Page 7 of Fame & Rhythm

Even if I don’t love how much their world is tied to ours.

“I guess so.”

“Good,” he says. “So… you ready to go back in?”

I hesitate. “I’m not angry anymore. Just… miserable. I don’t know how I’m supposed to face Mum after that.”

He turns toward me, sliding his hand under my chin and lifting my gaze to his. “Then you go in there, and you apologize,” he says. “It’s going to suck. But it’s the right thing to do.” I nod. “I’ll be right there,” he adds quietly. “You won’t be doing it alone.” He leans in and presses a soft kiss to my forehead. “C’mon, Miss Slade,” he murmurs. “Let’s go fix this.”

I nod as he stands and holds his hand out to me. Shifting the dogs from my lap, I take his hand, and he pulls me up with more force than I expect. I stumble forward, colliding straight into his chest, and we both burst out laughing.

I shove lightly at his shoulder, still grinning, and he lets me go.

He’s so good to me.

“Okay, but can you put your arm around my shoulders instead of holding my hand?” I ask.

He lifts an eyebrow. “Okaaay…” he draws out, clearly confused.

“I don’t want them thinking anything is going on between us. You know what Dad’s like.”

He slides his arm around my shoulders, pulling me in as we start walking back toward the manor. “And is there?” he asks quietly.

I glance up at him, eyebrows drawn. “Is there what?”

“Anything going on between us?”

I scrunch my nose and laugh, giving his chest a small shove. “What? No. Why would you even ask that?”

He chuckles under his breath. “Just checking.”

We cross the lawn and head up the path, the house looming ahead. The closer we get, the tighter my chest feels.

Nerves settle in fast.

“You okay? You’re tensing up,” Aston says.

I force myself to relax by dropping my shoulders. “Just nervous. I’m not angry anymore, but I feel… awful. I don’t know which version of me is about to walk in there.”

His arm tightens slightly around me as we move through the kitchen and into the hallway. “Just apologize,” he says. “It’ll be fine.”

I nod, but my heart is already racing.

As we near the music room, the sound of voices drifts toward us, but I can’t make out any of the words. My stomach twists, my pulse kicking harder with every step.

Aston stops us just before the doorway. “I’m right here,” he says, looking down at me.

I nod, and together, we walk in, the room going quiet as everyone turns toward us.

I fidget with my hands, staring at the floor, unable to meet anyone’s eyes.

“Well, if it isn’t the out bursting twelvie,” Caleb says.

My head snaps up, anger flaring instantly. “Shut up, you piece of—”

Aston’s arm tightens around me, cutting me off before I can finish.

Goddammit! I exhale slowly, drawing in a steadying breath and forcing the anger back down where it belongs.