Destroyed (Lost in Oblivion, #3)(69)

“Oh, c’mon, Go-go, you understand, right? Tomas just gets under my skin. I didn’t mean to smash his ride but it was so fast and then the wrong side of the road thing. I panicked.”

“Juliet, you could have been killed.”

“Nah. I was in full gear. I do miss the sex, though. That was legit.”

The fact that Margo could legitimately understand the draw of sex for the first time in her twenty-five years was the only thing that kept her from screaming into the phone.

“Was there a purpose in your call or…”

“Wow. A little more chill in that tone and you could sound just like Mother.”

“You take that back.”

“No. It was the truth.”

Horrified, Margo dropped onto the bench near her on the path.

“Dammit. I’m sorry.” Juliet rushed on before Margo could answer her. “I didn’t mean it. You just make me nutso sometimes. I wanted to know how you wanted to play it. I can run interference.”

“And why would you do that?”

“I’m hurt that you would ask that.”

Yeah. Sure she was. “What do you want, Jules?”

Her sister huffed out an exaggerated sigh. “I might have mouthed off on my Periscope account that I could get an interview with Simon Kagan.”

“Oh, Jules.”

“You guys are tight, right? You could get him to do that when you guys are at The Greek.”

“And why would you be at that show?”

“I might be staying with my friend Steph for the summer.”

“Explain to me how you’d be helping me out with Mother if you’re in California?”

“Well, I would be the one answering the phone, of course. And explain that you can’t. You know, for work.”

Margo groaned. “That’s weak.”

“And what would your plan be? Just never answering?”

“Yes.”

“Lame.” Juliet huffed out an exaggerated breath. “At least when I do it I can come up with a decent story. You suck at lying.”

“Normally, this isn’t a problem.”

“No, but under these circumstances, you need me. My version of spin is exceptional and you know it.”

“Mother doesn’t believe a word out of your lips.”

“Yes, but she never calls me on it.”

“Your argument is invalid, Jules. And more than lame,” she said, throwing her sister’s words back at her.

“C’mon, Go-Go! This is a defining moment in our sisterhood here.”

Her idea of a defining moment and her sister’s were about as far apart as California and New York.

“Does Mom know about the Philharmonic?”

“Yes.”

“Perfect.” Margo leaned back on the bench.

“I’ll let her know about the cattiness in Boston and that you’re looking to aim higher.”

Except she wasn’t. At least not from her mother’s point of view. She liked what she was doing—loved it, actually.

“Okay, do that, please. I have to go. Band meeting.”

“You’re in those?” Jules asked.

“Yes. We’re finishing up rehearsals.”

“I don’t think I can convey just how jealous I am.”

“Goodbye, Juliet.”

“You suck.” And her sister hung up.

Margo pressed her fingers against her throbbing eye. She was officially going to go mad.





15





Simon choked down the steeped ginger water with a healthy squeeze of honey in it. It definitely helped. He’d hit all the high notes for the night.

The fan club filled the middle of the arena and Donovan had even arranged to have one-hundred fans from California flown out. The fans paid a pretty penny for the adventure, which Simon still couldn’t believe.

He loved music. But these people ponied up over four-hundred dollars for front row seats at the fan club show. Not even a regular show.

They were pretty much playing their playlist for the following night—a practice run of sorts. And honestly, only two songs of the fourteen needed to be rethought. “Torn to Pieces” was a ballad that had Margo in the spotlight, but they’d slowed it down too much. Added too much “Careless Whisper” flavor to it. Awesome for George Michaels, but a little too smooth for him.

In fact…

“Hey, Nicky.”

“Yeah?” Nick swiped at his sweat-soaked hair with a towel.

“What do you think about doing ‘Careless Whisper’ before ‘The Becoming’?”

Nick tipped his head back and laughed. “So, what, you’re George Michaels now?”

Simon finished the mug of his heated miracle drug. “No. But come on, that’s some sexy shit. We can do it like Seether did. All rocked out. We’ve done it a million times when we’re f*cking around with guitars.”

“Gray,” Nick shouted.

Gray shook off a cup of ice water that he’d poured around his neck and jogged over. “Whew. It is f*cking hot.”

“Yeah. Goddamn New York,” Simon said and lifted his cup. “The grass is going to end me.”

“You’re killing it, though. So whatever Harper put in there, you need to mainline that shit.”