Page 88 of Hard Rock Deceit

"I wouldn't say I talked him into it. I just helped him see things from his brother'sperspective."

Hope flashed me a grateful smile. When she returned to her boyfriend's side, I could see Damon was relaxed around her, not riled up. He no longer looked like a cat with its back arched, hair standing on end, ready to hiss andscratch.

I was glad at least one good thing had come out ofthistour.

I was waiting for my taxi to arrive to take me back home when Cameron appeared at my side. I stepped back unwittingly, my grip tightening on my suitcasehandle.

"I come in peace." He held his hands up, his lips curving into a small, sheepishsmile.

I didn't say anything. He ran his hands through his bright, fire engine red bangs, sweeping them away fromhisface.

"I wanted to say I'm sorry," he said. "I've been a jerk to you for noreason."

"It'sokay."

"It's not okay. I was a shit. I was mad at August and mad at myself for not seeing it sooner and I took it out on you." His dark blue eyes met mine earnestly. "I don't blame you at all for not telling us about August's shoulder. I've kept my own fair share ofsecrets."

Cameron flicked his eyes over to where his girlfriend was grinning at Noah. The lead singer's own expression, while not exactly grinning in return, was closeenough.

"You don't have to apologize," I told him. "I understand. I should have told someone sooner. Maybe everything could have beenavoided."

"Probably not," Cameron said wryly. "August is a stubbornidiot."

"I won't arguewiththat."

"Do you think…" Cameron trailed off, looking uncomfortable and downcast. "Do you think he'll everforgiveus?"

When Cameron met my eyes, there was pain in them. Not the same as August's pain, but Cameron was hurt, just as all ofthemwere.

"I know he will," I said. "You guys mean everything to him. You just need to giveittime."

A small, cautious smile crossedhislips.

"We're not the only ones who mean something to him,"hesaid.

Taken aback, I opened my mouth to deny everything, but Cameron was already sauntering off with a grin andawink.

Maybe men weren't as oblivious as Hopethought.

The group soon dispersed and my taxi pulled up. When I arrived home, I immediately threw my suitcase into the corner, planning to deal with it later. I wasn't in the mood to unpack and sort through the clothes that neededlaundering.

I went to my computer, the keyboard now dusty from months of disuse. I pulled up the article about me and the band and printed out a copy. I stuck it to the cork board above my desk. I'd pinned all sorts of things to that board over the years. Awards I'd won for my photography in school. Clips from the student newspaper about me and my peers. Copies of my favorite photos, the ones that took the most time and effort tocapture.

It was a sort of wall of happiness, pride, and nostalgia allinone.

And now, right in the middle was the photo of me and Darkest Days, with August Summers bymyside.

Swallowing the lump that formed in my throat, I puttered around my apartment, doing a bit of dusting and tidying to clear my head. I hadn't had much time to prepare before I'd left, just a cursory clean sweep of my apartment, making sure there were no dishes in the sink or food in the fridge that could spoil while Iwasaway.

When everything was neat and clean, I lugged my suitcase onto my bed, not able to put off the chore anylonger.

I opened it andpaused.

I'd put the bag with August's forgotten belongingsontop.

I hadn't told him I had his stuff. I hadn't told him I was going to show up in person. I wanted to see him and I was afraid if I asked he'dsayno.

I couldn't let it just end the way things had. August and I had something real. I felt it in my bones, in myheart.