Page 205 of Fame & Chaos

I look over at her as she keeps going, her voice growing more passionate with every word. “You, Annie, Ella, Aston, and Chad make music that people feel. You create songs that make people dance, cry, laugh, sing, and fall in love… you move people, Caleb. The stuff you create matters. You don’t just make noise, you make magic!”

My throat tightens slightly.

“You are a real rockstar,” she says softly but firmly. “So stop sitting there sulking and start acting like the fucking rock god we all know you are.”

I stare at her for a moment before grinning. “I fucking love you, you know that?”

“Yep,” she says instantly while climbing out of the car. “Now get the fuck out and go sing to me, rockstar.”

I laugh quietly while undoing my seatbelt. Somehow, with just a few words, she’s managed to shove all that confidence right back into my chest where it belongs.

Maybe I am cocky sometimes, but maybe I’ve earned the right to be. And right now, thanks to Indi, I actually believe that again.

Getting out of the car, I feel stronger than I have in weeks. Not physically—my body still aches if I move too fast—but mentally, emotionally, like Indi somehow reached into the darkness in my head and turned the fucking lights back on.

Thank God for her. Seriously.

Once I’m steady on my feet, she takes my hand. “Right,” she says with a smile. “Let’s go.”

Together we walk toward the studio entrance, and the second we step inside, I’m hit with a wave of awe.

This place is legendary.

The walls practically hum with musical history, and knowing Dad and Colt stood here years ago recording their first album makes this whole thing feel surreal. We head toward the room where we’re supposed to meet everyone, and the second we walk through the doors, I freeze.

Everyone is here.

Mum, Dad, Colt, Dee, Johnny, Anna, Dingo, Sia, and of course, my band.

Two generations of music all standing together in one room.

Pride floods through me so hard it almost steals my breath.

The second they notice me, everyone starts clapping.

I laugh awkwardly and furrow my brows. “What the hell is this?”

“Welcome back to music, Caleb,” Rob says with a grin. “We know today’s going to be slow going, but we’re damn glad Staked is getting back on track.”

Indi gently guides me further into the room, and I glance over at Dad. The look on his face nearly destroys me. He’s grinning so hard his cheeks must hurt, and pride is practically radiating off him in waves. For a second, I’m not a rockstar, a frontman, or some guy recovering from a near-fatal accident.

I’m just his son.

And he looks proud as hell of me.

“Right,” Rob says, clapping his hands together. “Shall we get started?”

I glance over at my bandmates, and every single one of them is watching me, waiting for me to lead the way. And standing here now, I realize just how empty life felt without music these last few weeks. Even with Indi by my side and our relationship finally feeling solid again, something was missing.

Something inside me felt incomplete.

But now?

Standing here with my girl beside me, my family surrounding me, and music back where it belongs in my life… everything finally feels right again.

Today is going to fucking rock.

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