by T Gephart
This was my family.
“Yeah, let’s stick to originals from here on out.” My mouth found its mark on hers. “It’s time for a new soundtrack.”
“Look at you, bare foot and pregnant. I’m still reeling from the shock.” Rusty wrapped his arms around me, my swollen belly stopping him from giving me a proper hug.
“We’re sitting beside a pool, dumbass, of course I’m going to be in bare feet.” My hand playfully slapped him across the chest. It had only been a couple of weeks since we’d seen each other, but somehow in that time I’d ballooned to waddle size. That there was a tiny human growing in my body was still a sense of wonderment.
“Rusty, you better not be upsetting my wife. I like you, and I don’t want to have to rearrange your face.” Jase’s arms found their way around me; it’s where they usually were when he was around. Which he was a lot since our wedding fourteen months ago.
“Easy there, GI Joe. I’ve told you people a million times, I’m a lover not a fighter.” Rusty reached out his hand to Jase, the handshake evolving into some manly hug.
“Hey, Rus.” James lifted a cold beer from the cooler and handed it to Rusty. “Good of you to make it.”
“Well it’s not often I’m summoned to the Power Station compound.” Rus looked around at the lofty Bowden mansion, kids squealing in the pool beside us. “Besides, I haven’t met Briana yet. Figure two birds, one stone and all of that.” The easy smile spread across his face.
“Ha, you think Dan is going to let you anywhere near his daughter? Oh this I’ve got to see.” Troy wandered over, his year-old son, Evan, hanging off his dad’s arm like he was a jungle gym. “Hey buddy, how about you let daddy say hi to Uncle Rusty?” He reached down and scooped up the boy who had somehow managed to win the genetic lottery of both his mother’s and his father’s good looks. “Mama,” Evan demanded, missing Megs, who was already back to work and would be joining us for dinner later.
“I’ve been around kids before. It’s not like I’d drop her or anything.” Rusty shrugged, not having seen Dan in action since his little girl had come into the world two months ago.
“Drop her?” Alex laughed, adjusting Grace’s goggles so she could cannon ball into the pool with Noah and Jesse. “The only way anyone gets to hold that kid is if he is either out of the country or sedated. It’s hysterical; I cannot wait until she starts dating.” He laughed, kissing the top of his daughter’s head as she ran off to join her mother in the pool. Lexi and I were sporting matching bumps, her due date three weeks before mine.
“Yeah, well as long as you keep recording, you can pop out as many kids as you want. Although Jase, I hope you give my front woman a break every now and again, we’re going to need her for a tour in six months.” Rus took his seat on the poolside chair, Hannah waving to him as she carried out a huge platter of cut fruit.
“Yep, tour still goes ahead.” Jason smiled, “I’m going to enjoy being backstage for a change.” He took his seat on the huge patio couch, pulling me into his lap as he did so. The fact that I could barely fit obviously escaping his attention.
“So, what’s the deal? Other than the reunion, you must have a reason for calling me out here.” Rusty eased back into his chair, his smile fixed on Troy who was still wrestling with Evan, and took a slow slip of his beer. “I have to admit, I’m more than a little curious.”
“Rus, they have a proposition for us. I know Joey and Max will agree to anything as long as they get to play, but I wanted to talk it over with you before we took it to the band.” My nerves had been shot all morning, James and Alex’s suggestion still tossing around in my head.
“Angie, last time Power Station had a proposition for us we ended up on a massive tour and you came home with a husband. Seeing as you’re already knocked up, not sure how much more they can offer us. I’m not having anyone’s baby if that’s what’s on the table.”
“Hey, did I miss anything?” Dan waltzed in, baby sling wrapped tightly around his chest, his arms free to carry a diaper bag in one hand and hold his wife’s waist with the other. It was multitasking at its finest.
“Nope, just about to start.” James directed him to an empty chair.
“Hey, Angie.” Ash gave me a wave. “Hey babe, why don’t you give me Briana so you can have your meeting.” She turned her attention to Dan who had already taken his seat, the sleeping kid attached to him not seeming to hinder him in anyway.
“Got it, babe. She’s fine with me. Go relax, I’ll call you if she needs to be fed.”
“You know you are going to eventually have to loosen up your grip, right? You can’t hold her forever.” Ash laughed, her smile hinting it was probably not the first time she’d argued the point.
“Ash, stop saying stuff you know is going to upset me.” He waved off his wife, his hand instinctively wrapping around his daughter.
“She’s pretty.” Rusty peered over the swaddling at a sleeping Briana. “Definitely takes after her mother.”
