Fame, fire, and forbidden love 🎸❤️ #RockRomance #LoveStory #Bookstagram

A gold and purple masquerade mask with gold streamers and glitter falling behind it. 6/29/25 I huffed out a sigh, looking around at the boxes of decorations, linens, and string lights at my feet and then up at the sea of balloons bopping along the ceiling. "Note to self: Murder brother after this is all over," I muttered. "Why your ass is playing stupid video games while I'm down here busting mine, I'll never know." The doorbell chimed a moment later and I carefully maneuvered around a couple cartons of pearlescent white tulle I still needed to sew into long tubes and stuff with smaller white balloons. If Chris wasn’t going to help me, I was gonna totally wreck my perfect manicure. “Please be Rach. Please be Rach. Please be Rach.” I whispered as I jogged up the two steps into the front foyer and opened the door. “Shawn!” I plastered on a smile as I watched him leaning back still admiring the decorations over the entranceway. “Dee!” He copied my hyped up enthusiasm and grinned back. “Your place looks awesome as you drive up. You can see that massive tent peeking over your roof from the road!” He took in the smile stalled on my face with a chuckle as my to-do list took over my listening capabilities. “Stressed?” “Heh! What gave you that impression?” I forced a tight laugh and cast a glare toward the stairs. “Call it a hunch. Rach isn’t here yet?” he asked, shrugging off his coat and hanging it up on one of the coat pegs by the door. “I know she was having a rough start to the day when I called her, but I was hoping she bounced back a bit,” he added, scuffing off his snow boots. He bent down to retrieve a sock from the inside of one and pulled it back on his foot.

29. #WIPwordsearch
#PLEASE
An excerpt from TKC: Book 3 - Wild Card by Kel Grayson
#WIP #WritingCommunity #RockRomance

#WIPsnips Daily Word Card 6/4/25 - Word: CHECK

A purple and gold masquerade mask with gold streamers and glitter falling behind it. 6/4/25  I slowly smiled at her as I rested a forearm on the counter. "Well, look at you taking such good care of me. Makin' my morning, sunshine." I winked, taking the keys. "Hey, Kendrick-Harrison arrive yet?” Erin flushed red and tore her gaze away from me to check her computer screen, typing something on the keyboard. "No Sir, they haven't checked in yet." A disappointed sigh escaped me before I plastered a big smile on my face again. "Don't suppose you have a map for this maze of a place, do ya, hon?" That made her even more flustered. I resisted a chuckle. "Yes, of course! I'm sorry! You... um, take these stairs here..." She gestured to the staircase to his left. “All the way to the top floor, then turn right. Your room is the second from the end on the left.” She looked so apologetic it kept my mirth in check. "Aww, don't sweat it, sweetheart. I bet you have this place down like the back of your hand, am I right?" I chuckled. "Hey, thanks again." I flashed her another smile, suddenly feeling a bit distracted by an odd sensation in the pit of my stomach.

4. #WIPsnips
#CHECK
An excerpt from TKC: Book 3 - Wild Card by Kel Grayson
#WIP #WritingCommunity #RockRomance

A gold/purple masquerade mask with gold streamers and glitter behind it. 5/27/25 Easton chuckled nervously as he looked between her and his band. “I think we all need to just chill the hell out and start over here. We overreacted earlier. Shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions. We apologi--” “No, we bloody fucking don’t!” Mason interrupted him with a laugh of his own. “This little slag and her entourage shouldn’t even be here! This is a grown-up show, not for kiddies playing dress-up.” “And yet, they blew you guys out of the water,” RJ muttered as he leaned over Rachel’s poster to sign it. Mason didn’t hear him, but Easton did by the way his mouth turned down in a dismayed frown. I actually felt bad for the guy. Out of his group, Easton was the only one with a true passion for music and the stage. It was just unfortunate he’d saddled himself with three other guys who preferred to indulge in the dark side of ‘the life’ simply because they could. It seemed to be every band's downfall. Hell, it was nearly our own. What saved our hides was our manager, Avi. Conrad, while a cool guy, was already looking for a new band to manage and seemed more than willing to let his charges sink themselves on the heels of some spectacular blowouts. He was done and he didn't give two shits what happened to Daith. I was pretty sure his mind was on how to save himself from our Label’s legal team the moment he set foot back in LA.

