Page 116 of Fame & Rhythm

I don’t stop.

I can’t.

My chest caves in as I stumble down the hallway, tears blinding me.

All I have ever wanted… is to be loved.

But that’s not something I get to have.

Not like that.

Mum, Dad, Ella—that’s different. That’s family. That’s an obligation.

But someone choosing to love me?

No.

I wasn’t even worth keeping. The people who made me gave me up, so how could anyone else possibly choose me?

That’s how I know he lied because no one could love me like that.

And if he can lie about something that big…

Then I can’t trust anything he says.

I find my way into a kitchen and sink onto a stool at the bench, dragging my hands over my face. Mascara is probably streaked halfway down my cheeks by now.

The refrigerator door opens, and I turn to see Ella pulling out a platter of fruit. “Oh, hey, sis. You hungry too?” she asks absently, setting the tray down in front of us. “Great show, right?”

I break. Full, uncontrollable sobs tear out of me.

She freezes, then rushes to my side, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “Oh, Annie… what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I choke out.

“Right. Yeah. I can see that,” she mutters. “Who upset you? Can’t be Dad. He’s on stage, so that leaves Aston. Do I need to castrate him?”

A weak breath leaves me. “You sound like Dad.”

She lifts my chin, pulling my hands away from my face. Her expression softens immediately, and she pulls me into a hug. “Talk to me. I’ve got you.”

“It’s Aston,” I whisper.

She leans back slightly, brows lifting. “You guys had a fight? Must’ve been huge to get you like this.”

I hesitate, biting my lip. “We… we kind of—”

“Annie.”

“We had sex,” I whisper.

Her eyes widen. “Oh, okay. Was it bad?”

“No,” I say quickly. “It was… it was amazing.”

“Then why are you crying?”

“Because of what happened after.”