Page 18 of A Little Campfire Blues
“I just like music.”
“You and me both.”
“Are the three of you together?” I asked, trying and failing to keep the hesitance out of my voice. “Not to pry or stick my nose in where it doesn’t belong, but watching you together, I couldn’t tell and don’t wanna make any offers where they might not be welcome.”
“Offers like what?” Roman prodded, having wrapped an arm around Ezzy, who’d stepped up beside him and was now studying me curiously.
“Spending time with the three of you hanging out and joining in on whatever adventures and activities you have planned overthe next two weeks,” I said, since the opportunity was there to just go for it and hope I didn’t get shot down.
“You’re a daddy,” Ezzy blurted.
“I am, yes, but if the three of you are together, I will politely request that you excuse my intrusion into your night and head back to the bonfire,” I explained.
“Why approach us, out of everyone?” Roman asked, but his posture had relaxed some.
The only one who hadn’t relaxed or stepped any closer was Axis, but something told me that was directly related to why he’d called himself nobody and been hesitant about giving his name.
“Because I couldn’t keep my eyes off you.”
“Me, or all three of us?” Roman asked.
“All three of you.”
“We’re not together,” Roman said. “Not the way you’re thinking, not in a very long time. Today is the first time we’ve gotten together in eight years, and we’re still trying to figure things out. In case you haven’t guessed yet, none of us is a daddy, nor do any of us have one.”
“We’d always hoped to have the same one,” Ezzy admitted. “At least back before things fell apart between us.”
Whoa, now that sent a surge of hope slashing through me, though if this was a bad time for them, it would be best to back off and approach them again next week, or better still, just wait and see if they approached me.
“It’s not that we’re not curious,” Ezzy said. “Or at least I am.”
“But the timing is bad, and you need time to work things out between yourselves before you introduce someone else into the mix,” I finished for him. “Perfectly understandable. I’ll say goodnight for now. I do hope to hear you play and sing again.”
“Maybe.” Ezzy said, waving.
Smiling, I gave them a nod and headed back to the bonfire, a little dejected, but if it wasn’t the right time for them, it wasn’tthe right time for them. It was in fate’s hands now. I just had to hope that I hadn’t fallen so out of favor with her that she wouldn’t be opposed to sending a bit of good fortune my way in the form of three beautiful souls who each seemed a little bent and ragged around the edges.
Just like me.
Chapter Nine
Axis
Up with the sun, though it was more like I hadn’t gotten much sleep last night. After we’d driven back to the cabin, we’d sat on the porch, enjoying the moonlight, winding down, and chatting about the activities we wanted to check out today. None of us had been up for a serious conversation, which had been fine by me. Meeting Mackenzie had rattled me, especially when he’d asked to spend time with us.
My inner little had perked up and started doing a wiggly butt dance, sing-songing,please, please, please,as he shimmied around, but big me had been louder and told little me to sit the hell down and shut up before we embarrassed ourselves. Mackenzie Redding was a southern rock legend. No way a man like that would want a little who couldn’t even cut it at a fraction of his level. I hadn’t even wanted to play once I’d spotted him there. Hell, I’d been mentally kicking my own ass for bringing the guitar to camp in the first place, when Ezzy had begged me to play for them.
No way I could saynoat that point.
Never could say no to them.
Hell, I’d rarely wanted to, and when I’d tried, they’d just given me puppy dog eyes, and it was over. Stick a fork in me; I’d have tied myself to a rocket and ridden it into the cosmos just to bring them back a chunk of moonrock if they’d asked for one.
I didn’t want to wake the others with my restlessness or the sound of me playing on the porch, so I took my guitar down to the shore, well away from our cabin and everyone else’s, hoping for a bit of inspiration.
And to play the way I’d been too scared to the night before.
Why the fuck couldn’t I have been as amazingly talented as Bowie or even the replacement asshole? Why the hell couldn’t I be anyone but ordinary old mediocre me?