27. #WIPwordsearch
#CHARGE
An excerpt from TKC: Book 3 - Wild Card by Kel Grayson
#WIP #WritingCommunity #RockRomance

#WIPsnips daily word card 5/26/25 - Word: JUNK

5/26/25 (partial - ran out of characters) "Told you he looked fabulous this morning," Scott laughed, closing the van door behind Avi with a very purposeful bang. I winced and put my head down in my hand with a groan as the sound rattled down through straight through my teeth. "Thanks for that, man." Avi cleared his throat and I met the stern expression of our manager. "Can you not fuck up hotel rooms? Hmm? I don't care that you slid over some hush-money-” “Wasn't… Was for damages-” "Yeah, like you were really going to tell me what I was about to walk into and then had to go apologize for." Avi rolled his eyes. "I don't care what that was about, but if it happens in a bigger city...," he trailed off with a disappointed shake of his head. I heaved a sigh. "It won't." "Worked hard to build your rep up. Let's not smash it to smithereens over one young, barely legal, attractive, blue-eyed, girl who had you by the dick all weekend," Avi’s commentary stirred up chuckles behind us. . A scowl curled my lip. "Fuck off man, what I do on my downtime-" "Still reflects on the band. You don't have that luxury and you know it. Anonymity does not exist for you. For any of you, but especially not for you. You want your pervy downtime with eighteen-year-olds you can do it at your own house, behind your own gate, not under my watch on my tour. Got it?" Avi said. Jesus, man! Wanna kick me in the junk too while you're at it? I sighed but nodded, "Got it." The van grew quiet; the only sound coming from the crew up ahead as they coordinated their directions to where their buses were parked. I turned and leaned his head against the window again, looking up at the hotel. We'd be on our way to Baltimore within the hour and all I wanted to do right now was lay in bed staring into the blue eyes of the girl I’d been kissing more often than not for the past two days. “So, now that someone’s brought it up…” Scott's voice sounded from the back of the van.

26. #WIPsnips
#JUNK
An excerpt from TKC: Book 3 - Wild Card by Kel Grayson
#WIP #WritingCommunity #RockRomance

#WIPsnips daily word card 5/25/25 - Word: LISTEN

A purple and gold masquerade mask with gold streamers and glitter falling in the background. 5/25/25 (partial - ran out of characters) "Yeah," I sighed as I opened my overnight bag and rummaged around a little, finally feeling the slim plastic case. I held it up and watched my friends eye it warily. "Go on then," Scott nodded toward the front of the van where the state-of-the-art stereo system contained its own CD player. "It's rough. Not a studio recording by any means," I passed it forward to our navigator, Garrett. The song began to play a moment later and Kaz called for them to crank it up. I winced and squinted my eyes shut as the drums and guitars blared through the enclosed van. "Mmph! The pipes on her!" Tess shouted over the music. "Bet you heard that a lot, didn't you." He grinned. I smirked at him and studied the rest of my band. RJ had his eyes closed, listening carefully. That was a good sign. Scott was still smirking and shaking his head. He was unimpressed. Kaz and Tess were excitedly patting the seat to the beat behind Avi. It was hard to tell if they were enjoying the song or just trying to get our manager to snap at them. When they both leaned back mimicking the guitar solo Avi's kid was wailing out all I could manage was a semi-amused smirk.rk. Avi looked back with a chuckle, growing serious as his eyes met mine a moment later. "If this goes to hell, we're both gonna be in deep shit you realize. That's my son, and it's gonna look like favoritism. Don't ask me to do this again, eh?" he said seriously. I nodded. They had to turn up. My own shit notwithstanding, I’d just plowed ahead and put our reputation in the line of fire along with our band manager. The thought was more sobering than I liked. "They're good. I wouldn't have put it out there if I didn't think so."

