Page 130 of Fame & Rhythm

I shake my head. “No. I need to do this on my own.”

Standing feels harder than it should. My legs are heavy, my heart pounding so loudly I’m sure everyone can hear it, but I push through it and make my way toward him anyway. Before I even reach him, he turns like he felt me coming.

Our eyes meet.

His breath catches.

So does mine.

“Lennox,” he says softly, like my name is something fragile.

I swallow, trying to steady myself. “Can we talk?”

Caleb and Chad glance between us, reading the tension immediately.

Aston nods, uncertain but willing.

“Maybe somewhere private?”

Another nod, and he stands. He reaches for my hand, but I pull it away before he can touch me. His jaw tightens, his gaze drops to the floor, and guilt slices through me sharper than I expect. I turn quickly before he can see the tears building in my eyes and head toward the back of the jet. He follows without a word, keeping just enough distance that I can feel him without being touched by him.

Inside the small office, I move straight to the desk and lean against it, needing the support more than I want to admit. Aston closes the door behind him, and the silence that follows feels heavy like it’s pressing in on both of us.

“Why do I get the feeling this is goodbye?” he asks quietly, stepping closer.

I draw in a breath, but it doesn’t steady me the way I hoped. “We’re in a band together,” I say. “There’s no such thing as goodbye.”

He exhales slowly and drops onto the sofa, elbows resting on his knees as he buries his face in his hands. “I’m sorry, Annie,” he says, his voice rough. “I never meant to mess this up. You… you mean everything to me. I just want us to be okay.”

Something inside me wavers, but I force it down. “I think it would be better if Ella stood on your side of the stage tonight,” I say instead.

He looks up, eyes already glassy. “Okay,” he whispers.

“Maybe from now on.”

His head snaps up. “What?”

“I think we should keep our distance.”

He slumps back, dragging a hand through his hair in frustration. “Jesus, Annie…” he mutters. “How did it get like this? Yesterday we were happy. We were… us. And now this? All because I said three words?”

I close my eyes, pressing my fingers to the bridge of my nose. “I can’t trust you—”

“You can’t trust me?” he cuts in, standing abruptly. “Annie, you’ve known me your whole life. You know when I’m lying… you’ve always known.” He steps closer, closing the space between us. “You know me,” he says, his voice tight with emotion. “You know I wasn’t lying. Not last night. Not now.”

My breathing stutters as he stops right in front of me.

“If those words make you uncomfortable, I won’t say them again,” he continues. “But don’t push me away because of it.” He’s so close now I can feel his warmth, smell him, and it’s enough to make my thoughts scatter.

His fingers tilt my chin up, forcing me to meet his gaze.

My eyes drop to his lips.

I lick mine without thinking.

A faint smile touches his mouth. “If you don’t want me…” he murmurs, “… you need to say it. Because right now your body’s telling me something completely different.” My entire body trembles. “Tell me you don’t want this.” He leans in and kisses me, soft, careful, like he’s giving me a choice. And for a second, I give in.

Because he is my weakness.