Twisted(81)
Gray clamped his fingers tighter around Jazz’s and leaned forward. “Look, I’m not sure what you’re getting at, but we’re not going to be ‘exploiting’ anything. This isn’t a game to us.”
“You think my paycheck is a game, Mr. Duffy? Au contraire. I take it very seriously.”
Jazz glanced at Gray and lifted her eyebrows when he would’ve spoken again. He fell silent, giving her the floor.
“We realize that the timing of this could be construed as…inconvenient for the band, and we certainly don’t want to be a distraction, but—”
“You’re the best kind of distraction, Jasmine. Let me read some of the comments on YoloFan’s clip. By the way, over two-hundred-thousand hits in two days for a show at a venue like Tribute is impressive.”
“YoloFan can kiss my ass.”
“Nicholas, are you really that upset at not being in the spotlight? Kindly hush.” Lila slid the iPad toward Deak. “Actually, why don’t you read some of them aloud, so no one thinks I’m stacking the deck.”
Deacon picked up the iPad and started to read silently. Then one brow lifted. “When Gray climbed up on those drums to kiss Jazz, I swear I had an orgasm. Like…right then and there. Instant combustion.”
Gray grinned. “Jeez, man, I never knew you cared.”
Deak shook his head, laughing, before sliding the tablet back to Lila. “I’m not reading those out loud. Those chicks are seriously horny.”
“Are you sure they’re all chicks?” Jazz propped an elbow on the table and wiggled her fingers, indicating for Lila to pass the iPad to her. “There has to be some guys in the crowd, right?”
“There are. Men are excited too.”
“Fabulous,” Gray muttered, tightening his grip on Jazz’s hand.
“Now Jasmine has become an accessible fantasy to them. The male mind works in fascinating ways.”
“You can say that again.” Jazz flicked Gray a sidelong glance and smiled when his broody expression never changed. “We’re happy you’re not displeased that we’re together.”
“Yes, but we really wouldn’t have done a fucking thing different if you were.”
“G, shush.” Jazz squeezed his hand. “He doesn’t mean that, Lila.”
“Sure he does. He’s in love and wants the whole world to know it.”
Gray never looked away from Jazz as he brought her hand to his mouth for a quick kiss. “That about sums it up.”
“Aww,” Simon said, grinning. “That’s totally adorbz.”
Jazz took a shuddery breath and would’ve responded in kind if Lila hadn’t cut her off.
“I agree totally with your plan to demonstrate it to the world. Clearly you two have explosive chemistry, and that shouldn’t be kept behind closed doors. Neither should ‘Sugar Kiss’ be under wraps until the album comes out.” She consulted her tablet. “I spoke to Donovan yesterday and we’re of one mind. ‘Sugar Kiss’ should be the first single, and we want it out soon as possible.”
“Say what?” Nick flashed her an incredulous look. “The album’s not due to drop until—”
“June. Yes. Which is a damn long time for Oblivion to fade out of the public eye.”
“I thought that’s what these scattered club dates were about before we went into the studio,” Simon said, spinning one of Lila’s coffee cups between his palms.
She snatched it away from him and set it beside Deak’s elbow. “That’s china, Kagan, and those are hand-painted roses. Moving on. Yes, you’re right. And that is a good plan until you can get back on the road later this year. But nowadays, many artists are dropping advance singles. In fact, I want you to give me another one I can release in a few months. Preferably a ballad.”
“‘Finally’ would be perfect.” Gray spoke up, his attention focused on Lila. “I’ve been working on that one on and off for the last week.”
“Uh, hello, why didn’t you mention it to me?” Nick asked.
“Or me,” Jazz put in.
Gray’s cheeks tinged pink. “Because it wasn’t ready yet. Now it almost is.”
“Almost,” Lila said. “Once it is—and once your band has given their go-ahead—I’d like to hear it. In the meantime, I want to get going with ‘Sugar Kiss’. Donovan and I had a strategy session and we have some preliminary ideas for the video. Specifically, we’d like it to feature Jasmine, covered in sugar. Or a sugar-like substance, since I think that might be difficult to work with under hot lights.”