Chapter Thirty-Four
Annie
A month has passed, and Aston and I are still inseparable.
He was starting to get cranky sleeping on the couch, so once Dad was asleep, he’d sneak upstairs to my room.
We’ve gotten very good at being quiet. I’m pretty sure Mum knows we’re sleeping together…
and sleeping together, but she hasn’t said a word.
Aston always slips back downstairs before Dad wakes up, usually around five in the morning, sometimes earlier if Dad has a press day. I think his mum misses having Aston at home, but I’m selfish. I like having him beside me. It’s easier too, with how much we’ve been rehearsing.
Rob pulled the tour together so quickly that none of us were ready for it. He gave us a month, and now we’re here, about to start our first world tour as headliners.
Mum’s coming with us, while Dad will join when he can.
He’s still tied up with 12GAUGE-Slayed commitments.
The tour isn’t massive, but it’s big enough, six countries, which feels surreal.
We’re using Dad’s jet while he flies commercially to keep the focus on Staked.
Not that he’d go unnoticed, he’ll still be first class with his bandmates and security, but for once, the spotlight is on us.
Rob’s spin on the photo scandal worked exactly as planned. There was just enough time between everything blowing up and the tour starting for me to ‘recover’ with Aston’s help, according to the public. We even did a magazine interview, fully coached on what to say.
Now the world sees Aston as the hero.
The guy who saved me.
Everyone knows we’re together, and for once, I don’t have to hide it.
I can actually enjoy it.
Aston and I step onto the jet, and Mum is immediately handed her usual pill by Tamara. I grin at her. After all the flying she’s done, it still makes her nervous.
“We don’t have a long flight to Stockholm,” Mum says. “Just over two hours. Then straight to the Ericsson Globe for setup.”
We nod as Ella follows close behind, practically glowing. I’m pretty sure that has something to do with Danger being part of the Stockholm show.
We take our seats just as Anna and Sia step onto the jet.
“Oh, thank God,” Mum breathes, and Anna laughs.
“You didn’t think we’d let you take all the kids without backup, did you?” she teases.
Aston chuckles like he already knew about the plan.
I glance at Mum and see her eyes filling with tears.
“Oh, Dee, stop it,” Anna says, shaking her head.
I smile as Anna drops into the seat beside Mum, pulling her into a side hug, while Sia starts organizing her boys at the front of the jet.
“That was a nice surprise,” I whisper to Aston.
“Yeah, Mum and Dad were talking about it yesterday,” he says. “They figured it was a bit much for your mum to handle us all alone, even if we are technically adults.”
I huff a quiet laugh. “Technically.”
“You know what they’re like,” he adds. “Overprotective as hell.”
I nod. I definitely know.
We move over to sit with Ella, Aston taking the seat across from me, just as Caleb comes sprinting onto the jet.
“Sorry I’m late… but I’m here, don’t panic,” he says, slightly out of breath.
We all laugh.
I hadn’t even realized Caleb was missing.
It feels strange being on this plane without Dad, but I know he’ll join us soon enough.
Rob steps on last, and Tamara closes the door behind him.
Moments later, we’re taxiing out.
On our way to our first show as the headline act.
***
Performing with Aston at my back again, on stage, where we belong, was the biggest rush I’ve ever felt… second only to when he’s inside me.
Nothing compares to that.
The music surged through me, bright and alive, flooding my veins. Every note from my guitar felt lighter, happier, and no longer weighed down by everything that had been hanging over me for the past two years. Even playing “I Knew You Were Always Mine” didn’t hurt anymore.
Now, it fills me with something else entirely.
Hope.
Love.
The kind that feels like it might burst out of my chest if I don’t hold onto it. Being in love is… incredible. And if I regret anything, it’s that I held myself back from it for so long.
Staked were on fire tonight. The crowd fed off our energy, and we gave it right back. Caleb was buzzing, completely in his element. Ella, too. She played like she’d finally let go of whatever was holding her back.
Less nerves.
More confidence.
