Her mouth dropped open. “Griffin…”
Shaking my head, I repeated, “No, I’m doing this, and you need to back me up. We’re a team, remember?” I knew I was being bossy, but this was important to me. I needed her on my side.
Her fingers curled around her phone. “I do remember…but do you?” She indicated the ostentatious house around her. “This wasn’t a team decision, none of this was. You decided all of this for us without even talking to me about it. I didn’t want this. I didn’t want to leave Seattle, leave my sister, leave my home. I only came with you because we’re a team…but it’s pretty clear to me that if we really are a team, then you’re the captain, and the girls and I are just your…cheerleaders.” Her tone was icy and bitter. Jade fire was flaring from her eyes, and a red flush stained her cheeks.
I knew I was walking on thin ice, and I knew she had a valid point, but I had one too. This was my career, my money, so ultimately, what I did with it was my choice. “When it comes to my job, then…yeah, I guess I am the captain. But I’m the one providing for you and the girls, so I think that gives me the right to the promotion. When it comes to the parenting-type stuff, you can be the captain, okay? But it doesn’t matter, because we’re all still on the same team. And Team Hancock doesn’t need the D-Bags. We don’t need anyone. We’ll survive on our own. Trust me, Anna…please?” My voice came out strained, pleading. It was weird for me to hear it that way. Outside of sexual favors, I wasn’t one to beg.
“I do, Griffin, but…” Stopping herself, she stared into my eyes for several silent seconds. I held her gaze, unwavering. Confident. I wasn’t scared about this future, she shouldn’t be either. Finally, after a long moment, she nodded. “Okay, Griff, I’ll let you take the lead on this, and…trust that it will work out.” She looked around the house. “But can we go down to a housekeeper, lawn guy, and driver? Otherwise I’ll be bored out of my mind.”
Relieved, I leaned down and gave her a long kiss. “If that’s what you want, sure.”
She nodded once our lips parted, then a soft, wistful sigh escaped her. What she wanted was a thousand miles north of here, but at least she was willing to make due for now. I hoped.
When my parents came over later to check out our spread, they were clearly impressed by Castle Cock. “Wow, son, you’ve…outdone yourself,” Dad stated.
“I know,” I said, pride swelling my chest. “Isn’t it amazing?”
Liam had come with them, and his expression of being unimpressed was clearly forced; his mind was currently being blown. “If you ask me, I’d say you were overcompensating for something,” he stated in a holier-than-thou voice.
“Good thing no one asked you then,” I countered.
Chelsey had come too, and she patted my back in approval. “I think it’s awesome, Griffin. Well done.”
My smile expanded so much my cheeks hurt. Yes, well done indeed. And considering how awesome the premise of the show was, I could probably have three more houses like this in the near future. I was going to be set for life. I just needed the world to catch up to how incredible I was, and that would happen soon. Not nearly soon enough, but soon.
Looking over the group, I said, “This is a long tour. Do you guys want any refreshments before we begin?”
Dad nodded. “A beer would be fantastic.”
I pressed a button on the headset in my ear. “Alfred, can you please bring six beers into the living room for me and my guests.”
His reply in my ear was instant. “Yes, sir.”
Liam’s jaw dropped. “You have a servant? Named Alfred?”
I shook my head. “No, his name is Carl, but I like calling him Alfred better.” Anna shook her head. She hadn’t been thrilled when I’d kept the butler on, but come on…a freaking butler? Hell yeah, he was staying.
When we were on our third beer and looking into the fifth bathroom, Mom apparently decided it was time to have a heart-to-heart. “So…your Uncle Billy came over the other night. He told me about how you and Matt had a blowout before you left Seattle. Want to tell me what happened?”
With a sniff, I shook my head. “Not much to tell. I told him I was quitting, he called me an asshole, said I was dead to him and that we weren’t family anymore.” I took a swig of beer. “Oh, and he told me the band was better off without me.” Prick.
Mom took a pull off her beer. Everyone was oohing and aahing over the Jacuzzi, but her eyes never left mine. “Was that before or after you slugged him?” she asked.
I looked over at her with a sigh. “Honestly, I don’t remember. But either way, the jerk was asking for my fist in his lip.”
“I’m sure he was.” She let out a long exhale. “Hancock men are proud, self-absorbed creatures. But lovable, once you look beneath that.”
Wondering if she was insulting me or complimenting me, I stayed quiet. She smiled as she looked from me to Dad. “Gregory and Billy used to fight like cats and dogs. Worse than cats and dogs. Someone was always coming home with black eyes and statements that they never wanted to see so-and-so again. Then time passed and they got over whatever the fight had been about, and all of a sudden, they’d be best friends again.” Her eyes returned to mine. “You and Matt have always mirrored the two of them. You’ll get past this and be fine. Don’t you worry, honey.”