Page 297 of Fame & Chaos

The years have flown by, and somehow we’ve come full circle.

After everything that happened with Annie and her birth mother, the band took some time away from the spotlight. During those years, I also found myself stepping into the role of big brother and sometimes a father figure for Chad when he needed it most.

But now…

We’re back.

Another headline tour.

Another chance to stand on stage and do what we love.

This time, though, Indi’s coming with me.

She left nursing after Aria was born and has embraced motherhood with the same heart she gives to everything else. Watching her with our daughter has only made me fall more in love with her.

Aria is three now.

Somehow.

It feels like yesterday I was pacing a bathroom floor waiting for a pregnancy test to tell us our lives were about to change forever.

Now she’s running circles around us.

Being a dad changed everything.

Not because I needed someone to live for…

But because I never knew it was possible to love another person the way I love that little girl.

My girls are my home.

My reason.

My everything.

And in just two months, our family will grow again.

This time it’s a boy, and we are calling him Coda. We figured if we were starting a musical theme, we might as well commit.

Tonight, Staked is playing to a sold-out Wembley Stadium.

And after all these years…

I’m finally going to do what I promised Indi when we were twelve—I’m going to perform for her.

The buzz backstage is electric.

It’s been too long since we’ve played together, and every nerve ending in my body is alive with anticipation.

I make a beeline for Indi, who’s balancing Aria on her hip when I lean in to steal a kiss.

Before our lips meet—

Smack.

A tiny hand lands square across my face.

“Bad Daddy.”