25. #WIPsnips
#LISTEN
An excerpt from TKC: Book 3 - Wild Card by Kel Grayson
#WIP #WritingCommunity #RockRomance

A gold and purple masquerade mask with gold streamers and glitter falling in the background. 5/25/25 “I haven’t practiced this at all you know,” Rachel laughed and pulled the cap off with her teeth. I watched the tip of her marker glide across his skin for a few moments before she leaned forward, locking eyes with him, and blew across the ink to dry it. I sighed deeply and tried to focus on something else other than her scribbled ‘Rae K.’ gracing my best friend’s arm, complete with a little cutesy star in place of the dot after her ‘K’. “I like it,” Jay chuckled as he admired it, “Glad it won’t wash off for a while.” “Yeah?” her breathy non-question had Jason leaning in dangerously close in front of the whole room. I cleared my throat at the same time as Easton laughed. “Well, that’s a switch! Happy to be off the club circuit then? Experience something a bit larger than a room of drunks shooting pool?” “Wouldn’t know. Never played any,” Rachel shrugged as she recapped her pen. “Cause you’re what? Sixteen?” Josh laughed. “Not a single drunken little venue?” Easton shook his head as he looked from Rachel to her band, and back to her. “You went up on an arena stage, cold?” “Well, we practiced really, really hard.” I could tell Jason was struggling not to laugh at the perfect amount of sarcasm in her tone. He turned away instead, trying to keep a grin from showing and riling the Daith boys up further. She was doing a good enough job of it on her own. Leave it to Jay to bring a trouble-maker into our midst with an opening band already setting the bar pretty fucking high. I crossed my arms, unamused. It seemed to sober him pretty quickly.

25. #WIPwordsearch
#COLD
An excerpt from TKC: Book 3 - Wild Card by Kel Grayson
#WIP #WritingCommunity #RockRomance

#WIPsnips daily word card 5/24/25 - Word: WARN

A purple and gold masquerade mask with gold streamers and glitter falling in the background. 5/24/25 “Yeah, well it’s our names on the ticket, not this lot. And since when do we put a skirt up on stage?” Mason smirked as he gave Rachel a slow, leering look over. “Cool it,” Jason warned, “They’re our guests. It doesn’t require your approval or commentary.” Rachel bit her lip and reached behind her for Shawn’s hand as she backed up next to him. She looked nervous and I didn’t blame her. Mason turned quite the ugly shade of purple when he was pissed off, and with the amount of drinking he’d been partaking in over the last few months, enraged and belligerent were both a constant with him. Add in the fist-fight he’d had a few hours ago and he was clearly in a shit mood, not that I was excusing the way he was looking at her right now. Not cool, Mase. She’s just a kid. “Pretty sure it required the Label’s ‘go-ahead,’” Daith’s tall, auburn-haired bassist pointed out. “We went through the proper channels, not that it’s your business, Josh. You guys wanna stay for this, per your own contract, then fine. But if you’re here to stir shit up over a single guest slot during our headlining set, then you can all go fuck yourselves,” Jason parked his hands on his hips and gave them a cold stare-down that clearly read “Know your place gentlemen, or I’ll remind you the hard way.” “No need for hostilities,” Daith’s drummer chuckled as he held up his hands in surrender. He looked stoned out of his mind as he edged around Mason and extended his hand toward Rachel. “I’m Easton. And you are? I’m sorry I missed your intro on stage earlier,” he offered a tight smile.

24. #WIPsnips
#WARN (cw: language)
An excerpt from TKC: Book 3 - Wild Card by Kel Grayson
#WIP #WritingCommunity #RockRomance

#WIPsnips daily word card 5/14/25 - Word: CHAOS

A gold and purple masquerade mask with gold streamers and glitter in the background. 5/14/25 I hurriedly plucked out my in-ears, letting them dangle on either side of my neck in preparation for the blast of feedback that had accompanied each recovered surge of power. The auditory assault of over twelve-thousand displeased fans hit me instead. I could hardly blame them. I’d be pissed too. Hell, I was pissed… and embarrassed. I couldn’t even meet the eyes of the sea of faces before me, choosing to dock my mic and turn away to retrieve the beer I had stashed near the base of Scotty’s kit. Fuck me! I frowned, tipping the dark amber bottle back against my lips. We’re gonna have to re-do this motherfucker end of July. So much for a long trip up home. I took several more sips as I side-eyed the wings for Avi, while staying clear of several crew and sound techs as they scurried across the stage, crouching low against the ‘boos’ and disgruntled shouting we could all clearly hear. How much longer do you want us to keep trying, boss? “Jay,” I saw our guitarist mouth. His typical sly grin was absent, replaced with a serious expression. “Settle ‘em down before we have a mob on our hands, man.” And say what exactly? I heaved another sigh, but gave a nod and flagged a dark-green shirt down. “Hey, grab me an overhead mic?” I shouted over the chaotic din. I watched him jog for the rear of the stage, disappearing down the metal stairs out of sight.

