Page 184 of Fame & Rhythm

“Seriously?” I ask, and Dad smirks.

“Yep, I still have it! I’m still the Rock God,” he says, walking past us, not noticing my disheveled appearance.

“Don’t tell Caleb that,” Aston says, and we both chuckle as we follow him into the kitchen.

Ella walks out of the living room, where the rest of the bodies are still lying comatose. I look at her, and she smiles at me.

“Thank you!” I whisper in her ear, and she wraps her arm around my shoulders and kisses my cheek.

“Didn’t want Dad to kill Aston,” she whispers back.

Aston looks at her and smiles, nodding.

“C’mon, kids, breakfast is ready,” Dad calls out, waking up everyone else in the living room.

We sit down at the dining table, and Mum nods at me, then looks to Aston, then back at me. I think she knows, but she won’t say anything to Dad. I smile at her and take a deep breath, realizing that Aston and I have spent our first night together, and nothing is going to ruin the specialness of that.

Not even my dad.

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.