Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Camden coughed and spluttered.
“Every drop, boy,” August managed to get out.
My thighs strained too much after a while, and I had to pull out and catch my breath.
My brain went completely blank. I just needed to lie down for a minute. Christ. I was spent.
Chapter 11
Girl Named Tennessee
The second I’d played the last notes on “Something Beautiful,” I made a circular motion for Nicky and Luiz, then threw my electric onto my back and stalked back to where Sylvia was standing. The keyboard was situated atop my Hammond, and she’d already adjusted the mic for me. Taking her place, I locked eyes with Luiz, and we started the next song together. As much as I loved to play the guitar, my years of playing the piano had turned it into an extra body part.
“Dance for me, Nashville. This is for you.” I moved with the music, my fingers hitting the keys with rapid ease, and I smiled to myself before I began singing to the upbeat rhythm. Nicky and Chris marked the beginning of each bar with a perfect punch, and the harmonies lifted us to the next level.
When the lights went down low…
Would I find you in the dark?
For the rest of the day, I got to watch Camden sink deeper and deeper into the mind-set of someone much younger. August explained how rough play impacted the boy, how it turned him vulnerable and exposed, and it made sense to me. We were always a little raw after any type of situation that rocked the ground we stood on.
I didn’t expect to find the transition so beautiful, though. Or that it would summon the protector in me and make me wanna hold him close and ensure he didn’t hurt himself.
Camden requested hot dogs for dinner, and around the same time August was throwing different kinds of sausage on the grill, the boy stepped out on the patio dressed in pajamas and holding a teddy bear.
“How was your bath, little one?” August asked.
“Good.” Camden squinted and smiled as he plopped down to sit on the sofa across from me. “I’ve had two baths in one day now.”
August and I had opted for a shower earlier, and I was wondering if we should’ve brought Camden with us. It looked like he’d gotten shampoo in his eyes. They were red.
“You okay, ragazzo?”
He nodded and rubbed at his face. “I got soap in my eyes.”
“I’ve added your soap and shampoo to the shopping list.” August came up behind the sofa and kissed the top of Camden’s head. “We don’t like it when your eyes sting.”
Camden shook his head and smiled up at him. “But now I smell like you. I like that lots.”
I reckoned his kind of soap was the one for children that promised no tears.
“My sweet boy.” August pressed a kiss to his forehead before straightening and returning to the grill. “Have you thought about Anthony’s fun idea for the festival tomorrow?”
Camden bit his lip and glanced at me. “Do you think it will work?”
“I don’t see why it wouldn’t.” I moved some of the condiments on the table so I could extend my hand to him. He offered a timid grin in return as he placed his hand in mine, and I gave it a squeeze. “Your Daddy and I will keep you safe. You can run around and look at all the stuffed animals and candy and help us decide what foods to try.”
He perked up at that. “Can we eat hot dogs all day?”
August and I chuckled.
“You’re about to have that for dinner.” And from what I could tell already, they’d taste much better than any hot dog we could buy at the festival. August had gone all out for an otherwise simple dish. The bread was homemade, for starters—both plain and with sesame seeds. Aside from ketchup and mustards, he’d set out relish, fresh onion, Parmesan, onion strings, crumbled bacon, shredded cheddar, chopped jalapeños, and sauerkraut.
It was going to be damn hard to repay August and Camden for their hospitality. Especially when I wasn’t good in the kitchen.
Camden moved on to the next topic, which he called the most important in the galaxy. Namely, what costume to wear tomorrow.
I suggested one that wouldn’t feel too hot since the weather was gonna be nice, and August advised him to choose a mask that was easy to take off for meals and whatnot.
Camden tapped his chin in thought.
Seeing that August was finishing up by the grill, I walked over there to assist. And to touch his ass a little. It’d been…oh, probably half an hour since we’d touched.
“I didn’t know this was a two-man job.” He smirked.
“Now you know.” I kissed his cheek before I stole the platter with all the sausage.
I’d expected him to sit with Camden, but instead, he moved his plate to my side of the table and took his seat right next to me.