14. #WIPsnips
#CHAOS (cw: language)
An excerpt from TKC: Book 3 - Wild Card by Kel Grayson
#WIP #WritingCommunity #RockRomance

An amber-colored electric guitar in front of a small Fender amplifier. 1/31/25 “Lauren--” I sighed at her, “Wish you’d stop trying to fix us up. She’s not my type.” “She is, actually, you just can’t see it because you’re still head over heels in lust with Cindy Crawford.” She rolled her eyes at me and slid a pin in place before inching over on the floor. Tucking another straight pin between her lips, she meticulously turned the seam under, eyeing it for evenness as she mumbled, “You should give her a chance. She might surprise you.” “You know what would surprise me? If you’d let me go after who I’m actually attracted to,” I countered.

31. #WIPwordsearch
#SURPRISE
An excerpt from TKC: Book 1 - Unforgivable by Kel Grayson
#WIP #WritingCommunity #RockRomance

A tan dufflebag on a hardwood floor with a low round table positioned in the corner behind it. 1/30/25 "Not asking what she wants right now." I took a long, leisurely look at him. Tight black jeans and a dark red tee under a leather jacket with buckles along the sides. His dirty blond hair was windblown and looked lighter against the soft redness the cold winter air had tinged his cheeks. Our eyes met again, and he smiled his own heart-stopping, easy-going smile. I swallowed hard. "What do you want?" Shawn blew out a breath and licked his lips a little. Mmm, you do want me to stay. You can say it, Blondie. Come on. He didn't say anything however, he just took a couple of steps toward me, giving me a slow look over that had echoed my own. His green eyes settled a longer moment on my lips as a strange sensation swept over me. The air felt like it ignited all around us as Shawn closed the gap, his hands lifting to gently cup my face, delivering the kiss I’d been dying for all night; a fucking fantastic one at that.

30. #WIPwordsearch
#SLOW
An excerpt from TKC: Book 4 - Private Islands by Kel Grayson
#WIP #WritingCommunity #RockRomance

Green grassy sand dunes with a sandy path up the middle leading to a beach and water beyond. 1/29/25 The glares being sent across the table were not making the delicious food very easy to swallow. Every attempt at small talk mom tried to initiate between all of us was headed off at the pass by a disapproving sound from my father as he stabbed at his Chicken Cacciatore like it had done something personal to piss him off. But no, that would be me. Beside me on the table, untouched, was a packet of paperwork filled out and waiting to be signed that would enlist me in the Army. The longer I ignored it, the more angry my dad was becoming. This was an old topic of debate between us, however. He was insistent that his boys follow in his footsteps as he had done and his father before him, going back to fuckin’ caveman days for all I knew. Well, he’d have to settle for one son that would toe the line, and that son wouldn’t be me. “Casper, we’ve played this childish game long enough.” “The one where you try to plan my future for me? Yeah, I don’t wanna play it either. How about we just enjoy this meal mom slaved over, hm?”

29. #WIPwordsearch
#SENT
An excerpt from HeartStrings - Book 1 by Kel Grayson
#WIP #WritingCommunity #RockRomance

An amber-colored electric guitar in front of a small Fender amplifier. 1/28/25 “Mud and bracken? What have you been doing? Reading books on how to survive in the wild?” Shawn returned to our conversation with a chuckle. “Yes, they were giving them out at the airport when I arrived.” “Altoona does try to go above and beyond.” He grinned. “So, about that hike?” “You’re serious?” I gave an unsure laugh as I fidgeted with one of my braids, twisting the end around my fingers. “What are you doing tomorrow? Any plans?” His gaze flicked from my hair to my lips, and then up to my eyes. “Developing a severe mud and bracken allergy.” The sarcasm just popped out. Where the hell would we end up on a hike in the woods around here? A bigger waterfall or something? How many do I really need to see?

