Denny sighed, and a look of defeat came over him. “I know you’re not going to listen to a thing I say, but I’m begging you…for the sake of your family, if nothing else…this is not something you should get involved with, believe me. It’s a step down and a huge risk. There is no guarantee the show is going to go anywhere, and the pay is—”

Lifting my chin, I cut him off. “That’s one opinion. Mine is different. I think it’s a great opportunity, a chance for me to show my worth.” And that’s why everyone didn’t want me to do it.

Maybe seeing an angle he hadn’t tried, Denny latched onto my statement. “Look, I know Kellan’s fame can be overpowering, but you’re important too. The guys—”

I interrupted before he could finish whatever lame argument he’d cooked up. “No, I’m not important too, I’m important period. And I’m going to prove it. I’m doing this. You and the guys will just have to accept that and move on.”

Holding his hands up, Denny tried one more time to persuade me into seeing things his way. “Fine, do the show…but don’t quit the band. Take a sabbatical, see what happens…you don’t need to cut all ties and walk away.”

But that was just it. I did need to. I’d gone as far as I could with the D-Bags, and if I stayed with them, I knew exactly what would happen—I’d shrink further and further into the shadows. They’d clipped my wings, and I was dying to fly. “No. There is nothing left for me there. I want out of the band, permanently. Make it happen.”

Denny closed his eyes and I could almost see him cursing me in his mind. “Okay, I’ll have papers drawn up, dissolving your interest in the band.” With a forced smile, he held his hand out. “Good luck, Griffin. I think you’re making a mistake, but I honestly do hope this works out for you.”

With a genuine smile, I took his palm. “It’s me. Of course it’s going to work out.”

He left with a shake of his head, and the entryway echoed with silence after he was gone. Wondering if Anna would dig into me again, I looked back at her. She didn’t seem mad though. No, she looked terrified. “Griffin…he’s removing you from the band. Legally. This is real, do you understand that? You won’t be a D-Bag after this.”

Her words tickled something in the back of my brain, something chilly and painful. Not moving forward because of some lame sentiment about my past conflicted with my new dreams though. I had to close a door so I could open another one. Right? “I know that, Anna. I’m cool with…not being a D-Bag anymore.” Man, that was weird to say.

Anna inhaled a deep breath, then pressed her hands against her stomach, like she was feeling ill. “Don’t be hasty about this, Griffin. Take the sabbatical if you want to try this TV thing, but don’t quit the band.”

Wishing everyone would stop second-guessing my choices, and a little irritated that Anna had called my future career a “thing,” I shook my head. “No. This is the path I’m supposed to be on. I can feel it. The D-Bags were a stepping-stone, but I don’t need them anymore.” Saying that made me feel like I had a frog in my throat, and I had to swallow three times to remove it. It was true though. I’d given them their chance. They’d blown it.

Anna took a step toward me; her eyes were glistening. “You told me once that ever since you were little you wanted to be a rock star. You made it. You’re there. Why would you want to throw away your childhood dream?”

Running a hand down my face, exhaustion seeping through every pore, I let out a long sigh. “I said I wanted to be the star of a rock band, not band member number four that nobody knows or cares about.” I lifted my hands as I pointed out what should have been obvious to her. “All they care about is Kellan, but the guys won’t let me do anything to change that. They never let me do anything. They hold me back. All I wanted was one fucking song—one! And the fuckers wouldn’t even give me that. I can’t go anywhere with them. I’m stuck.” Despair started to creep in as I thought of the boxy cage they’d thrown around me. Truth be told, I’d stay with them…if I thought it would get me anywhere. But it never would, and Anna needed to accept that. If she felt so strongly about me remaining a D-Bag, then she should be having this conversation with them.

Anna put her hands on my chest, imploring me to listen. “Okay, you’re right, but quitting isn’t the answer. Talk to them. Please.” I could hear the utter desperation in her voice, and it freaked me the fuck out. I’d never heard anything like it from her before. Anna didn’t beg, not like this. But goddammit! This was my only chance to break free. If I didn’t take this opportunity, I’d never get another one. I firmly believed that.

“I have, Anna, several times. It doesn’t make a difference, and it never will. This is the only way.” Please accept that. Please stand by my side again. I’m not sure I can get through this without your support.

Her lips compressed in a familiar expression of frustration. “We’re supposed to be a team. Why are you suddenly making deals behind my back and deciding everything that happens to this family? Don’t I have a say? Don’t I have a vote? I mean, can’t we at least negotiate about this?” Even though she looked exasperated, her eyes were full of pleading, full of hope that I’d let her earn a chance to win the argument. I couldn’t afford to though. Not this time. I was going to have to be a chauvinistic jerk to help her past her unfounded fears, but she’d thank me before this was all said and done. We were going to come out of this even stronger. I knew it.