Platinum: The Nashvegas Series, #3

By Laramie Briscoe

Platinum isn't just for the rings around our fingers...

 

Everett James & Brianna Jenkins Thompson

 

As early twenty-something's we've lived lives most could only dream about. With the spotlight comes attention, and with attention comes expectation. When our record label decides it wants to shut us up, we don't realize we're in the middle of an over twenty-year-old war.

 

The name Bryson means nothing to us, but it means something to Reaper and Harmony.

 

After the last year, the stars in our eyes are gone, and we realize nobody will care more about us than ourselves. 

 

Nothing has gone as planned.

 

An injunction, the past of Reaper and Harmony, the future of Grey Skies, and a possible baby on the way. There's so much against us that there's no way we can win, but together neither of us think we can lose.

 

Our whole careers have been standing in the shadows of greatness. Now we have to prove we're ready to step up and step out. Feet planted firmly on the ground, we're fighting for our lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Laramie Briscoe
• Release date: Mar 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201026462

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

EJ

G ood morning, sleepyhead. I grin at my wife as she slowly makes her way into the kitchen. My throat is slightly sore from all the talking we’ve done and I know hers is too. Carefully, I hand her a cup of hot tea with a little bit of honey mixed in. 

She smiles gratefully. I think you’re the reason I slept this late. Someone kept me up most of the night.

 Her face turns slightly pink at her cheeks. Hopefully, she’s reliving all the different positions we tried. Not ashamed at all, I lean in, kissing her softly on the mouth. Had to celebrate our records being one and two in the iTunes Store and doing equally as well on Amazon. Everyone told us we couldn’t do it, but look at us now.

Brianna pulls back, gazing up at me, her eyes shining bright. A slight grin works at the corners of her mouth. She licks her lips, leaving a trace of moisture behind. Is this real life? I mean, what did we do to deserve this?

Shaking my head, I grasp her chin. There’s that self-doubt she seems to have when everything goes our way. I know it comes from a place she can’t control, but if there was one thing I’d give her, it would be the option to see herself the way I do. "What didn’t we do? We’ve been through a ton of shit. If anything, this is the gratification for what we’ve been through. Everybody laughed at us when we came out with this idea. They all said we couldn’t and here we are, hopefully living our best lives as this plays out. It’s time you believe in this, babe."

You know it’s hard for me. She turns her cheek into my palm, purring like a kitten. It’s not how I grew up, but I’m trying. Her face brightens. Wonder if we’re still going back and forth in the first and second spots?

Blowing out a breath, I do my best to assuage her fear. Hopefully so. It cost a lot of money for us to do this. Not that we did it for the money, obviously, but we have to be smart as we go forward.

She nods, tightening her arms around my waist. Agreed, but for today I have a request. Can we just enjoy it? There are so many things about these releases that are different, she continues. In the past, we’ve never even known our full numbers, much less how much money we’ve actually made. At least we’ll be able to exactly budget to the penny. I’m excited for all of this and I can’t wait to work on it with you, but can we figure that out tomorrow? Today I wanna celebrate. We’ve worked hard. We’ve done something so many haven’t been able to. We should be proud of ourselves.

The magnitude of what we’ve managed to accomplish hits me right in the chest. Thinking about what she’s saying and realizing what she means, it’s fucking overwhelming. You’re right. Let’s take today for us and tomorrow we’ll worry about all the other stuff.

Her smile lights up the room. That’s what I like to hear. So what do we get to do today? She stands on her tiptoes, kissing me on the jawline. 

It lessens the worry in my mind as I realize she’s going to take this as seriously as I will. It’s one of the things we should’ve talked about before we started spending money, but we didn’t. Now we’re going to have to play a little catchup in that department.

Whatever you want. All I want is to make you happy, Bri, and whatever you want, is what we’ll do.

No. She shakes her head. Let’s figure it out together.

I relent, walking her over to the kitchen table and pulling out her chair for her. Okay, let’s finish breakfast and then figure out what we’re going to do.

I’m proud of the spread I have before us. It didn’t take very long to make it and it was low effort, but I did it for her. Because I want her to know how much she means to me. That there’s nothing I won’t do to make her happy. Pancakes, bacon, and a bowl of fruit sit before us. 

Sitting in the chair next to her, I serve us both. In the time we’ve been married, I’ve come to understand what her likes and dislikes are. With other women, it wasn’t important for me to figure those out. With her, it’s one of my favorite things. Each time I find a new one, I make a mental checkmark so that I don’t forget.

Ohhh, she squeals as she pours syrup onto her pancakes. I have an idea. Can we play tourist? I haven’t had a chance to do most of the fun things around town. Not yet, anyway. I’d like for you to show me the areas you enjoy. For the most part, we’ve done things that go along with what we have to do, but not what we want to do. We’ve only been out on a few dates in town.

The idea is a great one. In fact, I wish I’d had it myself. If that’s what my queen wants, that’s what she’ll get.

She rolls her eyes playfully. It is; impress me.

