Page 149 of Raise Me Up

My grin spreads wider. “Maybe we should have another one.”

She contemplates it for a moment, teeth sinking into her bottom lip.

“I’ll watch.” I waggle my brows.

She rolls her eyes. “Maybe if one ofyoucarries it this time.”

I chuckle, but it’s cut off as Lilah tightens her arms around me in a chokehold. Loosening her hold, I sway her around the house, pausing in the hallway to let her look over the pictures.

She likes seeing us together hiking, kayaking, and dirt biking. She likes the pretty orange and pink sunsets we’ve captured and the flowering cacti from the garden at our house in Arizona, our holiday getaway home whenever Liam and Stasi take time off from being workaholics.

Lilah’s little fingers creep up into my hair, seeking the raised lines along the left side of my scalp. It’s become a habit for her to trace them. Almost like she needs to feel them healed.

“Are you gonna get another boo-boo?” she asks.

My chest tightens, but I keep my smile in place. “I’m not sure, baby.”

I’ve been tumor-free for several scans now, but that doesn’t mean I’m in the clear.

Lilah rests her palm over my scars. “I can heal you with magic if it happens again. Okay, daddy?”

If only that’s how it worked, sweet girl. If only.

Gently taking her hand in mine, I kiss the tips of her tiny fingers. I’m not sure why they’re always sticky. I do my best not to think about it.

The doorbell rings, and I wander over to it with Lilah as my passenger. She’s constantly in one of our arms, so much so that she was late to crawl and walk.

When I open the door, Hail and Z greet us with hands full of chips and pop.

“Dude. Congrats,” Hail says. “Your song isstillnumber five on the rock charts.”

“Is it? I hadn’t checked…”

The little boy hiding behind them peeks his head around—their newly adopted son, Zack. He’s eight years old, timid, untrusting, and yet his blue eyes light up with admiration any time he looks at one of his two dads.

Maybe we should adopt, too. We could fill this house with kids. We have more than enough love to give.

“Come on in,” I say, stepping to the side.

Just as I’m about to close the door behind them, someone shouts my name from across the street. Peeking out, I catch Noah jogging up the driveway, a big smile spreading on his face. I wasn’t sure he would make it with his busy schedule, but he’s been putting in the work to mend our friendship after a heart-to-heart a few years back. Turns out we were sucky bandmates, but we’re pretty good at being friends.

Noah keeps asking me to join Lithos as a special guest at a show, or even on tour, but I can’t fathom ever leaving home again. I’m satisfied to create music under Liam’s supervision in the comfort of the studio where my daughter can watch from his lap.

“Everyone’s here,” I call out behind me.

This is received with a “let’s fucking eat!” from none other thanMax’s daughter.

“She’s a troublemaker,” Lilah says, struggling with the pronunciation of such a big word.

I break out into a wider smile. “Nothing wrong with that, baby.”

A little bit of troublemaking is what got me here, surrounded by friends and family who love me.