Anna was silent as we locked gazes with each other, then she leaned down to kiss me. Just as our lips met, I felt a tug on my pant leg. Looking down, I saw Gibson standing with Onnika. While Onnika seemed happy as a clam with a balloon in each hand, Gibson looked confused. “What’s the party for, Daddy?” Her expression brightened. “My birthday?”
Since her birthday was still a ways off, I shook my head. “No. This is for Uncle Liam’s new job…and mine.” I squatted down to her level. “Daddy’s getting his old job back. I’m going to be in a band again. Tour the world with Uncle Liam, Uncle Matt, Uncle Evan, and Uncle Kellan. That cool with you?”
Gibson’s lips pressed into a look of concentration, until finally, she nodded. “Yes. That’s okay. Can Onnie and I come too?” She looked between Anna and me with hope in her eyes.
I glanced up at Anna before returning my eyes to Gibson. “We’ll see, honey. It depends on how Mommy feels. She’s going to have another baby soon. Did you know that?”
Gibson’s face fell. “Another baby? But you just had one.” Her voice was both whiny and incredulous. I laughed at her statement. Onnika wasn’t exactly a baby anymore.
Anna smiled as she looked down at us. “Well, there’s another one coming, so you better start preparing yourself.”
Gibson groaned as she sat down on the confetti-strewn floor. “Goddammit,” she muttered.
I brought my fingers to her chin and made her look up at me. “You’re too young to talk like that. I don’t want to hear any more swearing from you, understand?”
She pursed her lips in annoyance, but she nodded. Anna beamed at me, and I suddenly realized just how much the swearing had bugged her. I made a mental note to try to hold my tongue around little ears more often. Whatever I could do to make Anna happy. She deserved that…and so much more.
Epilogue
Awesome Returns
The first thing the guys and I did was decide the best way to incorporate the new sound. Matt and Evan wanted to focus on new material, but Kellan and I wanted to remix a couple of the most popular D-Bags songs. Liam’s vote ended up being the deciding factor, which instantly made me appreciate having an odd number of members; no more stalemates.
Once we decided on the music, we started practicing it. We met every day, and for once, I didn’t mind. In fact, I would have met twice a day if the guys had asked me to. I was ecstatic for the new album to be out—people were going to flip when they heard it! Plus, the sooner we released it, the sooner I could pay off my debt. Then maybe Anna and I could eat something other than macaroni and cheese or Top Ramen for dinner. I was rapidly getting sick of pasta.
Maybe seeing that I was starting to lose weight, since I generally only ate once a day, Kellan approached me one afternoon when we were done rehearsing for the day. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“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.”