The End of Us (Love in Isolation 3)

“I heard that!” I shout, looking up at the evening sky.

Sighing, I continue. “It’s one thing for strangers and the media to make ridiculous claims, but I thought he’d have a higher opinion since he’s around me so often.”

“How much does he really know you, though? He’s followed you around from event to event, fancy dinners, and elite parties. This is your chance to really show him that there’s more to you than what meets the eye. Don’t be a brat, and he won’t think you are one.”

I grunt, but she has a point. Tristan knows Piper, the socialite. He’s never seen me relax and enjoy life outside of the camera.

“Guess you’re right,” I admit.

“I usually am,” she gloats.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. He’s also sixteen years older than me, like a whole different generation. He probably grew up with dial-up internet.”

Ryan chuckles. “Most millennials did.”

“Try to take this time to reset and let the police do their job. They’ll find this guy soon enough, and then you’ll be back to your limelight reality.”

“So I guess this would be a bad time to tell you there’s no air-conditioning, the food sucks, and my bed is as comfortable as a dog crate?”

“And I thought you were the dramatic one,” Ryan murmurs.

“Tell your husband to shut his mouth. I bet you were the same way last year when you were without electricity and water,” I say smugly. There’s no way in hell Kendall didn’t complain about their living conditions when they were snowed-in.

“Hell yes, she was,” Ryan confirms. “And she was as every bit dramatic and whiny as you sound.”

“I would’ve thought getting laid six ways to Sunday would make Ryan a little more likable. Guess not,” I deadpan.

“He’s just teasing you, Pipe. He picks on me for all my high-maintenance shit too. That’s how he shows love,” Kendall reassures, but I’m not buying it.

Ryan’s an ER doctor who works long hours in a New York City hospital. He went to med school and devoted his life to helping people, so I find it hard to stay mad at him even when he teases me. His sister Cami is just as spoiled as us.

I snort. “I’d hate to see how he acts toward someone he dislikes.”

“He acts like you don’t even exist. Trust me, that’s worse than his teasing,” Kendall says, knowing from experience.

“So with that knowledge, the moment Tristan starts ignoring me completely, I’ve lost my chance.”

“Yep. Guys won’t put in any sort of effort if they’re not interested,” Kendall confirms. “Just be yourself, and he’ll warm up to you in no time.”

I scoff. Doubtful. Very doubtful.

CHAPTER FOUR

TRISTAN

DAY 2

Piper has walked around the house like she’s the star of a zombie movie when the camera isn’t in her face. I find it entertaining, even if she’s ready to kill me.

I grab an apple off the kitchen counter and bite into it. She’s sitting on the couch and turns her head. Her eyes trail up and down my body before she meets my gaze again.

“Will you be wearing guns the entire time we’re here?”

I take another bite, crunching down. “The only time they won’t be on me is when I’m sleeping or bathing. Otherwise, they’ll always be locked and loaded.”

“Don’t you think you’re overreacting just a little bit?”

“No. I have to always be ready.”

She turns back around. “Guns make me uncomfortable. There are a ton of statistics out there that prove having them puts you in more danger than not.”

I laugh. “Absolutely. Those stats are for those who don’t have the experience I have. I’ve been heavily trained for combat and war. I’m not your average Joe. If someone tries to disarm me and use my weapons against me, good luck. They’ll need it.”

“Cocky much?” She flicks through the channels as I sit at the bar and finish my fruit.

After fifteen minutes of her not finding anything to watch, I clear my throat. “Why don’t we play a game or do a puzzle?”

She gives me a death glare.

I meet her eyes. “Have you ever done either?”

She scoffs but doesn’t answer. It’s obvious she hasn’t, and it makes me more curious about her childhood. I wonder what it was like to be a Montgomery. They’re one of the richest families in the world, billionaires who come from old oil money. Maybe one day I’ll ask, but for now, I’ll assume it was full of afternoon tea and croquet.

I go to the closet under the stairs where we keep everything. Several boxes of puzzles have been collecting dust for years, maybe decades. My mother used to buy them for the beach house every chance she got, so many haven’t been opened.

I place several on the table, giving her a few choices. Piper comes and stands beside me, intrigued.

“You can pick.”

I think I see a small smile on her lips, but she pushes it back. “What about this one?”