While Anna was attacked by even more people, and my back was pounded in congratulations, I figured it was as good a time as any to make my request. Turning to Matt, Evan, and Kellan, I cleared my throat. “Hey, I know it’s not really appropriate of me, and I’m probably going to open up a wound by doing this, but…I have a favor to ask.” I sighed, then polished off the champagne in my glass.

Matt and Evan exchanged a glance with Kellan, then Matt asked, “What favor?” he peered over my shoulder at Liam, like he was positive I was going to ask for them to kick him out and let me in. I wasn’t though. Liam had won. He’d earned the right to play with them, and I respected that.

Tuning out the silence that suddenly blanketed the room as everyone stopped to listen, I focused all of my energy on my former bandmates. “Well, Anna and I are expecting, as you know…and I’m going to start looking for work, but in the meantime…I’ve got a really big monkey on my back. I sort of overextended our credit, and I’m so far in the hole, I can’t see the sky anymore.” I put my hands up to the stop the objections I felt coming. “I’m not asking for a handout, but I’d appreciate a loan. I’ll make payments, I’ll pay you double what I need to borrow. Triple, if necessary. I just…I want to start over.”

From the heat on my face, I could tell my cheeks were redder than Liam’s. Asking for help like this, in front of everyone I’d wronged, was really hard. I wanted to crawl inside a deep, dark hole, or hang my head in shame, or chop off my nuts and hand them to the band. But I didn’t. I stood there and took the embarrassment with as much grace as I could muster. I’d done this. I’d fucked up everything. So I was the only one who could repair the damage.

The three guys looked at each other but didn’t speak. Liam put a hand on my back and his eyes drifted to the floor. I was sure he wanted to help, but he hadn’t made any money yet. That wouldn’t come until after the album was finished.

It was so silent, all I could hear was Onnika making truck noises and Ryder asking her for a turn while Gibson told him, “Not yet.” Matt was the first adult to break the stillness. “How much do you need?” he asked.

Crossing my fingers, I told him, “Sixty grand…to start.” Thanks to interest and penalties, my debt was increasing daily.

Evan sighed while Kellan frowned. Matt shook his head, then looked over at the guys. He sighed when he returned his eyes to me. “Look, Griff, we’d love to give you the money, but…this is really a bill you should pay on your own.”

I swallowed, then studied my shoes. Disappointment flooded over me so fast, it made my eyes sting. I really thought they’d help me. Kellan’s hand touched my shoulder and I looked up at him. “You should be able to do that easily enough once the album releases though. Can you stick it out for a couple more months?”

I furrowed my eyebrows, not understanding. “Why would you give me a cut of the new album?”

Evan glanced at Matt and Kellan, then smiled. “Because you deserve compensation for the work you put into it.”

“But…I’m not putting any work into it, so why…?” I still had no idea what they were talking about. Matt laughed at my confused expression.

“Griff, this party is for you. You worked so hard to win that contest. But you were humble, and you helped everyone else along the way. We’ve seen all the behind-the-scenes footage, and…you shocked us, cuz. Shocked us and impressed us, and we want you to come back.” He put his hand on my shoulder. “We want you to come home.”

I heard Anna gasp, then sniffle. They want me back? My confusion shifted to surprise, then excitement, then concern…then anger. “No, you can’t do that.” Everyone seemed shocked by my statement. I looked over to my brother as I clarified. “Liam won fair and square. You can’t kick him out like that.”

Liam’s face was ghostly white as he looked around the room in horror. I felt so bad for him, and as much as I wanted what they were offering, I couldn’t steal Liam’s dream from him. No, I wouldn’t steal his dream. I’d rather walk away. Again.

Matt shook his head. “That’s not what we’re saying.” Shifting his gaze to Liam, he clapped his arm. “You won because you’re crazy talented and the fans love you. You’re in.” His gaze shifted back to me. “But you proved you’ve always belonged with the D-Bags and you always will belong with us, so you’re in too. The D-Bags are expanding to five members.” His eyes shifted between Liam and me as a slow smile spread across his mouth.

It took me damn near thirty seconds to understand what he was saying. Needless to say, Liam figured it out first. “We’re both in? We both get to stay?” When Matt nodded, Liam snapped his gaze to me. “We’re both D-Bags, bro!”

I was so stunned, all I could think to say was, “Well, yeah, I could have told you that.”

Anna ran up to me from behind and wrapped her arms around my stomach. She was laughing, crying, and screeching, all at the same time. I was still in shock, but once it finally sunk in, I twisted to hold her. “Anna, I did it! I’m in!” Laughing, Anna nodded. A thought occurred to me and I twisted back to Matt. “Am I bass? Or is Liam?”

Liam stopped jumping up and down once he heard my question. Eyes curious, he twisted to hear Matt’s answer. Matt pointed at him. “Liam’s on bass.” A corner of Matt’s lip curled up. “We were thinking about adding a second lead guitar.”