Page 43 of Fractured Trust

The blue of Noah’s eyes was aflame as he looked at her. Summer took in the familiar yet still unfamiliar lines of his face, the tense angle of his jaw. Could she see past it? Plenty of women would be able to. Plenty of women would scoff at her hesitation.

She rubbed at her temples. God, sometimes she hated the way her mind worked. She wanted to trust him. She wanted to believe that she would be enough to keep his interest. Why was it so hard for her? And if she did start something back up with Noah, what if she overreacted to something innocent he did and hurt him all over again? The thought was like a knife between her ribs.

Summer dragged in a deep, steadying, trying to compose herself. “I understand, Noah. I don’t blame you for feeling that way. How could I? And I want to spend time with you again, I do. But I also need to be completely honest. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to handle your life, and I’m terrified of doing the same thing all over again. I just don’t know how…” She shook her head. “I don’t know how to be the woman you need me to be.”

“So, what are you trying to say?”

She chewed on her lip as she studied him. “Maybe… Maybe we could just do this casually, no promises, no commitments—”

“No commitments?” Noah snarled. “What does that mean? Because I’m sure as shit not planning on touching anyone else while we’re together. And if that’s what you’re planning—”

Summer jerked her head back. “God no. No, I just meant, let’s just take each day as it comes. There won’t be anyone else. But if it starts to go bad, then we just walk away, no harm, no foul.”

“And what about when I’m on tour?”

Her breath shuddered out of her, and she looked into his eyes, begging him to understand. “I don’t know if I’m going to be able to deal with that, Noah. I really don’t. And I don’t want to make promises I can’t keep.”

Noah’s brows lowered. “So, what are you saying, that we end it when I leave?”

Summer’s heart squeezed tight at the thought. “I— I don’t know. I guess I’m saying maybe we should just see how it goes. Because I’m not sure I can go through that again. And I couldn’t bear putting you through it either.”

She squeezed her hands together. “And I love working with Eden. I don’t know what I’d do if things fell apart between you and me and I had to leave. I know I’m being selfish by wanting this with you, and you should tell me to just forget it. But I’ve missed you, I’ve missed us. And maybe if we spend these weeks with each other, without the pressure of expecting it to be permanent, then we’ll be able to enjoy our time together. And if it’s not working, and we need to end it, then at least we’ll have the closure we both needed.”

Summer couldn’t read Noah’s expression. His mouth had thinned during her speech, the skin around his eyes tightening, but he didn’t yell. Didn’t stand up and walk out. He just scrutinized her, his muscles tight, the tension in his shoulders seeming to strain the seams of his t-shirt. Then the stiffness suddenly left his body, and he relaxed back against his chair as if he’d made a decision. “Okay.”

Summer’s eyebrows lifted. She wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting, but that one-word answer hadn’t been it. “Okay? You’re okay with just keeping this casual?”

Noah shrugged. “Well, you’re right. Neither of us wants to go through anything like that again. So why jump into something serious? We can just see how it goes.” He lifted his mug and took a sip, his eyes suddenly glinting with that familiar hint of mischief she was used to.

“Right. Um, okay.” Summer gave him a tentative smile, and when he raised his coffee mug in a toast, she bemusedly followed his lead.

“To no commitment.” Noah’s smile was serene, but his eyes still gleamed. Summer wasn’t sure if what she was doing was smart or stupid, but she guessed she was going to find out.

Chapter 20

Noah watched uncertainty flicker across Summer’s face, but he didn’t let his calm expression slip. It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen this coming, that she’d hesitate, pull back. He understood the thought of being with him was a lot to deal with. Particularly for someone like Summer, whose trust had already taken a battering long before he’d arrived on the scene.

He understood, but it didn’t mean he had to like it. He wished she had more confidence in him, in what it was between them. But he knew it was going to be a struggle for her. He needed to prove to her that he’d never want anyone else. But if his words weren’t enough to convince her, it would have to be his actions.

So, he’d pretend to go along with her no promises, no commitments plan for now. That gave him just over a month and a half before the Fractured tour to prove to her he was here to stay. And once he’d convinced her she could trust him, he was going to make sure that she never lost faith in him again.

After finishing the rest of his coffee, he stood and walked over to the kitchen, placing his empty mug in the sink before turning back to her and leaning against the counter. He crossed his arms, suppressing a smug smile when her eyes drifted unconsciously to where his biceps stretched the sleeves of his t-shirt.

“How about you come with me today, and we can look at getting you a new microwave tomorrow?” he said.

“Why, what are you doing today?” she asked.

“The two of us are going surfing.”

Summer’s eyes widened. “I don’t know how to surf!”

“Why should not knowing how to do something stop you?”

Her mouth opened to reply, but then she paused with her lips parted. Noah could almost see the wheels in her head turning, and she closed her mouth. Noah’s grin grew as Summer’s own gorgeous smile spread across her face. “You’re absolutely right. Why should that stop me?” She paused and tilted her head, eyes sparkling. “You’re going to show me how, right?”

Noah winked at her. “I’m going to show you everything, Sunshine.”

He tried his best not to let how much seeing that beautiful carefree smile on her face made his heart beat almost painfully in his chest. He didn’t want her to find out yet just exactly how committed he was to making this work, not when she’d probably bolt for the hills if he did. Instead, he just pushed himself off the counter and grabbed her hand, tugging her out of her seat. “Let’s do this, then.”

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