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

waited, nervously tapping her foot. She hated saving seats and hoped she wouldn’t have to fight for two. She set her purse on a chair to her left and pulled the chair to her right in close.
    Craning her neck to look behind her, she saw an empty room and made eye contact with the large, burly man who was clearly acting security. She smiled nervously and turned back around.
    The clicking of heels on the wood floor preceded Harmony. Ashton followed quietly behind his wife. The couple waved and met Meg at the front row.
    She stood and hugs were given all around. Harmony had dressed in jeggings and a cream colored silk blouse.
    “Hey”—Meg pointed at Harmony’s beige stilettos—“you’re wearing heels. I never thought I’d see the day that you’d venture out in anything over two inches.”
    They sat, placing Harmony in the middle. “I’m trying to get my lips closer to his,” with her thumb she pointed toward Ashton.
    Ashton leaned in and demonstrated their kissing skills. “I’m going to go get a beer. What would you like?”
    “Champagne.”
    He smiled at his wife.  “And for you, Megan?”
    “I’ll have the same.” Another kiss and he thudded across the wood floor to get their drinks. The venue was already packed with people and still more trickled inside. They placed their purses on the empty chair and spread out to ensure it would be saved.
    Harmony kicked her feet out in front of her. "In these, I’m five-ten. “Still not tall enough to meet his lips mind you, but every inch puts me that much closer.”
    Meg held her hand up to halt the information. “TMI, Harmony. T…M…I.”
    “Please”—she slapped Meg’s thigh—“I’ve heard you and Cam going at it like rabbits at the plantation.”
    “Oh my God!” Meg’s fingertips landed on her warm cheeks. “Be quiet! Someone may hear you.”
    “I’m pretty sure the whole town knows you guys had a one nighter.”
    Thinking that they enjoyed one another for the night was preferable to anyone thinking they were in a relationship so Meg went along with the story. No one needed to know that they were intimate whenever he was in town. “It was a night to remember.”
    “It sounded like it.”
    “Cam said he’s staying with you while the plantation is undergoing renovation.”
    “Yeah…he uh…he sleeps on the couch and makes a mean shrimp Alfredo.”
    “I’m glad you were able to put him up. Ashton was going to erect a tent for him to sleep in.”
    “A tent?”
    “Well, I suggested the couch in the cottage, but Ashton was not receptive to it since the place is so small and we are newlyweds.” She giggled. Meg was happy her long time friend had found so much joy.
    Ashton returned with their drinks just as the lights in the house went down. An MC completed a generic greeting, and then Cam walked onto the stage.
    The room became quiet as he approached the mic. Meg looked around the hall. All eyes were focused on Cam. He held the audience captive—mesmerized by his movements and the clearing of his voice. He blew into the mic a few times…it was something he always did. “Good evening Baton Rouge.” As she always did, she felt his low raspy voice curl between her legs.
    Whistles and howls erupted all around. “Duke’s is a southern Louisiana right of passage isn’t it?”
    More cheers and chanting of Duke’s could be heard. “We’re gonna have some fun tonight. Sit back, drink, smoke, make out.” The crowd went crazy. Women yelled his name.
    “All right. This first song is one that I wrote when I was feeling absolutely sorry for myself. You know how it happens…first world problems and all. Anyway, I went into this gray place and I didn’t know how or when or if I was ever going to get out. But I kept pushing and scratching and clawing until I managed to find that thread…that one string that, if you can just stretch to reach it all your problems will be solved.”
    Cam always introduced his songs with the story surrounding how