Kellan was smiling at me. Evan too. Matt’s face was blank, and for some reason, it really bothered me to see him that way. I was tired of this ongoing feud between us. We’d always managed to patch things up before, but lately…
Kellan leaned over the table, examining me. “So…Griffin Hancock. You think you have what it takes to be a D-Bag? Think you can handle the workload? It’s not all fun and games, you know?”
I smirked at him. I knew better than anyone what the job entailed. I also knew how much of a slacker I’d been before. Like a lazy asshole, I had ridden their fame to the top. Well, not this time. Returning to a neutral expression, I told him, “I will work my ass off for this show, and for this band. I know this is a group effort, and…I want to be on the team. I want to do my part. I will do my part…I promise.”
I lifted an eyebrow, so they would truly understand me. I didn’t make promises, and they knew that. But I was making one now. I would do this, and I would do it to the best of my ability. I couldn’t afford to be a slacker anymore.
The three guys shared a long look with each other, and I nervously swallowed as doubt threatened to resurface. Please say yes, please give me a chance. Matt was the one who finally turned from the others to look at me. “Griffin…I don’t know how to say this…” My heart filled with dread, the sound was a booming gong in my ear. Matt crooked a smile. “You’re in. Congratulations.”
My relief left me in a shaky exhale. “You fucking assholes,” I said with a laugh.
Matt laughed, along with Evan and Kellan, and seeing their humor brightened my spirits more than being allowed on the show. We could fix this. We could fix us. All I had to do was win.
Chapter 26
We Can’t All Win
A PA led me from the judges’ room to the winners’ room. He put a hand on the door to open it and I held my breath. Please let Liam be in there too. The door swept opened and a roar of cheer met my ears as I stepped in. People were clapping me on the back, congratulating me, and someone handed me a drink as I scanned the crowd. When I spotted Liam striding my way, I let out another sigh of relief. He’d made it too. Good.
He tackled me in a bear hug when he joined me, almost spilling my beer. “Can you believe it, Griff? We both made it!”
Even though I was buzzing with energy and excitement, I gave him a nonchalant shrug after we pulled apart. “That shouldn’t surprise you. I told you we would, and as you know, I’m always right.”
He slugged my shoulder and we both started laughing.
While diligent crew members recorded everyone’s reactions to making the “team,” I noticed something strange near the doors. Sam had just walked in. Looking like an imposing fortress of bone-crushing muscle, he searched the room. When his eyes fell on me and he started heading my way, my stomach leaped into my throat. Was it the guys? Had they changed their mind about me?
I clenched my fingers into fists to stop them from shaking. Emotionless, Sam stepped in front of me and said, “Someone wants to see you outside.”
My heart sank. “It’s Matt, isn’t it? He’s still pissed at me, and he changed his mind, didn’t he?” Sam didn’t respond one way or the other and I sighed. Yep. Matt had changed his mind. Turning to Liam, I told him, “I have a bad feeling about this…If this goes south, and the guys kick me out, it’s up to you to represent the Hancock name, okay?”
Liam’s mouth dropped open. Speechless, he alternated between gaping at me and Sam. Downing the rest of my drink, I handed Liam my empty cup, then followed Kellan’s burly bodyguard outside. As we walked out the doors, I told Sam, “You know, I think I liked you better when you were bouncing at Pete’s. At least you smiled back then. And talked. And even occasionally had drinks with us. Now you’re all business, all the time. What the hell happened to you? Did Kellan buy your balls as well as your brawn?”
Once the door to the party room was closed, Sam turned to me with a cheesy grin on his face. “Shut the hell up, Griffin,” he said, then he grabbed me and hugged me. I was so shocked I couldn’t move. And I kind of couldn’t breathe either. Sam was fucking strong. “Congratulations, man,” he said, setting me down. The D-Bags just haven’t been the D-Bags without you.”
I gasped for air once I could breathe again. “I haven’t won yet, you know.”
Sam swished his hand like the rest of this contest was just a formality, and I had it in the bag. Tilting my head, I asked him, “So, it’s not Matt who wanted to see me? He’s not kicking me out?”
Smiling, Sam shook his head. He pointed down the hallway, and my eyes followed. There, looking like a goddess under the fluorescent lighting, was my wife. She was standing there with her head tilted, staring at me and chewing on her lip. For the second time today, I was taken aback by how fucking gorgeous she was. I smacked Sam on the chest with the back of my hand. “I’m gonna be a minute.”