Bedded Bliss (Found in Oblivion #1) - Cari Quinn Page 0,111

and brought it with her into the shower. If he had news, then she wanted to make sure she primped a little.

Just in case, of course.

Twenty minutes later she was shaved, buffed, and squeaky clean. She wasn’t in the mood to do her hair so she tied it up in her usual tail. The boys came in as she was buttoning her shirt.

Michael whistled. “Well, hello there.”

She sat at her shabby chic vanity. Michael still didn’t understand her need to buy and repurpose, but he stopped giving her grief about it. There was no way she was spending a grand on a vanity that she sat at for approximately five minutes each day.

Not to mention she had so much time on her hands. She didn’t know what to do with it all, so she kept doing home stuff.

Michael hung Axl upside down, as he crossed to the bathroom. “You stink, pal.”

Axl giggled. “Xersize.”

She dabbed on some light makeup, and listened with half an ear as her guys splashed around in the shower. Michael’s deeper voice was layered with Axl’s excitable one. When she was done, she grabbed towels, Pull-Ups for Axl, and underwear for both of them. She set the pile on the counter, then used her time to tidy up their bedroom.

She unplugged her phone and tucked it into her jeans pocket. “So, what’s this news? Worthy of a pepperoni pizza? Or the works?”

“You know me so well.”

She grinned. She was beginning to.

“Brush your teeth. Minty fresh breath gets extra kisses from your mom.”

Chloe grinned and moved to the doorway. Both of them stood in matching blue boxer briefs. Michael’s hair was already fixed into his messy faux hawk, and Axl had his hair styled the same. They were both brushing their teeth in sync.

She pulled her phone out before she thought about it and clicked a photo.

She looked down at her phone. They looked so much like father and son right then. She stuffed her phone back in her pocket and shook off the rush of emotions.

Temporary, Chloe.

But they definitely didn’t feel very temporary in that picture. Or in the last few weeks. She rested her cheek against her hand on the doorjamb. “Spill the news.”

He looked over his shoulder with his toothbrush stuck in his cheek. He grinned around it, and the look he gave her was decidedly not fatherly. It might make a baby though.

Axl’s laughter bounced around the room, breaking the moment.

“We got nominated for a Spectrum award.”

She had a vague idea that it was a big deal, but there were so many different award shows that she was a little clueless. But the huge grin on his face told her it was important, and that was all that mattered to her.

She rushed in and pulled him down for a kiss. “That’s amazing.”

He looped his arms around her. “Yeah. For Best New Artist. We were celebrating about it at practice before all hell broke loose.”

“You’d think that kind of mood would keep everyone in a good mood for at least twenty-four hours.”

He sighed and kissed her again. He was right—minty fresh breath was pretty kiss-worthy. “Now we’re even more worried about a drummer. They want us to play during the televised portion of the show.”

“That’s even better.” She punctuated the congratulations with another kiss.

“It should be.”

She threaded her fingers through his chest hair. “When’s the show?”

“March, thankfully. So, we have some time.”

“Imma mint too.”

Michael grinned down at their Axl interruption. “Is that right?” Axl gripped his wrist and Michael made a growl noise as he hoisted him up slowly. “So heavy.” He made a production of it then tucked Axl between them.

“Big boy,” Axl said.

“You sure are.” She leaned down and gave Axl a smacking kiss. “Minty fresh.”

“Yeah, fresh.”

Michael hugged the two of them tighter. “Now let’s go ruin it with garlic.”

Chloe laughed. “Sounds like a very good plan.”

She found him on the balcony later that night. It had been a fun evening. Axl was completely passed out in his room, with his arm clutching the Hank plush octopus that Michael had won for him at the arcade. The long ride out to the pier gave them the perfect lullaby ride back home.

Michael still had his Viper, but took to driving her Jeep more and more. Then again, most of their outings included Axl, so it was kind of a necessity.

She curled her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek to his bare back. The ocean breeze was a little brisk, but February was