Through the Lens (Click Duet #1) (Bay Area Duet Series), Persephone Autumn [read aloud books TXT] 📗

Through the Lens

Click Duet - Book One

Persephone Autumn

Between Words Publishing LLC

Through the Lens

Copyright © 2021 by Persephone Autumn

www.persephoneautumn.com

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, establishments, organizations, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously to give a sense of authenticity. Any resemblance to actual events, places, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, or it was purchased on a site I do not advertise I sell on, then it was pirated illegally. Please purchase a copy of your own on a platform where the author advertises she distributes and respect the hard work of this author.

ISBN: 978-1-951477-12-7 (Ebook)

ISBN: 978-1-951477-13-4 (Paperback)

Editor: Ellie McLove | My Brother’s Editor

Proofreader: Rosa Sharon | My Brother’s Editor

Cover Design: Kat Savage | Kat Savage Designs

Books by Persephone Autumn

Standalone Romance Novels

Depths Awakened

Sweet Tooth

Devotion Series

Distorted Devotion

Undying Devotion

Beloved Devotion

Bay Area Duet Series

Click Duet

Through the Lens

Time Exposure

Inked Duet

Fine Line

Love Buzz

Poetry Collections

Ink Veins

Broken Metronome

Standalone Horror Novels

By Dawn (published under P. Autumn)

To every person who’s had their heart ripped in two. Who thought they’d never find love again.

Contents

Through The Lens

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

To be continued…

Thank You

Click Duet Playlist

More by Persephone

Connect with Persephone

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Through The Lens

Photography term.

Through-the-lens (TTL) metering refers to a feature of cameras whereby the intensity of light reflected from the scene is measured through the lens; as opposed to using a separate metering window or external hand-held light meter.

Chapter One

Cora

Is this real? This cannot be real.

I ball my fingers into loose fists, rub my eyes, and look ahead once more. Yep, still there. Still strutting around like a peacock fanning its tail feathers. How fortunate are we to bear witness to this monumental event? An event we could all live another day without seeing. An event I pray never repeats itself.

For the love of all that is good in this world, please make it end.

On the compact stage of our favorite bar and grill, a seventy-something grandpa wears an eighties rock band muscle tank top, ripped jeans, and faded black Converse high-tops that have seen better days. He holds the mic to his mouth, tips his head back, and belts out the words to Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar on Me.” Some might say, what’s the big deal. Let the old man enjoy life. And I would probably agree.

But singing is not all he is doing. Nope. Karaoke grandpa has added a little “show” to his rendition. Giving the crowd something to remember. For life.

Not ten seconds ago, he picked up his full glass of water, tipped his head back, and poured it down his chest, driving us all down wet T-shirt contest lane. The crowd whistles and eggs him on, and he eats up every cheer given. Flaunts his man chest through the wet tank. But wait, it keeps getting better. Now… Some dumbass walked up to the stage and just handed him a soft-serve ice cream cone. Since when did the bar serve…

What the hell is he…

Oh. My. God!

No he isn’t. Please tell me he did not just…

My hands fly up and mask my gaping mouth. My eyes unable to do anything except stare. I shake my head, barely noticeable to anyone not at my table.

How is this happening? How is it I am here right now? This will undoubtedly be scarred into my cerebral cortex for the rest of my life. Marked in my mental scrapbook for years of reference. A tale told to grandchildren to make them laugh at their grandfather.

Not only is grandpa up on the makeshift stage, singing to the world like he is fifty years younger. Not only has he ripped off his wet T-shirt and flashed his elderly man-boobs to the cat-calling natives. Now he has taken his soft-serve vanilla and is smearing it all over his now exposed nipples. But that is not the worst of it. Nope. Not even close. Because he just brought the dripping cone to his lips and is sucking on the dairy confection as if his life depends on it.

Gag!

Somehow, I manage to break my eyes away from the geriatric porn in front of me and glance over at Shelly and Jonas. When I see that both of their expressions are equally as awestruck as mine, all I do is laugh. I have yet to figure out if we are fortunate to have seen this. Or if we are being punished for something. It’s a crapshoot.

“Are you two seeing what I’m seeing?” I ask, already knowing the answer. To be honest, I want to hear their interpretation of it all. There is no way I can be the only one thinking this is nutty as hell. Karaoke Grandpa has definitely fallen off his rocker.

“I think I need to go home and bleach my eyes. Some things cannot be unseen. Some things should never be seen,” Shelly says on a chuckle.

“Mad props to the old-timer. One, such as myself, can only hope I’m that fucking cool when I’m his age,” Jonas states, an echo of pride in his voice. I giggle as he sits taller on his stool.

And when he glances my way, his sweet smile lights up his face. The one that makes the dimple on his left cheek pop. The dimple that makes me question why we are only friends. Why does that