Page 82 of Saving the Rockstar

Dylan nodded, his expression turning serious. "Right, of course. Sorry, Ash. We got a little carried away."

Mason chuckled, shaking his head. "Understatement of the century," he muttered, but he was still smiling, his hand still resting on the small of Dylan's back.

I felt a pang of longing, of envy, at the easy affection between them. It was everything I wanted with Jared, everything I had thrown away in my fear and insecurity.

"I want to hold a press conference," I said, my voice steady despite the nerves churning in my gut. "I want to tell the world how I feel about Jared, how much he means to me. I want to apologize for my cowardice. And I want to ask for his forgiveness, in front of everyone."

Dylan's eyes widened, his mouth falling open in a silent gasp. "Ash, are you sure you’re ready this time?"

I nodded, my resolve hardening. "I'm done hiding, done pretending. I love Jared, and I want the world to know it."

Mason, to my surprise, looked approving. "Good for you," he said, clapping me on the shoulder. "It takes guts, putting yourself out there like that."

With their help, we spent the rest of the day planning, making calls and arrangements. By the time they left that evening, the press conference was set for the following afternoon.

The next day, I paced backstage at the conference venue. My palms were sweaty, my heart racing in my chest, and I had to keep reminding myself to breathe.

"Hey." Dylan's voice, soft and steady, cut through the haze of my panic. "You okay?"

I turned to face him, my smile wobbly. "I feel like I'm going to pass out."

He gripped my shoulders, his gaze fierce and unwavering. "You've got this, Ash. You're one of the bravest people I know. Remember that time in college, when I went on that blind date with that jerk who kept making gross comments about me?"

I blinked, taken aback. "Uh, yeah. Why?"

Dylan's lips twitched, his eyes sparkling with mirth. "Because when I texted you about it, you marched right up to him in the middle of the restaurant and tore him a new one. You were fearless, man. You didn't care about making a scene or embarrassing yourself. You just cared about doing the right thing."

I felt a flush creep up my neck, the memory coming back to me in vivid detail. "Yeah, well. He was a dick. He deserved it."

Dylan grinned, squeezing my shoulders. "Damn right he did. And that's the Asher I know, the Asher I love. The one who stands up for what he believes in, no matter what. The one who fights for the people he loves."

I swallowed hard, feeling the truth of his words settle into my bones. He was right. I had always been one to stand up for what I believed in. And what I believed in, more than anything, was Jared.

With one last squeeze of my hand, Dylan stepped back, giving me a gentle shove towards the stage. I stumbled forward, my heart in my throat, as the murmur of the gathered press grew louder, more impatient.

And then, with a burst of feedback and a blinding flash of lights, I was stepping out onto the stage, into the glare of a hundred cameras and the hungry gazes of a sea of reporters.

For a moment, I froze, my breath catching in my chest. But then, from the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Dylan and Mason, standing just offstage. Dylan gave me a thumbs up, his grin bright and encouraging, as Mason nodded, solemn and steady.

And just like that, the fear fell away, replaced by a calm, unshakeable certainty. I stepped up to the podium, my hands steady on the smooth wood.

"Thank you all for coming," I said, my voice carrying across the murmuring crowd. "I know there's been a lot of speculation, a lot of rumors, about my personal life lately. And I'm here today to set the record straight."

I paused, letting the words settle, feeling the weight of a hundred gazes on my face. Then, slowly, I began to tell my story.

I spoke of my struggles with anxiety, of the panic attacks that had plagued me for as long as I could remember. I spoke of the abusive relationship I had found myself in, years ago, and the toll it had taken on my self-esteem, my self-worth.

I spoke of the fear that had ruled me for so long, the fear of being vulnerable, of being seen. The fear of letting anyone close enough to hurt me again.

And then, my voice growing stronger, I spoke of Jared.

"Jared is the love of my life," I said, my heart swelling with the truth of it. "He's my rock, my safe haven. The one person who has always seen me, really seen me, and loved me anyway."

I heard the murmur of the crowd grow louder, felt the energy in the room shift. But I didn't falter, didn't hesitate.

"I know I hurt him by lying about our relationship," I said, my voice cracking with emotion. "I know I let my fear, my insecurity, come between us. And for that, I am deeply, truly sorry."

I drew in a shaking breath, blinking back the sting of tears. "But I'm here today to say that I'm done running. I'm done hiding. I love Jared, with everything I am. And I want the world to know it."

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