by Quinn, Cari
She slapped him on the back. “Go get ‘em, champ.”
He turned back into the spray and soaped down quickly before stepping out.
“I’ll be out in a minute.”
“Okay,” he said with a laugh.
“Don’t get the floor…all wet,” she said with a sigh. He was already gone and there would be a trail of wet footprints throughout the whole apartment. Good thing she loved him.
Today, more than anything had shown her that. Even if things weren’t exactly perfect. She was pretty sure she was a shoo-in for the audition today. She’d felt good on that stage. Not as good as when she’d been with Oblivion, but everything she’d learned from them would make this work.
And maybe she could work with Gray and Deacon on putting together a few songs to put her name out there for more studio work. She couldn’t deny that they worked well as a band. And now that Simon was actually ready to try to work with the band again, there was actually music in their home again.
A home she’d never thought she’d find with anyone. Let alone a rock star that understood her like no other man had before. She stepped out of the shower and dried off before padding into their bedroom. She went to the far dresser, near the window and pulled out an Oblivion T-shirt from the bottom of the pile then slipped on her lucky red thong.
She followed the humming into the kitchen and found Simon wearing nothing but her candy cane striped apron.
“You have one spectacular ass.”
He turned around, a tater tot—only slightly burned—covered in ketchup. “Why thank you. Hungry?”
“Yes.”
His eyes slid over her shirt and heated. “Naked tater tots?”
“Even better.”
He picked up the huge bowl he’d dumped them in and dropped the apron. “Excellent.”
Epilogue
October 29th
Simon shook out his numb fingers.
“C’mon. Don’t be nervous.”
Simon blew out a breath. “The last practice didn’t go very well.”
“No, but you were able to sing that whole Bad Company song with Nick the other night. You can do this. You didn’t even swear at Jerry during your last vocal session.”
He had found the perfect vocal coach through a friend of Margo’s. Siobhan was a singer in Boston and had a legion of friends. Five bad coaches later and he’d pretty much pledged to send all five of Jerry’s kids to college if he could get him on the stage again.
He looked up at the Fluff and Fold sign. Mrs. Martine had been more than willing to sell him the Laundromat. When he’d told Nick, he’d demanded their first practice as a band to be back in the Fluff.
It had good vibes. The band had been created here and he’d found the first family in the basement of this place. So this had to be the best place for him to sing again.
Margo slid her hand in his as he opened the door. The sound of baby laughter and the scent of dryer sheets blasted his senses. Harper was sitting in the corner with Lexi on her lap. A stroller was next to her with a sleeping Dylan in it. Jazz was tucking a neon green blanket around him.
“There he is.” Nick popped up. “We were afraid you wouldn’t get in from London in time.”
Simon gave him a rueful smile. “Roman keeps me busy.”
Roman also had given him the opportunity to pay his band mates back for the suit that they’d had to endure because of his voice. He patted his pocket for the three envelopes. The least he could do was make everyone’s lives a little easier while they waited out his vocal restrictions.
Nick held up Simon’s Takamine.
“Jesus, let him get in the door,” Deacon said.
“Are you kidding?” Nick thrust the guitar at him. “I can’t fucking wait to get all of us playing again. I’m dying.”
“You’re not dying,” Jazz said. She shoved up the strap of her overalls and crossed the room to Simon. “We’ve missed you.”
“Yeah well, Jerry’s been keeping me busy.”
“And we love Jerry,” Jazz said with a little bounce. “I can’t believe your vocal coach swears as much as you do. Your YouTube video for the site was hilarious.”
“And I wasn’t even drunk,” Simon said and sat down. He put his acoustic on his lap. He swiped his palm down his jeans and wrapped his fingers around the fret board.
Margo went over to where Harper was and sat down.
“All right. Let’s see if we can do this, huh? I’m just going to play for a bit first if that’s okay.”
Deacon sat down in one of the orange chairs with his acoustic in his lap. “Sure. Why don’t we do one of our old standbys.”
Nick strummed the first chords of Nickelback’s “I Wanna Be a Rockstar”. “Wait, that’s not it.”
Simon laughed and strummed the next chords back to him.
Deacon sang the first line of the Nickelback song and Gray mimicked the low, low line from the ZZ Top guest star on the single.
They all laughed and Jazz pulled her small drum set forward and sat down. She’d had the baby just a few weeks ago, so she wasn’t quite ready for her full kit.
They transitioned into their own song, “Too Still” and Simon opened his mouth and let the song come out. It was rusty as hell, but it was his voice.
And it was his goddamn band.
* * *
Thanks for reading CONSUMED. Simon’s ready for forever, but is Margo? One-click COMMITTED now.
She's my everything.
