A Sound Like Hope (Fallen Tuesday #3) by Karolyn James Page A

know?
I went through a lot of what he did. He mentioned his father was coming back
soon. ”
    Emily scoffed. Her nostrils flared.
Damn, she was even cute when she got angry. Trent realized he was starting to
flirt with trouble now, not just Emily.
    “ His
father isn ’ t a very good
man, ” Emily said. “ He has a drinking and drug problem.
He comes and goes as he pleases. When he runs out of money he comes back
around. When he gets some cash in his pocket, he takes off for weeks and even
months. Nick ’ s mother, my
sister, used to be able to reel him in. But she …”
    Trent saw Emily look down. She
nibbled on her bottom lip. He could tell she was hurting too. He reached across
the table and gently put his hand on top of Emily ’ s
and squeezed. She jumped and looked up at him with glossy eyes.
    “ You
can tell me if you want, ” Trent said.
    Trent stared deeply into Emily ’ s eyes. He could feel a
connection. The table suddenly felt a mile long, he wanted to be right next to
her. Not that Trent would know what he would do if he did get that close to
Emily. He was sure the last thing Emily needed in her life was a rockstar with
a troubled past.
    Before anything else could be said
or happen, the waitress brought the pizza to the table. She put a small stand
in the middle of the table, followed by the hot pizza. Now Trent felt even
further away from Emily.
    “ There
you go, ” the waitress said.
    “ Thank
you, ” Trent said.
    The waitress reached into her
pocket and pulled out her cell phone. She bent down nervously.
    “ I ’ m really sorry, ” she said, “ but are you … gosh, I hope I don ’ t sound silly here. Are you
Trent from Fallen Tuesday? ”
    “ Yes, ” Trent said. “ I ’ m
here visiting some friends. ”
    “ Wow, ” the waitress said. “ I had tickets to one of your
last shows, but it got cancelled. I really wanted to see you guys. ”
    “ We ’ ll be back on the road again
soon, ” Trent said. “ Luke is feeling better and we ’ re in the studio. ”
    “ I
know, ” the waitress said. “ I download everything you guys
post on your web site. Can I …” She held up her phone.
    “ You
want to call someone? ” Trent asked.
    The waitress ’ s cheeks burned red as she laughed. “ No. Can I have a picture? ”
    “ Absolutely, ” Trent said.
    Trent stood and put an arm around
the waitress. He smiled, gave a thumbs up, and the waitress took the picture.
    “ Just
do me a favor, ” Trent said.
    “ Okay. ”
    “ Don ’ t share or post that until I
leave. I ’ m here with
friends and I don ’ t want a
thousand people showing up. ”
    “ Of
course, ” the waitress said. “ Thank you so much. ”
    The waitress walked away and Trent
looked at Emily. She looked shocked.
    “ That ’ s your life? ” Emily asked.
    “ To
a point, yes. Do you want a picture, Emily? ”
    Emily smiled.
    Nick rushed back to the table just
in time to eat. He scarfed two slices down, drank a soda, and stood back up to
get back to the games.
    “ You
good? ” Trent asked.
    “ Nick,
why don ’ t you sit with us? ” Emily asked. “ We can all talk. ”
    “ No, ” Nick snapped. “ I want to play games. ”
    “ Okay, ” Emily said. “ Don ’ t get into trouble. ”
    Nick held up his hands. “ No lighters. ”
    He hurried away again and Trent saw
the pain flash across Emily ’ s
face.
    “ Just
for the record, all kids are sarcastic like that, ” Trent said. “ He ’ s challenging you. Don ’ t let it get to you so much. ”
    “ Easy
for you to say. ”
    “ Sorry, ” Trent said. “ Not my place. ”
    Trent finished his pizza and wiped
his mouth. He noted that Emily had matched his eating. That was a killer turn
on for Trent. A woman who could take care of herself and enjoyed to eat. For
him it wasn ’ t about someone
being as skinny as a rail and not enjoying life and food. His eyes had already
memorized the subtle curves of Emily ’ s
body and his hands wondered what it was like to