Page 114 of Fame & Rhythm

My eyes sting, tears blurring my vision as something sharp and painful twists inside me.

How could he do this?

“Annie, did you hear me? I love you,” he says again.

Everything inside me locks up.

My stomach churns violently, nausea rising as my thoughts tangle into something I can’t control.

“Annie!” he snaps, panic creeping into his voice.

I finally force myself to look at him. His face is tight with worry, eyes searching mine like he’s trying to piece me back together.

“Why?” I whisper.

“Why what, Lennox? Talk to me.” His hand lifts, brushing my cheek.

I jerk back, putting space between us. My chest aches, my heart racing so hard I can barely think. “Why would you say that?”

His brow furrows. “Why would I say I love you?”

“Don’t,” I snap, stepping back again, wrapping my arms around myself like I can hold myself together. “Don’t say that.”

“What’s going on?”

The tears come, fast and unstoppable.

He moves toward me, pulling me into his arms, but I shove against him, breaking free.

“We shouldn’t have done this,” I choke out. “It was a mistake.”

He freezes, confusion flashing across his face. “Jesus… I hurt you, didn’t I?”

“No, but this… this was a mistake.” The words feel wrong even as they leave my mouth, but I can’t stop them.

He steps toward me again, more urgent this time. “This wasn’t a mistake, Annie. Talk to me. What’s going on in your head?” He grabs me, holding me tight, but panic spikes through me.

“Let me go. Don’t touch me.” I fight against him, shoving hard until he releases me, and before I can stop myself, my hand swings—

Slap.

The sound echoes between us.

He stares at me, stunned, one hand rising to his cheek.

But this is his fault.

He did this.

“Annie… I’m sorry. Did I push you too far? Did you want to wait?” he asks, scrambling for answers.

“No,” I whisper. “I wanted it. It was… it was good.” My throat tightens. “But then you ruined it.”

His expression crumples. “Ruined it? How?”

“With your lie.” Silence drops between us. “I can’t handle lies, Aston,” I say, wiping at my cheeks. “Not from you!”

He reaches for my hand. “Lennox, you’re spiraling. We didn’t do anything wrong—”