“Whatever thought you just had about my wife, clear it, before I fly down there and scrub it out of you.”

“Whoa, relax, dude. It was just a suggestion. You’ve been hanging around Matt too much. You’re all…uptight and shit.”

He sighed. “Things haven’t exactly be running smoothly lately. Not that you care, but you sort of left a mess behind when you took off.”

Chewing on my lip, I wondered if I wanted to know what he was talking about. Curiosity got the better of me. “Like what?”

“You don’t follow entertainment news at all, do you?”

I shrugged, even though he couldn’t see me. With people giving me shit about leaving the band, then all the rumors floating around about the TV show—rumors I didn’t want to deal with right now—I sort of avoided everything. It was strange for me, since before all this I’d Googled my name daily. “No.”

Denny sighed again. “Well, let’s just say, between Matt and the fans, finding a replacement bassist has been challenging. At this rate, there might not ever be another album.”

Surprise washed over me, followed very closely by an uncomfortable feeling that was akin to having a knife in my gut being twisted around in a circle. I shoved the sensation to the very back of my brain. Their problems weren’t mine, and I didn’t have time to dwell on them. Hardening my stomach, I told him, “Well, good. You’ll have more time to represent me then.”

He scoffed at my answer. “That’s all you have to say? Good? They’re floundering, and you don’t care? These guys have been your friends—your family—since day one, Griffin.”

Matt’s words pounded around my brain—You’re dead to me. “No. We’re not like that anymore, and I don’t have to give a shit now. Are you gonna represent me or not?”

His answer was quiet but firm. “No…Abby and I won’t represent you, Griffin. You’re on your own.”

“Fine,” I said, hanging up the phone. I preferred being on my own anyway.

That evening, Anna and I were in our bedroom getting ready for dinner; my parents were coming over with Chelsey and the girls. Anna was pulling up a pair of lacy tights, while I was still sitting on our bed, naked. How Anna could look at me without jumping me was impressive. I would have caved ages ago.

“So,” she said, giving me a coy look. “I don’t mean to badger you, but I heard another rumor about the show today…and this time it was from one of the cast members. Cole, I think? Rumor is he’s working on a movie right now…I even saw pictures.” She twisted her brows in confusion.

My muscles all clenched and my face felt on fire, like someone had just set a torch over me; I got this way whenever Anna brought up the show, when I was reminded of the monumental lie I was nearly drowning in, it was so deep around me. What would she believe? “Oh, yeah, that fucker left a few weeks ago. They killed his character off…that episode is going to blow people’s minds.” My aptitude at lying was blowing my mind, and sickening my stomach. But it was just a little longer, and then I could come clean. Once I was firmly on the path to success again, with no chance of failing, then I could tell her absolutely everything.

Pulling the tights over her bright red underwear, she showed me her ass before adjusting her skirt. I instantly felt a little better. Do that again. “Huh…that’s kind of weird that’s it already out there that he’s on another job. Acing It is still set for January, right?”

The shape of her ass outlined in that flimsy red material replayed through my mind. Anna crossed her arms over her chest and pursed her lips. She must have said something I was supposed to listen to. “What, babe? I was distracted.”

She pointed to my growing chub. “Yeah, I see that.” With a sigh, she put on a red, clingy top. Oh yeah, Daddy likey. “I was just…worrying. I mean, when are they going to pay you?” With apprehension on her face, she looked around our massive bedroom. “I’ve been checking the bank accounts, and not much has come in recently…but a lot is going out. We can’t stay here forever like that, Griff. Not until they pay us. Every month our bank account gets so much smaller…”

By her expression, this was something she’d been worrying about for a while. It had crossed my mind a time or two as well, but I always shoved the thought away. Once I had a contract and my album released, I would triple that shit in no time. Acting was never for me…music was my real strength. I knew that now. Denny was an idiot for letting me go. “We’ve got at least enough for six months, babe, and by then the show will be a smash. No problem.”

She snapped her gaze to mine. “No, we won’t make it six more months, Griff. Between this house, our place in Seattle, utilities, groceries, all the people you’ve hired…we’ll be broke long before the show airs. Maybe we can hold out until spring, if we start being smart and tighten things up now.”

She was overreacting. I wasn’t good with money, but I was sure we still had plenty of it. Standing, I walked over to her and grabbed her forearms. Massaging her, I soothingly said, “We’ll be fine, but if it will make you feel better, I’ll start being more careful with our money. Maybe let some of the staff go.”

A weak smile played across her lips, but it died almost instantly. “I’ve noticed something disturbing.” My heart instantly started pounding in my chest. No…I wasn’t ready for her to know that I’d been lying yet. I needed a contract before that happened—a shield. That was the only way she’d forgive me. Anna studied my face for a second, then slowly said, “We’re not getting any royalties from the band. Nothing. I almost called Denny about it, but…do you know why we’ve been cut off?”