28. #WIPwordsearch
#SURVIVE
An excerpt from TKC: Book 1 - Unforgivable by Kel Grayson
#WIP #WritingCommunity #RockRomance

An amber-colored electric guitar in front of a small Fender amplifier. 1/27/25 “How much you wanna bet this’ll go as well as the Falls Adventure?” Gabe’s warm breath tickled the side of my neck as he leaned in by my ear, making my brain both stall and try to approximate how close his lips were to my skin at the same time. Disguising a shiver behind a shrug and a soft chuckle, I leaned away slightly, hoping the distance would let my mind reset. I really needed to stop thinking about him that way before I got myself busted. He didn’t seem phased in the slightest as he nodded back up toward the unlikely pair. Rachel took a couple of steps forward to stand beside Chris and gave a small, but noticeably uncomfortable, smile over her shoulder at Dee. She was redirected to our clueless friend as he struck up a conversation about the variety of candy they had at the concession counter, and followed it up with the announcement they would also share a jumbo tub of popcorn. It sounded like he was going to try to make this a date, audience full of friends or not. “I almost feel bad for him,” I chuckled under my breath. “Almost.”

27. #WIPwordsearch
#SHIVER
An excerpt from TKC: Book 1 - Unforgivable by Kel Grayson
#PublishingSoon #WIP #WritingCommunity #RockRomance

An amber electric guitar in front of a small Fender amplifier 1/26/25 “It’s late and sleep would probably be a good idea, I think. Everything else can figure out later.” I didn’t wanna hurt her, but I had a lot of thinking to do. I hadn’t wanted ‘complicated’ and this was that and a fucking bag of chips. Rachel nodded, pulling the door open without another word. I followed her out into the driveway and over to the fence where we could make Pauly out in the distance with a flashlight. She looked over at me as she placed her hand on the top rail. “I’m sorry… for everything. I-If you don’t want to be together… I understand.” I didn’t know how to answer her. I motioned for her to climb over, trying to ignore the way her lower lip trembled before she bit it into submission. She turned and scaled the wooden rails, jumping down to the ground on the other side. I received one more sad look before her shoulders drooped and she slowly walked away to meet the Lovell’s farmhand.

26. #WIPwordsearch
#SAD
An excerpt from TKC: Book 1 - Unforgivable by Kel Grayson
#PublishingSoon #WIP #WritingCommunity #RockRomance

A purple and gold masquerade mask with gold ribbon streamers and glitter falling in the background 1/25/25 “Hooooly shit!” I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Well, until I felt Stevie nudge me in the arm before grabbing my sleeve and shoving me in excitement. I stumbled a couple paces away and gave him a shove back as I chuckled. What if they sucked, indeed! “About that apology...” RJ leaned over to say.  “Fuckin' Hell yeah!” Kaz shouted out, both arms raised in horns as he added a very loud, approving, “Wooooo!” followed by a shrill two-fingered whistle. “Have them do it again, prove it wasn't a 'one off,'” Scott frowned as he crossed his arms. “Yeah... I think that's a good idea,” I quickly checked my grin. He’d heard the same thing we all did. They’d totally nailed it, but it was obviously going to require a second listen for him to relinquish his preconceived notions. “Uh... Can we hear that one more time? Not sure, we were properly prepared,” I spoke into the tech mic I was still holding. “Yeah, sure.” Rachel's voice sounded through the speakers.

25. #WIPwordsearch
#STUMBLE
An excerpt from TKC: Book 3 - Wild Card by Kel Grayson
#WIP #WritingCommunity #RockRomance

A coiled up tree tree boa on a branch 1/24/25 Scored. Past tense. I made sure I pinched the end securely and moved over to where she was waving me near the diving board. “No. Really. I’m curious why you need dimensions for the pool.” “You’ll just have to wait and see, curious Kitty Kaz.” While her taunting laugh was familiar, hearing her use my stage name wasn’t. I looked down at the sun-bleached blue diving board beside my calf and tried like hell not to frown. I tried to shake it off, maneuvering around to the house-side of the large, kidney-shaped pool. “Am I allowed to guess?” I watched her give a shrug, a smirk curling her lip as if she crouched down to get her measurement against the inner lip off the blue-tiled wall. “Filling it with guac?”