More her.
We’re finally coming together as a band, and tonight proved it. We sounded tighter than we ever have, and I know this tour is going to change everything for us.
We’re now in the VIP section of a club for our after-party, and everyone’s riding the high. I’m tucked into a booth with Aston, Ella, and Danger. I still think he’s a bit of a douche, but there’s no denying he’s into Ella, and she’s definitely into him.
Mum headed back to the hotel, trusting us to handle our first after-party like adults.
If Dad were here, though? He’d be sitting right beside me.
“Want another juice, baby?” Aston asks, brushing his lips against my cheek.
I nod. “Yeah.”
“I’ll be right back.” He slides out of the booth and heads to the bar.
Ella watches him go, then turns back to me. “You’re seriously not drinking tonight?”
I shake my head. “Nope. I’m done with that. Look what happened last time… fighting, strangers, hospital visits, photos everywhere. Not worth it.”
She smiles softly. “I’m proud of you.”
I nod, feeling it too. Then I glance toward the bar, and freeze.
A redhead.
She’s right up against Aston, her arm wrapped around his waist.
Jealousy hits fast… hot and sharp.
I sit up straighter, watching closely as he removes her hand, stepping away.
Good.
Relief settles for half a second…
Then the bitch goes back in. This time, wrapping her arms around his neck, getting far too close.
I’m already on my feet.
Aston turns, clearly trying to disengage, but before he can move away properly, she launches herself at him, legs wrapping around his waist.
Laughter ripples through the room as he stumbles, caught off guard.
Then she kisses him.
And everything in me snaps.
I don’t think.
I don’t hesitate.
I just move.
I barely register someone calling my name as I storm across the room, rage burning through me. I grab her hair and yank her back hard. “How dare you kiss my boyfriend?” I shout.
She hits the floor, and I follow her down, my anger taking over completely.
“Annie, stop!” someone yells.
I don’t.
I can’t.
Hands grab me from behind, trying to pull me off as I lash out, but it takes two of them to drag me back.
“You’re a psycho!” she screams.
“Then stay away from him!” I snap.
“I’m pressing charges!”
“Do it!” I fire back.
“Annie, enough,” Danger cuts in, stepping between us.
The girl scrambles away and disappears from the VIP room.
My chest heaves as I run a hand through my hair, adrenaline still coursing through me. “She deserved it,” I mutter.
A hand grabs my arm, spinning me around.
Aston.
And he looks furious.
“What the hell was that?” he demands.
I swallow hard. “She was all over you.”
“So that gives you the right to attack her?”
“Shouldn’t you be glad I got her off you?”
His expression tightens. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you didn’t exactly stop her straight away,” I snap.
His shoulders drop slightly, frustration replacing anger. “Annie… no. I didn’t want that.”
“You looked like you were enjoying it,” I push, the words tumbling out before I can stop them.
“Seriously? What is going on in your head right now?”
“You want Amber back, don’t you?” I blurt. “That’s why—”
“Annie.”
My voice cracks as everything spills out. “I’m n-never going to be enough for y-you.”
He pulls me into him instantly, arms locking around me.
I fight it. “Let me go—”
“For God’s sake, look at me,” Aston says, firm.
Something in his tone stops me, and I look up.
His grip softens slightly, but he doesn’t let me go.
“You’re it for me,” he says, steady and certain.
“I’m not going anywhere. That girl? She meant nothing.
You mean everything.” My breathing starts to slow.
“I love you. Always have.” His thumbs brush my cheeks, wiping away tears I hadn’t realized were falling. “I don’t want anyone else.”
I nod slowly, trying to ground myself. “I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“I know,” he says gently. “But you can’t react like that every time someone comes near me. That’s part of this life.”
“I know… it was the hair,” I admit. “All I saw was Amber.”
He winces slightly. “Hey… that’s not us anymore.”
I nod again. “Can we go back to the hotel?” I ask quietly.
“Yeah,” he says. “Just one quick stop first.”
I nod.
“Let’s go.”