Page 291 of Fame & Chaos

We still haven’t told anyone.

Apart from Mum, Dad, and Rob, nobody has a clue.

But today isn’t about us.

Today belongs to Annie.

We have the rest of our lives.

What’s another day?

Colt glances at Dee, who’s already crying, then over to Anna and Johnny, who are smiling so widely it’s infectious. Finally, he looks at Annie, then back to Aston. “She’s twenty,” Colt says.

“D-Dad!” She protests, her voice breaking.

Colt chuckles softly. “She might be twenty,” he says. “But I’ve watched you two your entire lives. And what you have…” He shakes his head. “It reminds me of Dee and me. The way you look at each other… you can’t fake that kind of love.”

My chest tightens, but in the best way. Because I know that kind of love too, because I have it with Indi.

“So, if she’ll have you…” He claps Aston on the shoulder. “Go for it, son.”

Aston turns to Annie, and I see the devotion in his eyes. He takes Annie’s hand and drops to one knee. Everyone gasps, especially Annie, as tears flood her eyes.

“Annie,” he says softly, holding her hand like it’s the most important thing in the world. “We’ve grown up together. We’ve been through everything… good and bad, and no matter what, we always find our way back to each other… Because we’re meant to,” he continues. “I’ve known since I was five that I was going to marry my best friend.” He smiles slightly. “But you’ve become so much more than that. You’re everything to me… my best friend, my partner, my home.” Tears blur her vision. “You make my life better just by being in it, and I don’t ever want to do this without you. We’re young, yeah, but we know what we want. And I want you!” His voice softens. “I want forever with you.” He pulls out a ring box. “I want mornings with you, nights with you, every moment in between. I want to build a life with you… a family with you.” He opens the box. The ring catches the light, breathtaking and perfect. “Will you marry me?”

Tears stream down Annie’s face as she stares at him, at the ring, at everything he’s offering her.

“Annie?” Aston smiles nervously.

“Mmm?”

The room bursts into laughter.

Apparently, she’d forgotten to answer and missed the question the first time.

“So…” Aston laughs. “Will you marry me?”

“Oh!” She presses a hand over her mouth. “Shit, yes!” She laughs through tears. “Of course it’s yes. A million times yes!”

Cheers erupt around the room.

Aston scoops her into his arms and spins her around while everyone claps and whistles.

Seeing Annie smile like that after everything she’s endured…

It’s exactly what she deserves.

Indi turns toward me, and I kiss her softly. Without drawing attention, she slips her left hand between us and raises an eyebrow.

I know exactly what she’s asking.

Quietly, I slide my wedding band from my finger.

She removes hers too before tucking them safely into her handbag.

Not today.

Today belongs to them.