“Yeah she sure does.” Dan looked down at her and smiled. “Which is why I’m letting no one near her. I’m actually going to build a bunker. I saw some shit on Doomsday Preppers. They are all batshit crazy, but some of their ideas I can work with.”
“Okay, so other than certifying Dan for an institution, why am I here again?” Rusty looked around confused. The circus that was Power Station a lot crazier than our own band.
“They want to sign us,” I blurted out, not able to hold back any longer. The fact it had been suggested days ago and I still hadn’t said anything was a miracle in itself.
“We got a deal, weren’t those fancy papers we signed twelve months ago a record contract? I know I’m not as smart as you, but I seemed to remember reading record label somewhere on them.” Rusty rubbed his chin, the sarcasm dripping from his voice.
“Yes, we signed a deal but you said it yourself, the control they had was a pain in the ass. You hate that they choose which singles get released. You even hate the cover they made us shoot.” The romantic notion of being signed didn’t live up to the hype. As an unknown quantity we had very little control over much. We were able to fight any creative changes but other than that, it was sit down, shut up and let the big boys do what they needed to do. We didn’t do so well with the directive, but the paycheck they’d already paid us meant we had to at least pretend to play nice.
“Well yeah, I hated it. Other than getting our shit out to a wider audience. It blows donkey’s balls. So what exactly are you suggesting?”
“We’re starting our own label,” James interrupted, itching to get Rusty on board. “We’re all married with kids, and while we aren’t ready to hang it all up just yet, we’re looking to the future. Music is always going to be our thing and we’ve learned a thing or two about what to do and what not to do. What better way to help promote emerging talent than to produce it and help get it out there—the right way. Without all the suit and tie bullshit.”
“So how are you going to be different to the New York heavyweights we’re dealing with now? No offense dude, but it’s been a while since you were emerging.” Rusty took another swallow of his beer, in no hurry to sign another deal.
“Because we’ll give you creative control. Ash is coming on board as our business manager. Lexi will deal exclusively with our clients. Hannah will work with client relations. This will be a family-run set up, and we know how important family is. We’ll buy out your current deal, you sign to us and we work with you, not you working for us.”
“Why? It can’t be for the money.” Rusty asked the exact same questions I asked. The sudden shift from musicians or businessmen not immediately clear.
“The band was never about the money for us, we just wanted to do what we did.” Alex nodded to James, taking his opportunity to turn on the charm. “But if it’s one thing we learned from the last tour—and having you guys on the road with us—Trust, loyalty, integrity—that is shit you can’t buy, and it’s missing from our industry in a big way. Thankfull
y not everyone has sold out. We’re going to find those guys and pay it forward.”
“This is a good thing, Rusty. Our next album could be our own.” The baby in my belly kicked, obviously concurring with my decision. “They are giving us the keys to the car, we drive it how we want.”
“Alright,” Rusty nodded looking around at the mayhem that was surrounding us. “Yeah, let’s drive.”
It was a stark difference from the boardroom we’d been in when we signed our first deal. The impersonal handshakes and cookie-cutter secretaries, a world away from five guys who had a dream and made it happen. And that’s what it all came down too, having a dream and seeing it through, even if you tripped along the way.
“You okay?” Jase asked, his hand going to the part of my belly where junior was practicing field goals. The tiny kicks making me marvel at how far we’d all come.
“Yeah, it took us a while but I think everything is finally okay.”
Thank you to my amazing family—Gep, Jenna, Liam and Woodley, who undoubtedly suffer along with me with the long hours while I am hammering away at the keyboard. If I don’t say it enough, I love and appreciate your love and support always.
Thank you to the girls who remind me daily that superheroes exist. Sadly, capes are frowned upon so they stick to civilian clothes most of the time. Mini, Nat, Juzzie, Sam, Shell, Grace, Bec, Kirsty and Jo, you keep my wheels turning even when I want to stop.
To my beta team who read and give me feedback so that the book I write is the best it can be. Amy, Terri and Maz, thank you all for your work and your time. I appreciate it more than you know.
Special thanks to Maz, Andie and Nichole (my editor), who talked me down from the ledge over this book.
Thank you to the amazing group of peers who I am luck enough to call my friends. Humbled to be in your company and honored to be alongside you in the “trenches.” Lili Saint Germain, JB Hartnett, Skyla Madi, CJ Duggan, Lilliana Andersen, Rachael Brookes, JD Nixon, JD Chase, Natasha Preston, Kirsty Mosely, Ker Dukey, LA Casey, Jill Patten, Callie Hart, Andie Long, Abbi Glines, Chantal Fernando, Penelope Louleas, Jay Crownover, Kim Karr, SC Stephens, Joanna Wylde and Kylie Scott. I might give you crazy eyes, but that’s only because I love you. P.S I still feel like the dork that somehow weaseled their way into a group of cool kids, and seeing as no one has wised up, I’m staying!
