“Sure,” I said, carefully setting my new guitar on its stand. “Is this about Bella’s gift? ’Cause I know I said I’d get her something when she was born, and I will, it’s just things are a little tight right now. We spent the last of Anna’s paycheck on Gibson’s birthday…but we are so thrilled for you and Kiera.” I elbowed him in the ribs. “Little girls are awesome. You’re gonna love it.”

Kellan gave me one of those smiles that only new dads could create. It was a mixture of pride and exhaustion. Kiera had given birth to their daughter last week, and the entire house was still adjusting to the new addition, but it was a happy adjustment.

Kellan shook his head and clapped my arm. “No, no, don’t even worry about that. Kiera and I don’t care if you get her anything, and honestly, Bella has more stuff than five newborns need.” He pursed his lips as I laughed.

“Get used to it. From my experience, girls accumulate a lot of shit.”

He smiled, then looked around to see if we were alone. “I know things are tight, and I want to help.”

I immediately rejected his offer. “No. Things are the way they are because I was an idiot. I don’t need a bailout for my own stupidity.” Not anymore, not since hope was on the horizon. I just had to suck it up a little longer.

Kellan didn’t back down. “You made amends, you deserve a fresh start.” I could tell by the look in his eye and the way that he was studying my ragged appearance that there was going to be money in my account tomorrow, whether I asked for it or not.

As guilty as I felt about Kellan spending his money on me, I was touched by his offer, and I felt a bond being strengthened. A brotherly bond as tight as family. Putting my hand on his shoulder, I sucked up my pride and told him, “Thank you, it’s been…hard. I’ll pay you back, of course. Double, triple, you name it.”

Kellan’s smile was soft when I pulled my hand away. “You only need to pay me back what you borrowed, Griffin. Family doesn’t charge interest.”

I felt like I could breathe freely after that. Sure, even with that monkey off my back, things were still tight living on just one income, but it felt good to know we were making it. And it felt even better to know there was a light at the end of the tunnel. The fact that our lives would change when the album released helped tremendously. Although I didn’t mind our modest life. Quite the opposite. I loved every minute of it.

The album released in April. There was a lot of hype behind it, thanks to the show, and to the announcement that the band had made early on—that the four original members were reuniting, but Liam was still in. We were expanding, in every way possible. That had everyone talking about us, and about the new album. It was quite easily the most anticipated album of the year. And because it was so different from the rest of our stuff, I was a nervous wreck. Oddly, I was the only one who was nervous.

Matt, Evan, and Kellan were as calm as could be. Liam was just giddy. He wanted to start playing live. He wanted to go on tour. He wanted his rock star life to start. And about four weeks before the album dropped, he got his wish. The five of us headed out on a massive promotional tour.

The first stop of the tour was back in L.A. Mom and Dad came down to the radio station with Matt’s parents to listen to their kids perform. Because I thought it would be fun for them to see behind the scenes of the radio station, I got them passes to join us inside the conference room where we were playing.

I texted Anna for support a few minutes before we played the first single off the new album. Anna had stayed home with the girls. Promotional tours were even more chaotic than regular tours, and with her about to pop in a couple months, I felt it was best for her to stay home. Anna was fine with it, she had a job that she loved to keep her busy. Gibson was pissed though. I’d never seen a true tantrum from her until the day I’d told her she couldn’t go on tour with me. Needless to say, I’d given my word that she could come on the regular tour with us when it started this summer.

Anna texted me back the encouragement I’d needed to hear, and just seeing her words made me feel calmer. You have nothing to worry about. The song kicks ass! It’s the best song the band has ever done…and it’s all because of you. I wasn’t sure about that last part, but it felt good to hear it.

Before we played the new single, the DJs asked us some questions. Surprisingly, most of them were directed at me. “So, why did you leave the band and what made you return?”

It seemed like that should be an easy question, but it really wasn’t. There were so many factors. I decided to simplify it though. “I left because I was an effing idiot. I came back because I…well, I think I grew up.”

The DJs laughed while Matt nodded like he agreed with me. Then one of the DJs said, “You technically didn’t win the right to join the band. How did it feel to lose to your brother?”

Again, a complicated question. Again, I answered as simply as possible. “I’d never expected to win, and my brother kicked ass during the competition, so I had no regrets over him winning. He earned it.”

Liam grinned at me and I fist-bumped him. The DJs shifted their questions to the guys after that. “What made you guys decide to take him back and expand the band?”

Matt, Evan, and Kellan all looked at each other, then Kellan pointed at Matt. “Go ahead. You take this one.”

Matt looked down, then up at me. “We saw Griffin’s growth and his potential.” He smiled at me, then shifted his eyes to the DJs. “We could have gone on without him, but it would have felt incomplete.” Smirking, he added, “The D-Bags just aren’t the same without their biggest D.”