24. #WIPwordsearch
#SUN
An excerpt from HeartStrings: Book 2 - by Kel Grayson
#WIP #WritingCommunity #RockRomance

An amber-colored electric guitar in front of a small Fender amplifier. 1/23/25 “So, yeah,” I continued. “She’s graduated and attends State College, and Gabe’s… what the word? Whipped?” That got me an even more annoyed glare, one I found oddly attractive on him despite his mood. “I am not whipped.” “You’re dating a college girl?” Rachel leaned forward to see Gabe past Erik, but he only picked up a pebble and lobbed it out into the water. “No. No. They’re not dating,” I chuckled. He was gonna kick my ass for this later, no doubt, but for now, he needed a reminder of the rules he’d laid down; and the memorable one being that there weren’t any. “Ha. Ha.” Gabe rolled his eyes and took another swig of cola. “You were fifteen when you met her?” Rachel unknowingly continued the torture, which made the situation even better when my soft chuckle was echoed by both Chris and his sister.

23. #WIPwordsearch
#SOFT
An excerpt from TKC: Book 1 - Unforgivable by Kel Grayson
#WIP #WritingCommunity #RockRomance

An amber-colored electric guitar in front of a small Fender amplifier. 1/22/25 The peace and quiet lasted for only ten minutes before a wedge of light from the hallway spilled across me and my brief moment of Zen and Shawn poked his head into the room. “Ah, you do have Trayer with me.” He came in and set his backpack on the floor near the table in front of me. I heaved a sigh and tried to keep my focus on the paragraph I’d been reading. “You know, you really hurt Erik’s feelings,” he teased. “Holding that voice hostage when he asked you all nice.” Are you kidding me? I looked him straight in the eyes, eyeing his infuriating grin until I just snapped. “It’s obvious why Nikki is still so mad at you.” His smile instantly faded. Good. Serves you right. Now shut up!

22. #WIPwordsearch
#SPILL
An excerpt from TKC: Book 1 - Unforgivable by Kel Grayson
#WIP #WritingCommunity #RockRomance

An orange lighted peaked ceiling with a mirror ball. 1/21/25 Holly was all kinds of adamant that we try to talk to dad again about his drinking. I don’t know why it was suddenly on her mind. It wasn’t as if she even lived here anymore and it wasn’t like she made a huge effort to visit him either. I was the one who’d found him passed out and bleeding in his front yard a month ago. I was the one who had to call 911, a number I was grateful I could actually manage. I was the one who waited for an ambulance to come. And I was the one he turned down when I said I’d ride with him to the hospital even though it would mean a two-hour walk home. He was actually angry with me over it still because he’d had to spend his beer money on a cab ride home. I would have split the cost with him if he’d only called me, but he didn’t. He rarely did. Just on my birthday, and only to remind me that I was the reason he was alone.

21. #WIPwordsearch
#SUDDEN
An excerpt from Heart's Home by Kel Grayson
#WIP #WritingCommunity #RockRomance

An amber-colored electric guitar in front of a small Fender amplifier 1/20/25 I moved my hand from the back of the couch and reached for hers again. “I’m sorry I put you through that. You didn’t deserve it and I never should have said what I did the last time you were over,” I admitted, watching hurt register in her eyes at the memory. “Please forgive me? Give me another chance?” She looked down at where my hand lightly covered her own grip on her upper arm and slowly swept her thumb against mine. Hopefulness surged to the forefront again, but I made myself keep quiet and wait for her answer. I was going to have to honor it regardless of that sliver of affection, just like I’d have to respect the fact that she was taking a really long time to think it over. I wasn’t ‘a sure thing’ in her mind. I could hardly blame her for holding that opinion. “I forgive you,” she whispered, but didn’t look up; if anything, she looked more upset.

20. #WIPwordsearch
#SORRY
An excerpt from TKC: Book 1 - Unforgivable by Kel Grayson
#WIP #WritingCommunity #RockRomance