Oh I can impress you. I reach over, cupping her swinging breast in my hand. I love that they’re big enough to fit in my palm, that I’m the only one who’ll be touching her like this the rest of our lives.

Not like that. She laughs, batting my touch away. This is one time when I’d like to not spend the day in bed with you. I know it’s not easy for your ego to understand.

My ego can take it. Not very often, but it can, I assure her, turning so that my body faces hers. 

So if people call us today? She points a finger at my chest.

Phones are off, we’re not answering. Today is about the Thompsons.

The smile on her face is enough to cause my breath to catch. This is obviously something she’s wanted and needed for a while. I wonder how long it’s gone on and she just hasn’t told me. As we get busier, this is something we’ll have to work on with one another. We have to work to make the time to be together. I watched my parents do it. They have a happy marriage and it’s one of the accomplishments they’re most proud of. With that as our blueprint, there’s no way we can lose what we have.

She claps her hands together in front of her. I’m excited for it. It seems as if we haven’t been able to do this in a long time.

I think back to all the work we’ve put into what we’re doing right now. Hard days, long nights, and a lot of belief in ourselves. It wasn’t easy, but nothing worth it ever is. Giving our marriage a little more attention isn’t a chore, especially not when I have her by my side. I’m excited too.

All of a sudden, her brow furrows and a frown mars her features. Her bottom lip sinks between her teeth, rolling as she presses them together. She shifts in her seat as if the thought had made her uncomfortable. We’ll be okay, won’t we?

As long as we put this first. I hold up our hands, clasped together. Nobody will be able to break us. It’s what I’ve said from the beginning and I mean it.

I know, me too.

Reaching in, I drop a kiss on her nose. Then that’s all that matters.

CHAPTER TWO

Bri

---

D o you think anyone’s going to recognize us? I ask as we park in one of the nearby structures. 

It’s a cold one, spitting snow and calling for accumulation later on tonight. It’s snowed more since I moved here than it did in New York the last year I lived there. Everett puts a beanie on his head, covering his hands with gloves. 

I dunno. We’re both pretty covered up because it’s cold, but you never know. Some people are diehards and can spot you through two layers of disguises. Others can be standing right next to you and never even notice. Just depends on who’s downtown this afternoon. He shrugs. I’m not worried. Are you?

Not as long as you’re with me.

The longer we’re together, the safer I feel with him. There was a time not long ago when I wouldn’t have felt comfortable walking around in public because of the worry my parents made me feel. They always said someone was out to get me but, the truth is, it was them. Everett’s given me a whole new lease on life and, without him, I struggle to imagine where I’d probably be. 

Won’t leave your side, babe, he promises, reaching into the SUV and tossing my scarf at me. 

I don’t understand how it feels so much colder down here when I lived less than four hours from the Canadian border previously, I grumble, wrapping the scarf around my neck.

You get used to it being so hot all the time that, when it gets cold, you don’t know how to act. He stomps his feet on the ground. 

I never thought I’d think this is cold, I mutter.

Well, come on then. He holds his hand out to me. Let’s get to walking and warm up.

It’s like a snow globe as we exit the parking structure and head out onto the main strip. The snow comes down in soft waves, the usually busy streets almost quiet in the magical winter weather. Gone are the huge crowds that like to flock to the bars at night. Afternoon is definitely slower. There’s room for everyone to walk and it’s not nearly as claustrophobic. Even though it is afternoon, it’s slightly overcast because of the snow. Neon shines against the gray tone of the sky.

Where do you want to go first? He asks.

Let’s just walk up and down. Wherever we end up, it’ll be fine.

We can go up by the Ryman. He points up one of the hills. They have a new shopping area if that sounds good to you. 

Perfect.

Together, we slowly make our way across the street and then up toward where the new Fifth and Broadway Shopping Center is. His hand clasps mine tightly as we start the ascension up the hill. We’re in no hurry, which is the opposite of everything else we seem to have done in our relationship. 

There’s this unexplainable desire in my gut to make sure we don’t let these moments pass us by, like we have previously. Since we’re making our own way in life now, we have time. There aren’t any labels telling us where to be or what to do. Pulling Everett to a stop, I push us over to the side. Let’s document our day. I hand him my phone.

He grins down at me. Scoot in close.

With his long arm around my neck, we put our cheeks together and smile brightly for the camera. I want this. I place a kiss on his stubble-covered jaw. Memories and everything. I don’t have many good ones from my childhood or even up until the time I met you. With our marriage, I want our kids to be able to look back and see we’re happy, that we enjoyed being with one another.

Luckily for you, I have two awesome role models for all of those things.

"I’m thankful

Reviews for Platinum

[Stacey · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The hardest part about this book is continuity issues. While there are plenty of typos (just like the first two). the continuity from book 2to 3 just sucks. She can Ski in book 2 but not in 3, they get a puppy, suddenly they get another first puppy...they know a side character, now they have no clue. There is no value added from this book, I just wanted to close the over-reaching arc and was disappointed.