Anna’s eyes were heavy with sympathy. Reaching up, she threaded her fingers through my hair. “No…that’s not much at all.”

I nodded and dropped my vision to my lap again. “Yeah, I didn’t think so either. But they can’t even give that to me.” The anger resurfaced, wrapping disappointment around it like a blanket. “Between me and you, babe, sometimes…I really don’t like those guys.”

Anna kissed the back of my neck and wrapped an arm around my shoulder in sympathy. “I’m sorry, Griffin.”

Closing my eyes, I let her comfort wash over me. At least there was one person on earth who gave a shit about me.

Chapter 3

No Rest for the Awesome

Anna talked me into staying for rehearsal. She said I could play with her lady parts when we got home if I sucked it up and stayed. I think she was hoping we’d all get over the argument before we called it quits for the day, and then we’d all be best buds again. Her plan might have worked too, except I purposefully stoked the chip on my shoulder and goofed off the entire practice. Matt yelled at me three times to pay attention, but I didn’t care. They’d already said I didn’t respect the art form and they were never going to give me an opportunity to change their minds, so I might as well live up to their expectations. Or lack of expectations.

By the time we parted ways, everybody was frazzled and irritated. Good. I shouldn’t be the only one. Matt scampered out of the room the second we were done, Evan following closely on his heels. When I was alone with Kellan, he let out a long sigh. “Was that you letting it go, Griffin? Because you seemed to be doing everything you could to piss Matt off. You were even more obnoxious than usual, which is really saying something.”

I shook my head at him. “I never said I was going to let this go. And besides, Matt’s the one with the stick up his ass. Maybe the band should pool together and have it surgically removed.”

Kellan let out another weary exhale. “He’s under a lot of stress right now. Maybe you could see things through his eyes for once, and cut him some slack.”

Scoffing, I tossed out, “Because of the proposal thing? If just the idea of taking the plunge is turning him into such a douche, then maybe he shouldn’t propose to Rachel. Not everyone is meant for married life.”

“What?”

A soft, squeaky voice to our left drew Kellan’s and my attention that way. Rachel was standing there, holding her laptop to her chest and looking like she might pass out. Her eyes were wide as she stared at us, shocked. Great. “Fuck,” I muttered while Kellan gave Rachel a nervous smile.

“Hey, Rach…didn’t see you there,” Kellan said, running a hand through his famous hair.

Rachel stepped forward with just one foot, like she was afraid to get any closer. “Matt is going to propose?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with hope. It was clear, even to me, that she was going to say yes when he did ask her.

Still irritated about today’s events, I told her, “He was going to, but then he realized he couldn’t handle being tied down to just one girl, so he changed his mind.” There, Matt. How does having a dream snatched away from you feel?

Kellan snapped his eyes to mine, and I glanced at him with a What? expression. Matt asked for this.

Rachel sniffed, and I looked back at her. Her eyes were filling with tears. Damn it. If she talked to Kiera or Jenny, and they talked to Anna, Anna was gonna kill me for saying that. Trying to save myself from getting my ass handed to me, I quickly amended with “But hey, if you don’t say anything to anyone, maybe he’ll change his mind again. He’s a wishy-washy asshole like that.”

Twin tears rolled off her cheeks and she looked down to hide her face. “I better…get Matt his stuff. He left it behind.” She grabbed a jacket and a set of keys on a nearby table.

Elbowing his way around me, Kellan started saying, “Rachel, wait…” but the chick was fast. She was out the door before he could finish.

Looking back at me, he shook his head. “What did you just do?” he muttered, his voice disbelieving.

Pursing my lips, I shrugged. Got Matt back. Kind of. “What? At least now it will still be a surprise when he asks her.”

Kellan’s lips twisted in annoyance. “Yeah, if she doesn’t break up with him first.” I shrugged again. Wasn’t my problem. That was something for the lead guitarist to worry about, and that was clearly never going to be me. Kellan scrubbed his eyes. “I have a headache…”

While I was pissed off at Matt, I was all right with Kellan; at least he’d tried to make peace with me. In thanks, I gave him a helpful hint for his migraines. “You should have more sex. Works for me, I never get headaches.”

He frowned at my suggestion. “I’m going to go find Rachel and attempt to fix this. Stay here, and try not to piss off anyone else.”

With a mocking salute, I barked, “Aye, aye, Captain.” He rolled his eyes before he left. I waited a minute and a half, then I left to go find my wife and daughter so we could go home. Kellan had never said exactly how long I needed to stay there, and ninety seconds seemed more than adequate. Besides, he was perfectly capable of smoothing things out with Rachel. He was on the job. He’d work his Kellan Kyle magic on her, and she’d forget everything I’d just said, and all would be right in the world. Except she’d still be marrying Matt…the prick who was holding me back.

The next morning I was still fuming, but I decided to take Kellan’s suggestion and let it go. Whatever. Matt was just being Matt. I could rise above. I’d been doing it my whole life. Besides, never didn’t always mean never. I’d just have to be more creative if I wanted to shine. And if I was anything, it was creative. Just ask my wife.