Thank you to my Hang Le. I know she is loved by many, but as far as I’m concerned she is ALL mine. She makes me feel like a rock star every single time. Best graphic designer ever! My back cover, teasers and other amazing graphic stuff wouldn’t be the same. You’re stuck with me, lady.
Thank you to Gian for another amazing cover. Sadly this will be our last one, but I’ll never forget your contribution. People do judge books by their covers and you gave me some stunning ones.
Thanks to Angelique Ehlers for front cover photography.
Thank you to the bloggers and blogs who have supported me. Helen S- Kinky Book Klub, Kelly O- Kelly’s Kindle Konfessions, Marie M- Surrender to Books, Jodie O- Fab Fun and Tantalizing Reads, Rebecca and Nicole – Author Groupies, Tammy M- A Slice of Fiction, The Book Nuts and The SubClub, Francessca W – Francessca’s Romance Reviews, Sam -Forever Me Romance, Debbie O- Hard Rock Romance, Tash D- Book Lit Love, Stephanie G – The Lemon Review, Kristine B- Glass Paper Ink Bookblog, Karen H- A Thousand Lives Book Blog, Belinda and Lily- Hopelessly Devoted 2 Books, Amy J – The SubClub, Paige and Kylie –Give me Books, Sian D - Rauchy, Rude and Readers blog, Laurie F – Book Fancy, Jo W- Four Brits and a Book, Erin- Read and Ramble, Sarez- Talk Supe, Bianca – Martini Times Romance blog, Rosarita - iScream Books, Kimmy, Paige, Claire, Steph – Fictional Men’s Room for Ho’s, Kelly – Perusing Princess, and sorry to anyone I have forgotten. I love you all.
Thanks to the T Gephart Entourage, I like that you have all embraced my crazy. Best group ever!
Thank you to Jemina Venter at BookNerdFanGirl Designs—you rock lady.
Thanks to my Fictionally Yours, Melbourne team- Penny and Simone and our Bloggers, Trish, Angela, Erin and Tash. It’s been a wild ride.
Thank you to my editor, Nichole Strauss, from Perfectly Publishable. I love that you get me despite my excessive profanity, dropped words, spoilers and periodic freak-outs. You know just the right way to tease more out of me using the kindest of touches. (Not in a dirty Dan way either)
Thanks to Max Henry from Max Effect for my amazing formatting. You take my words and make them beautiful.
And a massive thanks to all my readers. Knowing you are with me makes this sometimes difficult journey worthwhile.
Lastly, to The Power Station boys and their ladies—you have given me more laughs and tears than most “real” people. Hope to see you again sometime in the future. You will always be in my heart.
T Gephart is an indie author from Melbourne, Australia.
T’s approach to life has been somewhat unconventional. Rather than going to University, she jumped on a plane to Los Angeles, USA in search of adventure. While this first trip left her somewhat underwhelmed and largely depleted of funds it fueled her appetite for travel and life experience.
With a rather eclectic resume, which reads more like the fiction she writes than an actual employment history, T struggled to find her niche in the world.
While on a subsequent trip the United States in 1999, T met and married her husband. Their whirlwind courtship and interesting impromptu convenience store wedding set the tone for their life together, which is anything but ordinary. They have lived in Louisiana, Guam and Australia and have traveled extensively throughout the US. T has two beautiful young children and one four legged child, Woodley, the wonder dog.
An avid reader, T became increasingly frustrated by the lack of strong female characters in the books she was reading. She wanted to read about a woman she could identify with, someone strong, independent and confident and who didn’t lack femininity. Out of this need, she decided to pen her first book, A Twist of Fate. T set herself the challenge to write something that was interesting, compelling and yet easy enough to read that was still enjoyable. Pulling from her own past “colorful” experiences and the amazing personalities she has surrounded herself with, she had no shortage of inspiration. With a strong slant on erotic fiction, her core characters are empowered women who don’t have to sacrifice their femininity. She enjoyed the process so much that when it was over she couldn’t let it go.
T loves to travel, laugh and surround herself with colorful characters. This inevitably spills into her writing and makes for an interesting journey - she is well and truly enjoying the ride!
Based on her life experiences, T has plenty of material for her books and has a wealth of ideas to keep you all enthralled.
tgephart.com
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THE LEXI SERIES
Lexi
A Twist of Fate
Twisted Views: Fate’s Companion
A Leap of Faith
A Time for Hope
THE POWER STATION SERIES
High Strung
Crash Ride
Back Stage