Page 24 of Fractured Trust

Eden’s words echoed Summer’s own thoughts from the other night. And it did still make sense to at least try to be civil. And having the buffer of other people around wouldn’t be a bad thing, even if the idea of hanging out with the whole band again was completely nerve-wracking.

Looking back at Eden’s hopeful expression, Summer reminded herself that she was strong enough to handle the awkwardness, and she and Noah really did need to get past whatever tension still simmered between them.

“All right, you’ve convinced me,” she said, laughing when Eden gave a fist pump. “But you need to check with Noah first. I don’t want to ambush him.”

Eden waved her hand in the air, breezily. “Okay, but I’m sure he’ll be fine with it.” She carried on as if the decision had already been made. “We can send a car to pick you up on Saturday night. I’ll have to drive in with Tex because there’ll be a red carpet for the VIP attendees and Tex likes having me with him for that. But you don’t have to walk the red carpet. Unless you want to.” She smiled, the dimple in her left cheek flashing.

“Um, no, that’s fine. And thank you, a car would be great.”

“Do you have a dress to wear? If not, I’m happy to take you shopping. My treat since I’m the one begging you to go.”

Summer laughed. “No, that’s okay. I think I have a dress that will do. I had to get one a year ago for a ball I was meant to go to with Deacon. But I never ended up wearing it because… well, because we separated before it was held.”

Eden’s face softened in sympathy. “I’m sorry, Summer.”

Summer shrugged as casually as she could. “It’s okay, I mean, the divorce was my idea, so I’m not exactly in a position to get upset about it.”

Eden’s brow furrowed. “Of course you can still get upset about it. Just because you were the one to realize things weren’t working out, doesn’t mean you didn’t care.”

Summer swallowed past the tightness in her throat, only managing to give Eden a small smile of gratitude.

Eden obviously understood Summer didn’t want to talk about it because she continued. “But you know if the dress has bad memories for you, I’m still up for a shopping trip.”

“No, that’s okay. I’m happy to wear it. I might as well get some use out of it, right?”

Eden nodded. “Great. Well, that’s settled then.”

Summer held up her hand. “Don’t forget to check with Noah first.”

“I will, but I really don’t think he’ll have a problem with it.” She grinned at Summer. “I’m excited. It’s going to be an amazing night.”

Summer smiled back, although butterflies had already begun flapping lazily in her stomach.

* * *

Four nights later, Summer was staring at herself in the mirror. Again. Eden had gotten back to her to let her know Noah was okay with Summer joining them. Maybe he’d realized the same thing she had. They needed to find a way to get along with each other, otherwise this situation would never work.

Summer smoothed the emerald-green floor-length satin dress down over her hips, hoping that the neckline wasn’t too low. She wasn’t sure if she’d put on a bit of weight since moving to L.A., or if she just hadn’t remembered how revealing it was. Either way, there was no doubt it showed off her assets. Particularly with her hair swept up and off her face, exposing the column of her throat and the deep V of the gown. Still, she was sure there’d be plenty of women there in just as revealing dresses, if not more so, considering it was an entertainment industry event in L.A.

Summer applied a layer of lipstick, then eyed herself one last time before a message on her phone let her know her ride was out front. After taking a deep breath, she left her apartment, descended the stairs, and headed out to where the driver was waiting to open the door for her. She smiled her thanks, then slid into the back seat.

Unfortunately, being alone this time meant she had no one to distract her from her nerves. She stared out the window at the passing cars, her thoughts wandering as they drove farther into the city; drifting to what it was going to be like talking to all the guys again. What it would be like talking to Noah again after their last meeting. Her mind conjured an image of him in a tuxedo and her mouth went dry.

The last time she’d seen him in a suit, it’d been at their senior prom, not long before he’d left to go on tour. Summer closed her eyes as the memory unfolded. The way they’d swayed on the dance floor; his arms wrapped around her, his blue eyes full of unspoken promises. The way his head had lowered, and his lips had brushed against hers…

The air rushed from her lungs in an almost painful burst. Remembering those things hurt too much. She needed to put all of that aside. She needed to figure out how to be around Noah without thinking about the good times—because they inevitably led to the bad.

But it was a long drive, and without someone to talk to, she soon found her mind drifting back even further.

“Do you remember when I said I’d tell you why I think your name suits you so much?” he asked her. It was two months after that first day, two months of finding out about each other, two months of dates, two months of seeing each other almost every day, and having it never feel like enough.

He’d driven them out to the countryside surrounding their town, and they were sitting in the bed of his pickup truck, leaning back against the cab as they watched the summer sun set over the wheat fields that stretched for miles on either side of them. His arm was around her shoulders, and he was idly playing with the ends of her hair.

She turned to look up at him, her heart stuttering when she met his gaze. The way it always did when she caught him looking at her like that. Like he couldn’t believe she was his, the way she still couldn’t believe he was hers. “I remember.”

But instead of explaining, he looked back over the fields of wheat. “You know, this is my favorite time of day in summer. When the sun is setting and the heat’s just beginning to ease. The entire world feels like it’s holding its breath as it waits for night to settle down over it.”

A faint smile curved her lips. “I love it too.”

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