Simon Kagan's days with his band may be numbered…or not, but the one thing he's sure of is he loves Margo Reece.
Things may be strained between them, but if it takes escaping to paradise to fix them, he'll do it.
And if he can start to find his way back to his music…bonus.
But he's ready to pledge whatever it takes to Margo. Even forever.
One-click COMMITTED now.
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Committed
Lost in Oblivion Book 7
“Again.”
“Fuck you.”
“Simon, that will not get our session done any quicker. And besides, you’re not my type.”
“If you think that’s going to make me smile, you’re wrong,” Simon muttered.
“What’s that stupid smirk I see, then?” Jerry said.
“Me, coming up with a Joker style death. Possibly out my window.”
“Nah. You couldn’t find a vocal coach you like more than me. And I give you a two-fer.”
Simon balanced on the stupid exercise ball that Jerry brought to each and every goddamn session. It forced him to keep his posture completely straight and his shoulders level so he didn’t roll off the stupid thing and land on his ass. He was going for three times down today. Fucking masochist.
The perfect posture also made him focus and not widen his cords. He was conscious of air flow and not straining as he went through Jerry’s paces.
Oh, and the stupid ball tightened his core up like a mother fucker. He was rocking a six pack of abs that would make Deacon jealous.
Okay, not jealous, but at least impressed.
“Again.”
Simon blew an even breath out and started over. Why was breathing and singing so goddamn impossible at the same time? He’d been singing since he figured out how to string words together.
“You know what’s awesome about you, Simon?”
“My eyes, my hair, my abalicious abs?” He flattened his cross trainers on the hardwood and went rock still on the stupid ball.
Would you l
ike to read more?
One-click COMMITTED!
Oblivion World Character Chart
Beware...spoilers aplenty in this character chart. Read at your own risk!
Simon Kagan: Oblivion lead singer
Brother to Ian Kagan, married to Margo Reece, daughter Raine Lila, co-founder of Oblivion
Nick Crandall: Oblivion lead guitarist
Twin brother to Elle/Ricki, married to Lila Shawcross, daughters Charlie and Avery, co-founder of Oblivion
Deacon McCoy: Oblivion bass guitarist
Married to Harper Pruitt, daughter Alexa Grace, co-founder of Oblivion
William ‘Snake’ Scotsman*: Oblivion ex-drummer
Son Axl with Chloe Adams, co-founder of Oblivion
Jazz Edwards: Oblivion drummer
Sister Molly McIntire, married to Gray Duffy, son Dylan and daughter Briana
Gray Duffy: Oblivion rhythm guitarist
Married to Jazz Edwards, son Dylan Edward and daughter Briana
Margo Reece: Oblivion violinist
Sister Juliet Reece, married to Simon Kagan, daughter Raine Kagan
Harper Pruitt: Tour chef
Brother Randy Pruitt*, married to Deacon McCoy, daughter Alexa Grace
Lila Shawcross: Ripper Records executive and Oblivion’s manager
Married to Nick Crandall, daughters Charlie and Avery, stepmother to Michael and Malachi Shawcross
Donovan Lewis: Ripper Records CEO
Uncle to Denver Casey
Chloe Adams: Waitress
Married to Michael Shawcross, son Axl (Bio-father Snake Scotsman) and daughter Hope
Michael Shawcross: Warning Sign guitarist
Brother Malachi Shawcross, married to Chloe Adams, daughter Hope
Juliet Reece: Warning Sign guitarist
Sister Margo Reece, in a relationship with Randy Pruitt* and Tristan Eves, son Joshua Randall
Randy Pruitt*: Warning Sign roadie/lighting tech
Sister Harper Pruitt, in a relationship with Juliet Reece and Tristan Eves, son Joshua Randall
Tristan Eves: Head chef at The Hollow
In a relationship with Juliet Reece & Randy Pruitt*, son Joshua Randal, best friends with Hunter Jordan from Hammered
West Reynolds: Warning Sign keyboardist
Married to Lauren Bryant, daughter Chloe (isn’t in her life)
Lauren ‘Lo’ Bryant: Author
Married to West Reynolds, best friends with Ethan Haywood
Denver Casey (nee: Casey Lewis): Tour bus driver for Rebel Rage and Warning Sign
Donovan Lewis’s niece, married to Ryan Waters
Ryan Waters: Warning Sign jack-of-all-trades
Married to Denver Casey
Ethan Haywood: Professor at UCLA
In a relationship with Molly McIntire & Luc Moreau, best friends with Lauren Bryant
Luc Moreau: Warning Sign co-lead singer
