Page 9 of Fractured Trust

“Well, that’s insulting.”

“Come on, Summer. I don’t mean it like that. It’s just, it’s not like you have any amazing skills that would make someone hunt you down to ask you to work for them.”

The base of her skull started to pound. “Yeah, well, there’s a reason I don’t have a ton of skills, Deacon. You never wanted me to go to college, remember.”

“What was the point? You had a job; we were making decent money. Why waste time studying?”

“Except that now I don’t have that job, and according to you, I don’t have any marketable skills. So, I guess I could have benefited from going to college after all.”

That only seemed to incense him. “It’s not like I was planning on us getting divorced. If we were still together, you’d have no need to get a new job. That was your decision, not mine.”

Sadness filled her; he was never going to get it. “I just can’t get into this with you again. It never ends well for either of us.”

“Just because you’re trying to jump back in bed with Noah—”

“Damn it, Deacon. I’m not trying—”

“You never fucking got over him, which is just pathetic, because everyone knows he got over you the first time a groupie shook her tits at him. He just didn’t have the balls to break it off with you before he took what was being offered.”

Pain at the truth of his words rattled around her chest, and she rubbed her sternum, as if that would dull the sharp edges of her hurt. “Okay, I’m done with this conversation. Call me back when you’ve calmed down.”

Summer hung up, then quickly turned her phone to silent and placed it down on the side table, knowing he’d probably call back immediately and not wanting to talk to him anymore about Noah. She didn’t want to even think about Noah anymore. She inhaled shakily and closed her eyes. Seeing him again had been difficult, and she didn’t need more difficult in her life right now. She didn’t need him making her remember; bringing back the pain and the wanting. Not that she wanted him. The emotions that swirled through her when she was around him were just a distant echo of how she used to feel, that was all.

Summer caught the flash of her phone screen lighting up out of the corner of her eye. She gave it a cursory glance, expecting it to be Deacon calling but the message was from an unknown number. She picked it up and swiped to open it, her chest rising and falling sharply.

Unknown: The job’s yours if you want it. Email Eden and work things out.

He’d included Eden’s email address at the bottom of the message.

Summer’s pulse fluttered in her throat. She couldn’t believe he’d actually followed through. And straight away. She didn’t know what to think about that. And frankly, she was sick of thinking, debating with herself, questioning everything in her life. If she ever wanted to get back to the girl she used to be—the one whose life had stretched ahead of her with so much promise—what better way to start than accepting this opportunity that had come out of nowhere. Her fingers hovered over the screen for a second, before she tapped out a quick reply, nerves twisting her stomach.

Summer: Thank you, Noah. I really appreciate your help.

Unknown: Don’t sweat it, Sunshine.

Summer’s heart skipped a beat, tripping and stumbling before finally regaining its steady rhythm. That was the second time he’d used his old nickname for her. She dropped her phone in her lap and let her head fall back against the seat.

What the hell was she doing?

Chapter 5

“Are you sure this is a good idea, man?” Tex asked.

The four of them were sitting around a table overlooking Noah’s palm tree-fringed pool and the ocean beyond it. Drew had just left, after running them through the schedule for the lead-up to Fractured’s first tour in almost two years.

Noah shrugged, taking a pull of his beer. “I don’t see why not. Summer needs a job, and Eden needs help. They used to get on well; I figure it’ll be a good fit. And honestly, the way that bastard was talking to her pissed me the hell off.”

Tex frowned, and glanced over at Connor and Zac, sitting opposite them. “I mean, I get why you’d say it in the heat of the moment. But that didn’t mean you had to follow through. Are you sure there isn’t more to it?”

“I wasn’t about to turn around straight after he’d walked out the door and tell her I was only messing around. Whether or not she would ever admit it to me, she’s in a tough spot. She needs a job, and not just a crappy one she picks up out of desperation.”

Noah raked his hand through his hair, considering how to explain it to his friends when he couldn’t even really explain it to himself. “I don’t know. It was like she wasn’t the Summer I remember. She seemed different somehow—defeated. And I’ll bet that douchebag had a lot to do with it. As annoyed as I am at what she did to me, I didn’t like seeing her that way.” Annoyed was an understatement, but he didn’t want to get into exactly how much it still bothered him.

“Well, that’s all very fucking noble of you. But you don’t think seeing her all the time is gonna be difficult for you?”

“No, why would it?”

“Okay, let me rephrase. You don’t think seeing her all the time is gonna make ithardfor you.” The smirk on Tex’s face and the flick of his eyes to Noah’s crotch emphasized the innuendo. The other two assholes chuckled, but wisely kept their mouths shut when Noah cut his eyes in their direction.

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