Page 8 of Fractured Dreams

Tex turned toward her and put a hand on her shoulder. “I don’t think I ever told you how impressed I am that you decided to become a music therapist.”

Eden cast him a surprised, but pleased, smile. “Well, it was you guys that inspired me. If the band hadn’t started supporting those charities when you first made it big, I might not even have known it was an option.”

“Still, you should be proud of yourself, because I’m proud of you—we all are.”

Eden blinked up at him, her eyes a ridiculously pretty shade of blue in the sunlight, a pink blush staining her cheeks. It had been a long time since he’d seen genuine bashfulness instead of the practiced coyness he was usually the recipient of. It was refreshing, and he smiled down at her, before slinging his arm around her shoulders and guiding her back toward the others.

Tex released her once they reached the group, then dropped onto a lounger next to Connor, who was sitting, watching Lexie taking photos with a small smile on his face. As a freelance photographer, as well as the official band photographer, it wasn’t often Lexie was without her camera. At that moment she was taking candid shots of Drew giving grilling pointers to an increasingly annoyed-looking Noah. Tex laughed when he heard Noah accuse Drew of being a ‘backseat griller’.

Connor turned toward him with a wry smile. “Those two are like an old married couple sometimes.”

“Yeah, a couple on the brink of divorce.”

Connor chuckled before his eyes drifted back toward Lexie where she was now talking to Eden.

“How are the wedding plans going?” Tex asked.

Connor grimaced. “They’re going, I guess. I think both Lexie and I would be happy to elope, but Aunt Maureen is so excited we couldn’t do it to her. Even keeping things simple, and having it at the house, there seems to be more involved than I ever thought possible.” Changing the subject, he nodded over at where Lexie and Eden were chatting. “Can you believe little Eden is all grown up and out of college?” he asked.

“It’s crazy. Makes me feel like an old man.”

“Well, youarealmost in your thirties, but I think you’ve got a few more years in you before we have to put you out to pasture.”

Tex smirked, his eyes still on Eden as she laughed at something Lexie had said.

“Lunch is up!” Drew called, and Tex pulled his gaze away from Eden to see Noah carefully carrying a platter of grilled meat to the table. He and Connor got up and made their way over there, Connor sitting next to Lexie and Tex sitting opposite Eden.

The conversation flowed easily around the table, soon turning to Zac and Noah’s upcoming tour. When Eden asked about it, Zac answered. “It’s only a short one, just small venues, but hitting all the major spots.”

“Are you excited about going on tour as frontman for the first time?” she asked.

“Yeah. I’m feeling the pressure a little, but I’m looking forward to it,” Zac responded, rubbing his hand over his closely cropped brown hair as he reclined his long, lean frame in his chair. “After all, if I bomb, I can just go back to singing karaoke and playing bass for these losers.” He threw a smirk at his bandmates.

Noah had been uncharacteristically quiet for the last few minutes, but he suddenly turned to Eden. “You know, I’ve been thinking about it, and I don’t know if it’s a good idea for you to stay here on your own while I’m gone.”

Eden’s eyes widened, and she flushed. “I’m not a child Noah, I can handle living on my own for a few weeks.”

“What if some obsessed fan breaks in and hides in the air conditioning ducts?”

“That’s… that’s oddly specific,” she said.

“Don’t ask,” muttered Connor from across the table, shuddering in memory.

Eden stared at him for a second, lips parted, before shaking her head and facing Noah again. “This is a secure estate, I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

“And you shouldn’t be on your own when you’re just recovering from a breakup, that’s the last thing you need.”

Eden turned even more red as she glanced around the table at everyone, her blue eyes landing on Tex last of all. She bit her lip and turned back to Noah. “Why don’t we talk about this later?” she said, more calmly than Tex had been expecting.

Noah didn’t take the hint. “Maybe you should stay with Mom and Dad, just while I’m on tour. You can come back once Zac and I get back.”

Eden’s full lips thinned, and seeing things about to get heated between the siblings, Lexie jumped in. “You can always come and stay with me and Connor if you want Eden. We’d love to have you, wouldn’t we?” She nudged Connor, who nodded, a blatantly fake expression of enthusiasm on his face. Since he couldn’t keep his hands off Lexie at the best of times, Tex wasn’t surprised he didn’t seem excited about having someone living with them for several weeks.

Luckily for Connor, Eden didn’t seem any more eager to stay with the loved-up couple than Tex would be.

She gave Lexie a strained smile. “Thanks, but honestly, I’ll be okay. Noah, can I have a word with you for a second?” Not waiting for a reply, Eden stood and marched into the house. Noah looked around at the smirking faces and sighed. “Too far?”

Everyone nodded, and resignedly he pushed his chair back and followed his sister inside.

---