A gold and purple masquerade mask with gold streamers behind it. 1/19/25 I huffed out a sigh, looking around at the boxes of decorations, linens, and string lights at my feet and then up at the sea of balloons bopping along the ceiling. "Note to self: Murder brother after this is all over," I muttered. "Why your ass is playing stupid video games while I'm down here busting mine, I'll never know." The doorbell chimed a moment later and I carefully maneuvered around a couple cartons of pearlescent white tulle I still needed to sew into long tubes and stuff with smaller white balloons. If Chris wasn’t going to help me, I was gonna totally wreck my perfect manicure. “Please be Rach. Please be Rach. Please be Rach.” I whispered as I jogged up the two steps into the front foyer and opened the door. “Shawn!” I plastered on a smile as I watched him leaning back still admiring the decorations over the entranceway. “Dee!” He copied my hyped up enthusiasm and grinned back. “Your place looks awesome as you drive up. You can see that massive tent peeking over your roof from the road!” He took in the smile stalled on my face with a chuckle as my to-do list took over my listening capabilities. “Stressed?” “Heh! What gave you that impression?” I forced a tight laugh and cast a glare toward the stairs.

19. #WIPwordsearch
#SELF
An excerpt from TKC: Book 3 - Wild Card by Kel Grayson
#WIP #WritingCommunity #RockRomance

An amber-colored electric guitar in front of a small Fender amplifier. 1/18/25 “Shawn? Sweetheart, you have company.” Sweetheart? I looked toward my bedroom door, hearing my mom’s voice from downstairs. Weren’t you just reaming me out for not having my laundry put away? I tucked the rest of my t-shirts into my dresser drawer and shoved my now empty clothes basket back into its spot by my desk before walking barefoot out into the hallway. Bracing my hands on the banister overlooking the foyer below, I saw my mother gesture for someone to step inside. It could only be one person. All my friends typically walked right in; a perk of ten-plus-year friendships. This visit was because of a very persistent blonde in my life and I owed her big time. She’d somehow got the world’s most skittish chick to cross my threshold; something I wasn’t sure I was relieved about yet. But if we could skirt around whatever mess was lurking, perhaps we could ease back into where we’d left off.

18. #WIPwordsearch
#SPOT
An excerpt from TKC: Book 1 - Unforgivable by Kel Grayson
#WIP #WritingCommunity #RockRomance

An amber-colored electric guitar in front of a small Fender amplifier. 1/17/25 “I am not going to start wearing a burlap sack to school because you’re worried about what Shawn is thinking. I’ve stopped caring about it. So should you.” I stared down at the surface of the table as I fought a frown. Have we? Or are we just hoping if we say it enough to ourselves, it’ll eventually be true? I took another sip of my juice, already knowing what words she’d default to at that statement. “He’s a good bo–-” “Yes, you’ve told me repeatedly. If that’s the case, then you have nothing to worry about, do you?” I cut her off with an eye roll that landed on the kitchen clock. My eyes widened. “Crap! I gotta run!” “He’s a good boy. He’s not immune to pretty girls,” she corrected as she watched me scoop up my bag. ”Uh huh.” I took two quick forkfuls of eggs and another sip of my juice before I jogged for the door. Her laughter followed me out onto the wide porch, where I vaulted down the steps and sprinted down the long, winding driveway.

17. #WIPwordsearch
#STRIP
An excerpt from TKC: Book 1 - Unforgivable by Kel Grayson
#WIP #WritingCommunity #RockRomance

The Golden Gate Bridge in front of a orange and purple sunset with beach and waves in the foreground. 1/16/25 I sat on my overturned board, the foamy surf kissing my heels now and then as I stared out at an ocean I could hear and feel more than see. I’d braved the steep, descending stairs with only the moon to light my way and then plopped my ass down on the shoreline over an hour ago. I hadn’t moved since. I needed a quiet place to sit and think and my house was not that place. It still held the memory of her so much I couldn’t even sleep in my bedroom. She was all I could think about. Two weeks straight of her invading my thoughts while I was awake, and infiltrating the majority of my dreams where I made myself sleep in the downstairs spare room. I was losing it. Clearly. I don’t know why I came back here. Didn’t know why I picked this beach other than it was clean, close by, and the wave report was good. On some level I was refusing to admit to, I knew there was also a slim chance the amber-eyed girl would make an appearance and provide some mental distraction to the ceaseless sadness and regret that had lodged itself in my brain. I think I hoped for that. Nearly prayed for it.

