to be everywhere… London to Los Angeles.
This could be the making of you. From tragedy comes triumph…
and you, my little Stakettes, are about to hit superstardom.
As long as we can all agree to behave from here on out,” he adds, looking straight at me.
I nod, meeting his gaze. “Promise. No more acting out.”
“Well, this is fucking great news. I came here today thinking the band would be over, and it’s only just beginning. Thanks, Rob, you really know how to make things work for us,” Caleb says, and I smile at him.
I know how much this dream means to him. How badly he wants to make Uncle Hux and Dad proud after everything they’ve done for him. Sometimes I think he feels like he owes them, but from what I’ve heard, he’s the one who gave them a new lease on life.
Caleb came into their lives at the right time. Mum’s told me enough to know Uncle Hux wasn’t always the man I see now. He lost Macy for a long time, and it broke him in ways I understand more than I’d like to admit. They were apart far longer than Aston and I ever were, and it nearly destroyed him.
I glance at Aston, my chest tightening slightly.
I get it now.
Losing the person who anchors you… it changes everything.
But they found their way back. And because of that, we’re all here.
Still standing.
Still fighting for something that matters.
***
We spent the rest of yesterday afternoon talking through how we’d move forward and who we wanted as the backing band.
Ella was adamant she wanted Recoil, and I have a feeling that has everything to do with Danger.
No one argued, so Rob said he’d check their availability.
Ella hasn’t stopped smiling since. I’m definitely going to ask her what’s going on there.
Mum was ecstatic when she got home from visiting Uncle Joseph and Danny.
The second she saw Aston and me curled up together in the corner, she screamed.
Actually screamed. She was over the moon, just like Dad.
She said she’d been waiting for me to come to my senses, hoping Aston would be there to catch me when I fell, and, apparently, I fell straight back into his arms.
And honestly… it feels right.
But today, Aston decided we needed a proper date. Even though we were together for a year, we never really did much beyond movies in the living room. We were younger then. Now he wants to wine and dine me like he always meant to.
I’m in my room getting ready, pulling on a beautiful black lace dress with long sleeves and a low back.
I can’t wear a bra with it, but it’s got enough support that I don’t need one anyway.
If Aston’s making an effort, I will too.
I slide on a pair of black pumps from under my bed, wobbling slightly as I adjust. It’s a big change from my usual bare feet or combat boots, but I’ll manage.
Probably.
Aston will help me if I fall.
I head downstairs to find Mum and Ella waiting.
“Wow, Annie, you look beautiful,” Mum says.
I roll my eyes automatically. “No, I don’t, but thanks.”
“No, really,” Ella adds. “You actually look amazing.”
I hesitate, then smile. “Thank you, guys.”
Mum hands me a small bag. “New phone. I picked it up today and programmed everything in.”
I grin and hug her. “Thank you. I’ve been dying without it.”
“Aston’s in the kitchen with your father. He looks so grown-up. I can’t believe how much you’ve both changed,” Mum says.
I smirk. “Getting sentimental on me?”
“Just happy,” she replies softly. “Even if something awful had to happen to get you here.” She wipes at a tear, but doesn’t quite hide it.
Ella and I both laugh as I pull Mum into another hug. “Thanks for everything. I mean it.”
“Let’s get you to your man,” she says.
We head into the kitchen, and the second I see Aston, I stop.
Black button-down. Jeans. Effortless.
He looks… unreal.
When he turns and smiles at me, it hits me straight in the chest. My breath catches, my balance goes, and I stumble.
Aston moves instantly, catching me before I hit the floor. “I got you,” he murmurs.
I laugh softly. “I think I literally just fell for you.”
He smirks. “I fell for you a long time ago.”
I lean in and kiss him, soft and quick.
“Okay, don’t do that in front of me. It freaks me out,” Dad says, chuckling.
I glance over, surprised to find him actually smiling.
“C’mon, Miss Slade,” Aston says, taking my hand. “Let me take you out on a date.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“Have a good night, you two,” Mum calls.
We head toward the front door.
“Nope! This way, Lennox,” Aston says, gently pulling me toward the back.
I frown, then follow his gaze out the window. A soft glow flickers beneath the willow tree.
My face lights up. “We’re having a date under the willow tree?”
He grins. “Is there any other kind?”
Ella laughs behind us. “Have fun.”