Page 51 of Fractured Dreams

Tex opened Eden’s hotel room door and slipped out, starting to close it quietly behind him when he heard the ding of the elevator. He jerked his head around and saw a barely dressed woman disappearing behind the closing doors at the end of the hallway. Turning his head slowly back the other way, he saw what he’d been hoping not to, a narrow-eyed, shirtless Noah standing in his doorway, glaring at him.

Oh fuck.

Noah’s face was turning red, and he opened his mouth, but Tex quickly put his finger up to his lips, not wanting Eden to wake up and be a part of the shit storm about to go down.

Noah’s mouth snapped shut, but he jabbed his finger at Tex then pointed into his hotel room.

Equal parts resigned and relieved to finally get it out in the open, Tex pulled Eden’s door shut, then strode past his friend and into the room, bracing himself for what was to come.

The door swung shut behind Noah, but the drummer just stood there, glaring at him, a muscle flexing in his jaw. “How long?” he gritted out.

Tex met his gaze unflinchingly. “Just over two months.”

He watched Noah figure it out, fury flaring in his eyes. “Since you stayed with her. Since I asked you to stay and look after her while I was gone.”

Tex nodded, not saying anything.

“So, this is your idea of looking out for my baby sister?”

Tex just looked at him, not trying to make an excuse. Noah had a right to be pissed. Tex wasn’t going to tell him that Eden had been a more than willing part of what had happened. If Tex had been a stronger man, abetterman, he would have stayed away. But he hadn’t. He couldn’t. And that was on him.

Noah was pacing. It wasn’t often the easygoing drummer lost his cool, but when it happened there wasn’t much you could do but wait it out while he worked through his emotions.

“So, you’ve been sneaking around behind my back this whole time?”

Tex nodded. “We weren’t sure if you’doverreact.” His tone was pointed, but Noah ignored him, continuing to pace.

Eventually he came to a halt. “Is it serious?”

“It is on my part.”

Noah paced some more, before stopping again and staring at Tex. “Fuck, man, what were you thinking?”

“I was thinking that I like her. A lot.” He didn’t want to drop the L word on Noah right then, particularly when he hadn’t even told Eden yet.

“So, the first time in over a decade you decide you want a relationship that lasts longer than a night or two, it had to be with my sister?”

Tex cocked his brow. “Would you have preferred it if I were just after a night or two with her?”

Noah scowled at him but ignored the question. “Why her? Why now?”

Tex shrugged, unable to explain it himself. “I just saw her in a new light. As a woman.”

“Yeah, well, nice of you to wait until she could legally drink alcohol before making a move,” Noah growled.

Tex’s brows slammed down. “I know you’re upset, but don’t be an asshole. You don’t think I struggled with it? I fought it.”

“Not fucking hard enough!” Noah glared at him.

Tex had nothing to say to that. It was true. He hadn’t fought it hard enough.

Noah went back to pacing before finally stopping and scrubbing his hands over his face, some of the anger seeming to leach from him.

“It’s just… she’s my sister. My little sister. This isn’t what I want for her.”

Tex tried to keep his voice calm. “It’s not about what you want though, Noah, it’s about what she wants, whoshechooses to be with.”

“That’s the problem though, Tex. She doesn’t know what she’s choosing.”

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