16. #WIPwordsearch
#STEEP
An excerpt from (indefinitely shelved) HeartBeats: Book 1 by Kel Grayson
#WIP #WritingCommunity #RockRomance

An amber-colored electric guitar in front of a small Fender amplifier. 1/15/25 She covered her ears a moment and shook her head, but there was also a smile that accompanied her sarcastic non-answer. I sighed to myself as she stepped away, crouching down by the crate to see what else was packed in it. Was it just me or did she seem completely over what happened the other day? Whatever Dee had said to her seemed to have smoothed out all the awkward ripples, leaving me standing in a dark orchard with more possibilities than I thought I’d have. Maybe I should ask her out? I watched her flipping through various rockets until she pulled the one with the longest stick and waved me over with a questioning look. “Sure. You can send that off. It’s gonna set off some car alarms, though.” I tapped the Mighty Soaring Cherry Bomb label on it, “You thought that last baby was loud?” She wrinkled her nose as she stuffed it back in the crate and looked up at me again, making a big exploding ball shape with her hands before pointing up at the sky.

15. #WIPwordsearch
#SOAR
An excerpt from TKC: Book 1 - Unforgivable by Kel Grayson
#WIP #WritingCommunity #RockRomance

An amber-electric guitar in front of a small Fender amplifier. 1/14/25 Setting the firework on top of the crate, she shot me an amused look before she began tracing out a short sentence. I shit you not. Every single stroke of her fingertip sent shivers up my arm, down my back, and into my jeans. I shifted uncomfortably as my pants suddenly felt a size too small and tried to relieve the tightness with an awkward tug down on my front pocket with my other hand. I received a swat in the side as we both lost our ability to see what she was doing. I refocused the flashlight on her makeshift ‘paper’. I’d just have to suffer with a stiffy and an overwhelming desire to kiss the hell out of the mouth that was smirking at me. She started over… “A date? Or with a group?” I fought a frown. Okay, maybe I’m not as ‘in the clear’ as much as I thought. Think fast, man. You say date, she could balk. You say group, then there’s a shit ton of pressure to be relaxed and cool enough to try for a real one after. What would Shawn do in this situation? His cocky voice popped into my head. “Put her at ease, Einstein.”

14. #WIPwordsearch
#SUFFER
An excerpt from TKC: Book 1 - Unforgivable by Kel Grayson
#WIP #WritingCommunity #RockRomance

The Golden Gate Bridge at sunset with a beach in the foreground. 12/13/24 Sitting in a straddle on my board, I let my head tip back and the sunshine warm my face. My legs burned and tingled from the knees down but I wasn’t about to let the icy water dampen my mood. Four hours in and I still felt like I could go for four more just to keep the high of the sea air and saltwater in my system. I probably would have if my stomach wasn’t growling quite so loudly. I tried to ignore it, enjoying the swell of the waves rhythmically lifting me over their peaks before dipping me low again. It was soothing; almost hypnotic. Just anchor me right here and leave me. “Prize, man! You gonna catch something or just sunbathe?” I opened my eyes to see Marcus grinning as he paddled up beside me on his pale orange board, his dark ringlets still dripping from his last surf ‘n’ plunge. “You take a dive, man?” I chuckled. “Was a cool-off, not a dive,” he smirked at me. “You’ve been sitting over here like a bum for the last twenty minutes. Can’t feel your legs?” he teased.

13. #WIPwordsearch
#SWELL
An excerpt from (indefinitely shelved) HeartBeats by Kel Grayson
#WIP #WritingCommunity #RockRomance

An amber electric guitar in front of a small Fender amplifier. 1/12/25 I cringed hearing his voice behind me. Shawn had just left me at my first class and I’d been relieved not to see Kyle on the way, but now, here he was. I turned in the doorway and looked up at him, watching his gaze flick up to the stitches above my forehead and then back to my eyes. “Wanted to check if you were okay.” “Will be.” I hugged my books closer to my chest when he purposefully checked me out again. “Let me take you out. Try to make up for it.” “What makes you think after everything you’ve said… after everything you’ve done, I would ever go out with you?” I shook my head. You’re one seriously clueless guy, you know that? No. You probably don’t. I sighed to myself.

12. #WIPwordsearch
#SERIOUS
An excerpt from TKC: Book 1 - Unforgivable by Kel Grayson
#WIP #writingcommunity #rockromance

I'm beyond thrilled to reveal the cover of my upcoming #historicalRomance. 🎸✨ The Please Man and the Flower Child. #selfdiscovery #Woodstock #NewAdult #RockRomance #Romance