Page 28 of Fame & Rhythm

“You’re my cousin, and I love you, but you can be a fucking idiot sometimes,” he says as he sets me down beside the car and digs his keys from his pocket. He hits the button, and the locks chirp.

“Beep beep, like the Road Runner,” I say, dissolving into laughter because, for some reason, that is the funniest thing in the world.

“Get in the car, Annie.”

He yanks the door open, and I spin once in a clumsy circle before collapsing into the seat, still giggling. Oh my God, I feel… amazing.

He shuts the door, rounds the car, and slides into the driver’s seat.

“Sorry for ruining your smoochy time with Princess Hair Extensions,” I tell him, and he finally lets out a reluctant chuckle.

“Buckle up.”

I grab the seat belt and tug, but it keeps locking, and I burst into hysterics. “Your belt is broken.”

He leans across me and pulls it smoothly into place.

“Wow,” I breathe. “You’re like a magician.”

“Yeah, incredible talent,” he mocks.

I shrug, but the movement turns my stomach instantly. He goes to pull out of the parking space before glancing sideways at me. “How much did you drink?”

The warm, floaty feeling disappears so fast it’s almost cruel. My stomach lurches, and I clap a hand over my mouth.

“Nope, absolutely not. You are not throwing up in my car.” Caleb slams the car into park and is out of the car in seconds, rushing around to my side. He yanks open the door and undoes the belt. “Annie, lean forward.”

I obey, barely making it out of the car before the dizziness hits full force. My head hangs low, the spinning is unbearable, and then my stomach heaves.

Caleb throws his hands in the air. “Jesus Christ.”

I keep heaving while Caleb stands there watching me in my dazed state. When I finally stop, I groan miserably. “I don’t feel so good anymore,” I whisper.

Caleb takes a quick step back just before I throw up everything I’ve drunk over the last fifteen minutes. “No shit.”

I heave again, acid burning my throat, the taste even fouler coming back up than it was going down. I spit weakly, trying to get it out of my mouth, while Caleb opens the boot and grabs a bottle of water. “Drink this.”

I slump back into the seat, feeling absolutely awful now, the high gone and misery settling in its place.

“Think you’re gonna throw up again?” he asks.

I slowly shake my head and rest it back against the seat, closing my eyes as the world continues to spin.

“Okay. I’m buckling you in.” He fastens the seat belt, shuts the door, and a second later, I hear him get back behind the wheel and start the engine.

Darkness tugs at me from the edges, pulling me under, and as I drift, I hope I dream of floating music notes and quiet, peaceful melodies…

Not Aston.

Chapter Six

Annie

The entire room is spinning, and I know I’m lying down. My mouth is bone dry, my head is pounding, and honestly, I have no idea what the hell is happening to my body right now. I keep my eyes closed and lift a hand to my aching head, but something brushes against my face as I move.

I squint, trying to escape the harsh light above me, and when I force my eyes open enough to focus, I spot a cord leading from the back of my hand.

My eyes widen.