Page 11 of Fractured Dreams

Thinking of unscrupulous people made Eden’s mind drift back to Mason, and this time she couldn’t stop the tears seeping from behind her closed lids. She wasn’t sure if she’d ever be able to get that image out of her head. Seeing her boyfriend in bed with someone else had hurt her far more than she’d let on to Noah. She’d hated having to admit to him that, after all her protestations, he’d been right when he’d warned her against dating a musician.

To throw salt on her wound, after the breakup, Eden had heard rumors Mason had been sleeping with ‘fans’ regularly during their relationship. A fresh wave of pain and anger burned through her veins. She’d wasted a year of her life on that asshole, and he’d been making a fool of her the entire time.

But she was here now, and apparently there were a few PR events coming up for the band. Drew had assured her she was invited, so, she was going to put Mason out of her mind once and for all and enjoy herself. She wasn’t a child—despite what Noah thought—she was a young, unattached woman, and there was no reason she couldn’t make the most of that before she settled down to focus on her job in a couple of months.

Eden’s lips curved up in a small smile. Luckily, she’d come prepared with a few of her sexiest dresses. Next weekend Noah had told her they were going to the opening of a new nightclub, and she intended to let loose and enjoy every second of it.

???

A week later and Eden was adding the finishing touches to her outfit. She was wearing a classic little black dress, low-necked and formfitting through the bodice, but flaring out at her hips so that when she danced, the skirt would swirl around her thighs. Paired with four-inch strappy heels, it was her favorite ‘I feel sexy’ outfit. With her blonde hair hanging in loose waves over her shoulders, her blue eyes enhanced with mascara, and wearing a shimmery nude lipstick, shedidfeel sexy.

Eden descended the stairs to where Noah was standing waiting for her, scrolling through his phone, and looking very much like a rock star in torn skinny jeans, a fitted white V-neck T-shirt, black boots, and a black leather jacket, his jaw-length blond hair pushed back off his face. If he weren’t her brother, she’d think he looked pretty badass. As it was, she said, “Shrink your jeans in the wash, did you?”

He glanced up and took in her outfit with raised brows, then smirked and replied, “Must have been the same wash cycle as your dress.”

Sibling insults out of the way, he pocketed his phone, then hooked his arm around her neck and guided her out to where a car was waiting for them.

After a forty-minute drive, they pulled up in front of the club. Before the valet opened the car door for them, Noah grabbed her wrist. “Eden.”

She turned to him, and his expression was earnest when he said, “I should have told you before, you look beautiful.”

Eden leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. “You look good too, big brother.”

Then the door was swung open, and they climbed out of the car, camera flashes firing from the cordoned-off press area as one of the band’s security detail ushered them past. Eden wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do, as photographers jostled and called out to attract Noah’s attention, so she just looked straight ahead and kept walking. Soon they were safely inside the club, and Eden breathed a sigh of relief, wondering how her brother had ever got used to that kind of thing. She shook off her discomfort as he steered her up the stairs to a raised VIP section that overlooked the main dance floor.

The others were already there, and Eden smoothed her skirt down over her thighs, then laced her hands together in front of her, to prevent herself from fidgeting. This was the first time she’d ever been out with the band to an official event, and she hoped she looked okay. What felt sexy to a small-town college graduate might not look that way to people used to hanging out with models and actresses.

Eden smiled at Connor, Lexie, and Zac, her gaze falling on Tex where he was lounging on a black leather sofa, one arm stretched along the back, the other resting a bottle of beer on his thigh. He was looking at her, eyes hooded and a lazy smile curling his lips, and for some reason warmth bloomed across her cheeks. Perhaps because unlike her, he appeared so perfectly in his element, his large, muscular body relaxed, long denim-clad legs extended out in front of him, and the tattoos on his arms showcasing his toned biceps.

Whatever it was, it caused an immediate flood of self-consciousness to surge through Eden, her ‘I feel sexy’ dress suddenly feeling not sexy enough to fit in with these beautiful people.

Trying to shake off her sudden insecurity, she turned away from Tex’s gaze and moved to sit next to Lexie. A waitress appeared beside her, offering a glass of champagne, which Eden took with a smile of thanks, noticing the woman giving the men a flirtatious smirk as she waltzed off with an extra sway in her hips. Eden rolled her eyes; some things never changed. It had been the same when the guys were in high school. She hadn’t been able to go anywhere with Noah without girls falling all over themselves to talk to him.

Lexie leaned toward her. “Have you had a good week?”

Eden took a sip of champagne and nodded. “It’s been great, although I haven’t done much but relax by the pool and cook. I did sign up for some volunteer shifts at the children’s hospital though, so starting next week, I’ll actually be doing something worthwhile.”

“What sort of work will you be doing there?” Lexie asked, genuine curiosity on her face.

“Well, it varies. Sometimes I might visit the kids in their rooms and just sit with them and encourage them to express their emotions through playing and singing, or maybe writing a song. Or sometimes I might play and sing to them to help keep them calm while they’re undergoing treatment. Or I might even get them learning an instrument—the repetitive movements are great for supporting physical rehabilitation. Basically, whatever I can do to help ease the stress of being in the hospital, or to help the healing process.”

Lexie smiled at her. “That’s fantastic. When’s your first shift?”

“Monday morning.” Eden took another sip of champagne, realizing she’d already drunk almost half the glass. “But what about you? What did you get up to this week?”

Lexie laughed. “I’d like to say I did something amazing, but instead I spent way too much time trying to decide what table centerpieces to order for the wedding.” She covered her face as if she were embarrassed.

“Ooh, what are you thinking of having?” Eden asked, and before she knew it, they were deep in a conversation about how the wedding preparations were going and she’d downed two glasses of champagne. Suddenly far less self-conscious, and hearing her current favorite song come on, she grabbed Lexie’s arm. “Do you want to dance?”

Lexie grinned, putting her empty glass on the table. “Let’s do it.” She turned and whispered something in Connor’s ear, then gave him a quick kiss on the lips before jumping up, taking Eden’s hand, and tugging her out of her seat. She threaded her arm through Eden’s, and they made their way down to the dance floor, one of the band’s security detail following them and making himself comfortable on a stool along the side.

“It’s so nice having another woman to attend these things with,” Lexie said, as they pushed further into the middle of the throng of dancers. “Connor’s not exactly keen on dancing, so I usually end up sitting on the sidelines all night, watching everyone else. I could definitely get used to you being here Eden.” Lexie gave her a beaming smile, and it was obvious why Connor hadn’t been able to resist her; Lexie was gorgeous, talented, and an all-round lovely human being. Eden hoped that one day Noah would meet someone just as wonderful and settle down. And Zac and Tex too, of course.

“I still have the option of moving here after my internship is up, if there’s a position available at an LA-based clinic. I’m going to look into it while I’m here.”

It was getting harder to hear over the pounding beat, so when Lexie smiled and nodded in acknowledgment, they both stopped trying to talk and relaxed into the rhythm, losing themselves in the sway of the crowd.

With the warmth of two champagnes flowing through her, and her body moving to the pulse of the music, Eden felt sexy again. She scanned the dance floor, realizing that everyone in LA seemed to be gorgeous—men and women alike. There were several ridiculously hot guys standing around watching the dancers, and Eden made unintentional eye contact with one of them, slightly taken aback when he smiled and tipped his beer bottle at her. She gave him a small smile in return before continuing her scan.

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