Page 9 of A Little Campfire Blues (Pride Camp 2025 #10)

“Why do you say that?” I asked, momentarily caught off guard by the emotionless tone in his voice. “Have we met before?”

“Met? No, but I’d have known you even without seeing your girl, but she’s pretty distinct,” the guitarist, and he was one despite what he’d said, replied. “You’re Mackenzie Redding.”

I chuckled at that and nodded. “You got me; I am indeed Mackenzie Redding, and you are?”

“Nobody.”

“Well, nobody,” I said, chuckling a little more, 'cause he was a stubborn one, and I love stubborn. “Who does that make your friends?”

“I’m Roman, and this is Ezzy,” the biggest one said with a heavy sigh, a reproachful look creeping across his features before he turned away from the light to point to the spiky-haired one.

Funny that he made no attempt at all to tell me the guitarist’s name, though I was certain he’d have tried to stop Roman if he had.

“I saw you play in Deadwood, at Outlaw Fest,” the guitarist blurted. “You guys were awesome.”

At least he didn’t ask what had happened to the band the way most people did when I acknowledged who I was. Funny, but having it turned around on me like he’d done wasn’t a good feeling.

“Were you there as a performer or a spectator?”

“Both.”

“Not gonna tell me what band, are you? Or were you playing solo?”

“Band doesn’t matter; it doesn’t exist anymore.”

“Yeah, I know what that’s like,” I admitted, running a hand through my hair.

“I’m Axis,” he softly admitted.

Damn, the name was familiar, but I couldn’t place the band, and I’d never gotten a clear look at him while he’d been sitting around the bonfire. Not with the way he’d kept his head down through a lot of it.

“Nice to meet you, Axis,” I said. “Nice to meet all of you. I don’t mean to hold you up if you’re in a hurry to get back to your cabin, but I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your playing and the way you and Ezzy sounded when you sang together.

I hope you’ll continue to share your talents around the bonfire.

You truly do sound wonderful when you harmonize like that. ”

“I’m not a singer,” Ezzy said. “But I love those songs, and it’s been too many years since I’ve gotten to sing while he played.”

Well, that was interesting.

“You might not be a singer, but when you tipped your head back and let the firelight shimmer over you, I could tell every note you sang came from your soul.”

“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 over the 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’t the 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.