In a relationship with Molly McIntire & Ethan Haywood, former lead singer for The Grunge
Molly McIntire: Warning Sign lead singer
Sister Jazz Edwards, in a relationship with Ethan Haywood & Luc Moreau
Malachi Shawcross: Warning Sign drummer, former race car driver
Brother Michael Shawcross, married to Elle ‘Ricki’ Crandall
Ricki ‘Elle’ Crandall: Warning Sign guitarist
Twin sister to Nick Crandall, married to Malachi Shawcross
Hunter Jordan: Hammered lead singer
Brother Noah Jordan, married to Kennedy McManus
Kennedy McManus: Publicist for Hammered
Married to Hunter Jordan
Reed ‘Bats’ Mason: Hammered lead guitarist
Zachary Kane: Hammered rhythm guitarist
Indiana West: Hammered band manager
Victoria Sheer: Actress/Model
Involved with Reed Mason, ex-girlfriend of Hunter Jordan
Faith ‘Keys’ Keystone: Hammered keyboardist
Married to Quinn Alexander
Quinn Alexander: Roth Defense specialist, former Navy Seal
Married to Faith Keystone, best friends with Noah Jordan
Callie Templeton: Photographer
Sister Ava Templeton, married to Owen Blackwell, daughter Lily
Owen Blackwell: Hammered bass guitarist
Married to Callie Templeton, daughter Lily
Hudson Wyatt: Hammered drummer, former Formula 1 race car driver
In a relationship with Piper Lockwood
Piper Lockwood: Owns Rosie & Hank’s Pussy Palace Café
In a relationship with Hudson Wyatt
Dex Munroe: Ripper Records executive, manager for Hammered and Warning Sign
Ava Templeton: Blogger, runs Hammered website and blog, writing book on Hammered
Sister Callie Templeton
Ian Kagan: Solo artist
Brother Simon Kagan, involved with Zoe Manning
Zoe Manning: Artist/photographer
Brothers, Beckett Manning, Hayes Manning, Justin Manning, cousin Lila Shawcross Crandall, involved with Ian Kagan
Beckett Manning:
Sister Zoe Manning, brothers Hayes Manning, Justin Manning
Hayes Manning:
Sister Zoe Manning, brothers, Beckett Manning, Justin Manning
Justin Manning:
Sister Zoe Manning, brothers Beckett Manning, Hayes Manning
Bent: security for J Town, JoEllen Foundation
Rory Ferguson: Producer/Rhythm Guitarist
Friends with Ian Kagan, friends with Flynn Sheppard, friends with Kellan McGuire
Lindsey York: Brooklyn Dawn lead singer
Best friends with Jamison DuCaine, friends with Evie Pierce
Jamison DuCaine: Brooklyn Dawn lead guitarist
Best friends with Lindsey York, friends with Evie Pierce
Teagan Daly: Brooklyn Dawn keyboards/sax
High school friends with Ricki ‘Elle’ Crandall
Cooper Dallas: Brooklyn Dawn drummer
Zane Landry: Brooklyn Dawn rhythm guitarist
Oz Taylor: Brooklyn Dawn bass guitarist
Alexander Nash: Record producer
Friends with Logan King
Roman: Clothing Designer
Noah Jordan: Roth Defense specialist
Brother Hunter Jordan, best friends with Quinn Alexander
Flynn Sheppard: Solo country rock artist
Friends with Luc Moreau, friends with Ian Kagan, friends with Rory Ferguson
Sabrina Price: Ripper Records executive who manages Ian Kagan, Brooklyn Dawn
Johnny Cage: Rebel Rage lead singer and solo artist
Involved with Evie Pierce
Evie Pierce: MMA fighter
Brother Sutton Pierce, friends with Lindsey York and Jamison DuCaine, involved with Johnny Cage
Logan King: All the King’s Men lead singer
Married to Isabella Grace, daughter Nichole, son Jared, friends with Alexander Nash
Isabella Grace: Bookstore owner in Winchester Falls
Married to Logan King, daughter Nichole, son Jared
Aidan Roth: Roth Defense CEO and head security detail for Warning Sign
Brother Marcus Roth
Marcus Roth: Roth Defense CEO
Brother Aidan Roth
Quinn and Elliott
Lost in Oblivion Series
Winchester Falls Trilogy
Found in Oblivion Series
Hammered Series
Rock Revenge Trilogy
Made in Oblivion Series
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The Boss
Tapped Out
Love Required
Boys of Fall
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About the Authors
USA Today bestselling author Cari Quinn likes music and men, so she figured why not write about both? When she’s not writing, she's screaming at men’s college basketball games on TV, playing her music too loud or causing trouble. Sometimes simultaneously.
USA Today bestselling author Taryn Elliott is obsessed with rock stars, men, and her unending playlists—maximizing these things seemed like a very good idea. When she’s not writing, you can probably find her surrounded by planner supplies trying to organize her life.
