“So let me get this straight.” Simon braced a fist on the table and squinted out of bleary eyes. “As long as we don’t marry anyone or screw around with our bandmates, we can fuck anyone we want?”
Lila appeared to weigh his words then nodded. “Essentially, yes.”
A grin split Simon’s face as he relaxed in his chair. “Sounds like a great deal to me.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear you say that. You, Jazz and Deacon will be spending some quality time at the inn and spa. Which leaves the cabin and—”
Gray shot to his feet. “No. You’re not putting me with him.”
Nick matched his stance on the other side of the table. “Absolutely fucking not.”
Lila gave them a bland smile. “Perhaps you missed my memo that these assignments were not optional. You two represent the biggest problem in this band. Therefore, you will take this time alone to get your shit straight. Alone, without any pretty drummers to distract you from what’s important.”
“You have no right to do this,” Jazz said, her chin quivering. “We’re adults. How can you try to run our personal lives?”
“From the looks of things, you’re an adult, Jasmine. These two? That remains to be seen.” Lila planted her hands on the table and leaned forward. “I don’t give a flying fig who you bring into your bed, unless it has to do with this band. Then it becomes my mess to clean up. Right now? The three of you have mess all over you.”
“Lila, I’m not sure exiling Gray and Nick is the answer.” Deak tucked his hands under his biceps, his expression tense. “Maybe I should go with them, leave Simon and Jazz on their own.”
“Oh yeah, now that sounds like a recipe for fun. Living with Gray and having Saint Deacon around to run interference.” Nick shook his head. “Let me go get a pack of enemas from the drugstore and I’ll be all set.”
“Thank you for the offer, Deacon, but I have my reasons for the arrangements I’ve made. You’ll have three club shows during your time away to keep you in front of the public eye, and so I can evaluate the success of this experiment. Then, after you’ve each bonded within your individual groups, you’ll get a weekend all together to solidify the progress you’ve made. At that point you’ll be booked for serious studio time.” She consulted her tablet. “You all have two hours to head home to pack and be ready to leave. A car will pick each group up at that time. Bring only the essentials and anything you need to work.”
Deacon frowned. “What about Harper?”
“What about her? Is she a member of this band?”
“The guy should be allowed to bring his wife, for God’s sake,” Gray said, unable to stay silent any longer. “She’s pregnant.”
“I’m well aware of that fact. She’s not due for six months, correct?”
Deacon gave a reluctant nod.
“Then she’s fine to stay home for a couple of weeks while her husband travels to a neighboring town for a work trip. That’s what this is. It’s not for recreation.” Lila’s smile turned feral. “In case I didn’t make myself clear about that last point, let me spell it out. Nick, Gray, you’re both to stay away from Jasmine outside the boundaries of Oblivion business. Keep your hands—and your other parts—to yourselves. Are we clear?”
Gray tightened his jaw until his bones cracked. “If we say no?”
“Then you’re choosing to put your spot in Oblivion at risk.” She consulted her tablet. “Pursuant to section 2.3 in the contract you all willingly signed with Ripper Records, you are to abide by a morality clause that includes, but is not limited to, restricting behavior that jeopardizes the position of the band in the public eye. That refers to excessive intoxication, drug offenses and personal involvements with other band members, et cetera. It’s all right here.”
It wasn’t the personal involvement section that shut Gray up, but the drug offenses. If he skidded on any more thin ice, he’d end up falling through the cracks.
Nick glared at Deacon. “Yeah, what was that about this being our dream contract, Papa Smurf?”
“Hey, if you could keep your dick in your pants, this wouldn’t be a problem.”
“His dick hasn’t been out of his pants with me.” Jazz got to her feet, her cheeks flaring pink. “Not recently anyway. All we did last night was practice. I thought that was what we were supposed to do. But I guess I’m the problem here, so I’ll just go.”
Gray rose, his hands in fists. When it came to protecting Jazz, logic went out the window. “If she goes, I go. End of story.”