Feeling pretty good in my size thirteen shoes—in your face, Kellan!—I sauntered through the door after the women. Kiera had wandered into the entryway, and extended her hand to my mom in greeting. “Hello, Mrs. Hancock. I’m Kiera, this is Kellan. It’s so nice to finally meet you.”

Mom looked back at me as she shook Kiera’s hand. “Yes, I don’t know how we missed so many opportunities to meet while you were visiting Los Angeles. It’s almost like it was orchestrated…”

I shrugged at her implication. “We were recording an album. That’s kind of time-consuming.”

Mom rolled her eyes then looked back at Kiera. “You have a lovely home…but way too many steps.”

“We get that a lot,” Kellan said with a laugh. I swear Chelsey let out a wistful sigh beside me. That better be because she missed her husband. If she turned into a simpering, starstruck Kellan fanatic, I was going to smack her. Repeatedly, if necessary.

I indicated her once Mom was done with Kellan. “This is my sister, Chelsey. These are her kids, Dawn and Della.” They were running around the group of us in one big looping circle, chasing Gibson, so I merely pointed in their general direction.

Kiera’s eyes turned sympathetic as she took Chelsey’s hand. “Sister, huh? You have my condolences.”

Kellan laughed again, and I swear my sister muttered, “Damn.” More loudly, she said to Kiera, “Thanks. There have been times when I’ve needed them.”

With a guffawing noise of disbelief, I raised an eyebrow at Chelsey. She may get smacked just for fun if she kept it up. “The only sympathy you’ve ever needed was over the fact that you could never be as awesome as me. You’ve come close a time or two, but you’re still so far…”

Chelsey smiled at my joke. She was one of the rare human beings who saw the humor behind the things I said, and she usually didn’t get too irritated at me. Usually.

Dad and Liam were finally in the house, so I introduced them too. “This is my dad, Gregory, and my brother, Liam.”

Liam immediately reached out for Kiera’s hand. When she extended it to him, he daintily kissed her knuckles, like we were suddenly back in the fifteenth century or something. I nearly expected him to tell her that her beauty hath no rival, or something equally flowery, but all he said was, “Nice to meet you.” You wasted your moment, dumbass.

Matt and Evan joined the group, and Kellan shut the front door once we were all inside. As Matt hugged my mom, Chelsey grabbed my arm. Voice intent, she hissed, “Why didn’t you warn me?”

I blinked at her, completely lost. “About…?”

She slyly indicated Kellan. “That he is so much hotter in person. I mean, I thought I was prepared for his looks, but clearly, I was wrong.” She chewed on her lip. “Dustin wouldn’t be comfortable with me being here.”

She looked so worried about it, I almost laughed. “Why? Are you going to jump him?”

That remark instantly earned me a glare. “No, of course not. I love my husband.”

I shrugged. “Then what does it matter what he looks like. It’s the same with me and Anna. I’m constantly surrounded by chicks, but I don’t do anything with them because I’ve got her.” Peeking over at my wife talking to her sister, I smiled. I can’t wait to suck on her tits tonight. “Your husband is enough for you, and my wife is enough for me, so the Kellan Kyles of the world don’t matter.”

When I looked back at my sister, she was staring at me openmouthed. “Who the hell are you, and what have you done with my brother?”

I shoved her shoulder away from me. “Asshat.”

Chapter 6

And Then There Was More Awesome

After everybody was introduced to everybody, the core group of us moved to the rehearsal room. Mom, Dad, Liam, and Chelsey came with, while Anna and Kiera stayed behind to watch the kids. When I asked Matt and Evan where their gal pals were, they glanced at each other before looking back and me and replying, “Work,” almost simultaneously. I took that to mean they were truly working, or they were still irritated about the gallery thing. I was going to assume they were just busy, like the guys said. Not even chicks could hold on to a grudge that long.

Since my family was watching, and also because I wanted the guys to take me more seriously, as Anna suggested, I manned up, let my irritation over the tour go, and tried to take a more proactive approach to the part of being in a band that was a struggle for me—the creative process. I just didn’t have lyrics constantly running through my head like Kellan, or rhythms constantly pounding on my skull like Evan. But that didn’t mean I didn’t have ideas. I did. And I was going to share them with the guys, even if they did moan and groan after hearing each one.

“So, wait, you want us to bring in a didgeridoo on our next album?” Matt asked. By his face, you’d think I’d just told him we should wear kilts…which was actually an awesome idea. Kellan would probably veto it though. Wouldn’t want his chicken legs exposed.

“Yeah, I think they sound cool, and do you know anybody who uses them? We’d be totally unique.” I looked over at Mom and gave her a chin raise. See how smart your little boy is? You did good, Mom. Real good.

Matt sighed as he glanced between my parents. He almost looked like he was unsure if he should respond in front of them. I didn’t care. Go ahead, they can know how much of a genius I am. I don’t mind. “It’s not that they don’t have a great sound, it just doesn’t mix with ours. We’re a rock band, so we should stick to the traditional rock instruments.”