Page 6 of When I Found You

I laugh at his comment as I try and rid myself of the nerves that have all of a sudden taken form. “It’s okay, just no more cheesy lines tonight.”

“That, I can agree to,” he says, lifting his beer to cheers with me. I pick up my drink and clink the glass against his before we each take a sip. “You’re friends with Ethan?”

“Cam and I work together occasionally.”

“Only occasionally?”

“My main job is a songwriter, but I occasionally work with kids in a music therapy setting,” I explain. “Cam helps fight for kids needing additional help and services. She mostlyworks with the services that are provided in or by the schools, but occasionally, she’ll help coordinate services outside of the schools. I don’t have much time lately to work with kids, but I really enjoy it when I do.”

“What kind of songs do you write?”

I laugh at his question. He obviously isn’t from around here or knows who’s also sitting at our table, with Reese here. Which is a little surprising, for how famous she actually is.

“Country, mostly. You might have heard of a few of the songs. They’re kinda popular at the moment,” I tell him.

“Who sings your songs?”

“This one,” I answer him, pointing at Reese. He looks over at her, taking her in before turning back to me.

“I don’t remember her name,” he says under his breath, quiet enough that only I can hear him with all the noise around us in the bar.

“Reese Blackwood. Have you seriously never heard of her?”

“Sorry. I don’t pay much attention to things outside of my unit and protecting this country of ours.”

“She’s only the hottest female in country music right now. Has been that way for the past couple of years. Lee”—I pause, pointing to the other side of Peyton— “my writing partner, and I, along with Reese, have penned her last few hits. Because of that, we’re all up for some big awards in a few weeks at the Country Music Awards.”

“No shit,” he says, stunned.

“No shit,” I echo, a smile filling my face.

“Do you write for any other artists?”

“Yep, I’ve had a few other songs become singles. Now, with our success with Reese, we’ve been extremely popular lately.”

“That’s amazing.”

“It sure has been a fun year,” I confirm. “Going from writing as a second job to being sought after sure was a one-eighty. But, it’s been an amazing ride and I’m thankful for it everyday.”

“So interesting.”

“So, tell me about you, Peyton,” I state, taking another drink from my glass.

“What would you like to know? I’m a pretty simple guy.”

“Whatever you want to tell me.”

“Well, the basics. I’m twenty-eight, been in the Army since I was eighteen, and plan on being a lifer. Followed my dad’s footsteps into the Army. He retired after thirty-five years in the service. It’s been just the two of us since I was eight. We moved around a lot when I was growing up thanks to the Army, but he’s always been there for me, no matter what.”

“That’s awesome that you’re so close to him.”

“He’s a great man. I came to town to spend the next ten or so days with him while I’m on leave.”

“Oh, so he lives around here?”

“Yes, when he retired, he moved back to Nashville. It’s where he was born and raised, and always felt like home to him. Bonus is, I’m only an hour or so away when I’m on base up at Fort Campbell.”

“Have you been based there long?”

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