Words and Music by Cameron David by Gina Watson Read Free Book Online

“You bet your ass I’m wearing them. Your prize better be huge. I never realized how uncomfortable thong underwear is.”
    He tried to escape again, but she pulled him back. “Show me.”
    “I can’t show you.”
    “Then how do I know you’re wearing them?”
    “I’ll show you tonight.” He attempted to pull his hand free.
    She shook her head and held him near. “Show me now.”
    He looked around their immediate vicinity. Turning, he pulled up the tail of his shirt. His jeans hung low enough on his hips that she could see the purple elastic of the panties against his skin. “Huge surprise Meg. I’ll be thinking about it all night.” He winked at her and headed for the stage.
    While Cam tuned his guitar and cleared his pipes by holding out notes, Meg accessed her email through her phone. She always had a ton of correspondence given her position as anchor. Everybody had something they wanted her to promote or an opinion to share regarding the big issues of the day. What no one seemed to understand is that she presented factual information free of her own opinions. She just presented the material. The open airwaves were no place for her personal views and she would never take sides.
    She played around with a few signoffs for Toronto News Twelve…tell your friends about us…tune in for the total truth…you can take it to the bank…news you can use. “Ugh, I suck.” She scratched her neck, thinking she desperately needed to come up with something clever for Cam’s prize. She thought of a striptease and lap dance, but that just seemed cruel given their vow of celibacy. Strip poker? There again—that wouldn’t do. Maybe she could draw him a bath, and then she could wash his hair and him. No, definitely not a bath. Oh! She had it. She texted Kim to see if she’d be able to drop what she’d need at her apartment.
    While she waited for Kim’s reply, she watched Cam as he was entirely focused on the sounds that emitted from the mic and his guitar. His eyes would close, but when they reopened he’d been transported. She wondered what he thought about when he sang.
    Her phone chirped and she read the text from Kim:
    Sure, I can drop that by. Got a hot date to use them on?
    Smiling she texted: I’ll never kiss and tell.
    With that settled, she was about to go back into her email, but at the sound of her name she turned. Mike sat in a chair directly beside her and passed her a glass. “Here you go…I call it a Dukey bomb.”
    “Ew.” She took the proffered glass.
    “The college kids love ‘em.”
    “What’s in it?”
    “Guinness stout, Kahlua, vodka, and an espresso shot.”
    He sipped from a long neck bottle and she wondered where his Dukey bomb was.
    “Meg, can I talk to you up here for a second?” Looking at the stage, she saw a seemingly intense Cam with his hands running through his hair, his guitar hanging from a strap around his body.
    “Excuse me.” She carried the concoction to the stage and watched as Cam stepped down to meet her.
    “Don’t drink anything from anyone tonight.”
    “No, I wasn’t. He just brought it over without asking.”
    His lips pursed as he looked into the glass.
    “What can I do with it…I don’t want to be rude?”
    “Is it also rude that he’s trying to get you shit-faced?”
    “Oh, do you think so?” She looked back over her shoulder, but Mike was no longer sitting in the lounge.
    “Christ Meg, when will you get it?” He relieved her of the drink. “If he offers you any more alcohol tell him you don’t drink.”
    He seemed really put out. “Okay.” She crossed her arms, rubbing warmth into her limbs. “Why are you so upset at me?”
    “Not at you—at him and anyone else who tries to take advantage of you.”
    She wasn’t so happy about his demeanor or his words. “You know Cam, it’s a wonder I’ve been able to survive this long without you.”
    “What?” His voice was grave and she regretted her catty words.
    “Nothing.”
    “Nothing?”