Page 59 of Fractured Dreams

As he’d walked unsteadily toward the door to the bar, an excited squeal had sounded from behind him and a blonde woman had rushed forward. Security at the entrance had stepped up, ready to intervene, but Tex had waved them away, smiling vaguely in the woman’s direction as he kept walking, only wanting to get inside so he could get seeing Eden again over and done with as soon as possible. When the woman had latched on to him and started talking about how big a fan she was and how she couldn’t wait for their new album to come out he’d nodded, smiled distractedly and kept going. Before he knew it, they were both inside, the woman’s gasp of delight when she realized who else was there bringing his foggy brain back to the present.

Pain sliced through Tex at the memory of Eden’s eyes on him, the way they’d widened then flashed with hurt as they dropped to the woman at his side. Tex realized then that he’d rather see cool indifference in her expression than know he was responsible for hurting her again.

He’d deserved every bit of Noah’s glare when the drummer had stalked up and peeled the woman off him, and every second of the furious tongue-lashing Lexie had given him, disappointment clear on her face. And he’d deserved every shard of guilt that had pierced him as Eden turned her back on him.

He’d watched her the rest of the night, fighting the part of him that wanted to go to her, push her against the wall and kiss her. To taste her mouth, stroke her tongue with his, run his hands over every inch of her gorgeous body, and show her exactly how much of a liar he’d been two months ago.

But he’d won the fight with himself because nothing had changed. His life would still cause her pain, a fact he’d just proved to himself again. When she’d left the party early, it had almost been a relief, allowing him to relax from the knife’s edge of doing something stupid.

That hadn’t stopped him from craving the sight of her again, knowing he’d see her the next night at the rehearsal dinner. Except Noah had turned up tonight alone. When Tex had met his friend’s eyes and seen the tightness around them, the tension in his jaw, Tex knew that whatever excuse she might have given her brother for not being there, they both knew the truth.

Tex had tried his best to focus on the wedding rehearsal, not wanting to disappoint either Connor or Lexie by being distracted, particularly since he was the best man. He needed to pull himself together for them, and himself. Although that hadn’t stopped him from snagging a glass of wine as soon as they started being served. He just needed to get through this weekend seeing Eden, and then he’d sort himself out. Focus on dusting himself off and getting back into the game. After all, it’s not like he believed in soul mates. There’d be another woman out there for him. One who would slot into his life, who he wouldn’t have to worry about hurting, who’d know what she was getting into. One who wouldn’t leave when she realized the truth of how hard it could be.

Just one more glass won’t hurt.Tex called a waiter over and asked for another glass of wine. He didn’t understand why they weren’t serving something harder. Hopefully Connor would have whiskey available at the wedding the next day. He had a suspicion he might need it.

Someone dragged the chair next to him out and sat down. Tex glanced over to see Zac’s hazel eyes regarding him coolly, before they dropped to the full glass of wine in Tex’s hands. He looked back up, meeting Tex’s gaze. “I don’t think that’s going to help.”

Tex shrugged. “It doesn’t hurt either.”

“Maybe not you.”

That stung, the memory of Eden’s pained gaze the night before flashing through his mind. He wanted to push the glass away, but raised it and took a sip anyway, not wanting Zac to know he’d scored a hit. “I thought for sure it would be Connor,” he said.

Zac arched a brow at him. “What do you mean?”

“You’re here to tell me what an idiot I’m being about Eden, right? Since I had a go at Connor about Lexie, I assumed he’d be dying to repay the favor.”

Zac smirked. “We both know Connor’s still just as clueless about relationships as he was before. Just because he was lucky enough to find a woman as patient as Lexie doesn’t mean he’s going to start dispensing advice.”

“So that’s what you’re here to do then, is it?”

“Nah, I’m the last person who should be offering relationship advice.”

Tex regarded Zac. He looked completely relaxed as he leaned back in his chair, but there was something in his eyes, something Tex didn’t know if he’d ever seen before.

“Then if you’re not here to give me advice, what are you here for?”

“Can’t I just want the company of my friend?”

“You may not have noticed, but I’m not the best company at the moment.”

“And whose fault is that?”

Tex ground his teeth. “I thought you weren’t here to give me advice.”

Zac grinned. “I’m not.”

Tex stared at him for a second, waiting for something more, but when the other man didn’t say anything else, he shook his head and swallowed down some more wine. “Well, like I said, I’m not very good company at the moment.”

“How long were you and Eden together?” Zac asked suddenly.

Tex eyed him warily. “Just over two months.”

“How long have you been apart?”

He hesitated before answering. “Two months.”

“So, you’ve been broken up almost as long as you were together. Don’t you think it’s about time you got back on the horse? You know what they say, the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else. Or you know, get someone else under you.”

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