Breaking Stars (The Celebrity 2)

“I bet you miss her,” she said softly.

“I do. But I started working when she was little, so we didn’t get the chance to be really close the way some sisters are, you know? And then she pretty much grew up without me.”

She waved a hand, dismissing my concerns. “None of that matters, Paige. You’ll be as close as two peas in a pod as adults if you both allow it. It’s the grown-up stuff that really counts. Marriage and kids and all that. You’ll see.”

I smiled, strangely comforted by the notion. “I hope you’re right.”

• • •

Mrs. Montgomery let me borrow her car, and she gave me directions to the one and only bar in town.

“Don’t be scared about how the bar looks on the outside, okay? It’s incredibly old and it’s a little farther out near the railroad tracks.”

I raised my eyebrows and made a face, pretending a fear I didn’t feel. “It sounds perfect,” I said, knowing full well that getting out of this house and away from this property for a little while was just what I needed.

“Aren’t you worried about people recognizing you?”

“After last night, I feel like I’ve already met half the town, and the rest probably know I’m here by now. No sense hiding anymore.” I paused. “I mean, I still don’t want anyone to say anything about me being here, but I keep telling myself I want to do normal things. I need to follow through.” I smiled, and she gave me a quick hug before shooing me out the front door.

The bar was a little farther out than anything else in town, just like Mrs. Montgomery said it would be. When I walked inside, I immediately spotted a group of people I’d met last night at the field party. Celeste’s fiery red hair caught my eye as my hopes for a peaceful evening dissipated with my assumption that Brina had to be nearby.

Celeste caught my eye and waved me over, giving me a hug as I joined their group. “Brina’s not here. She’s nursing a wicked hangover,” she said, and I immediately felt better.

I grinned. “Is it bad that I’m happy about that?”

She gave me a knowing look. “Not at all. I’m really sorry about everything she said last night. She had no right, and she was way off base.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“I know, but she’s my best friend so I feel responsible for her.”

I nodded, knowing I felt the exact same way about Quinn. If she ever did anything crazy, I’d want to apologize for her too. I missed Quinn so much. She’d know exactly what to say and do in this situation, and if she’d been there last night, she would have sent Brina home in tears from the verbal lashing she would have given her.

“But that one’s been here for hours.” She pointed over at the other side of the bar where I caught sight of Tatum’s muscular frame.

“Have you been here for hours?” I asked with a laugh.

“I dropped someone off earlier and noticed Tatum’s truck. When I came back about an hour ago, his truck was still here.”

“Probably avoiding going home since I’m there.”

“Looks more like he’s trying to drink his problems away.” She looked between us. “Come on, I’ll buy you a drink.”

I hesitated, almost saying no, but the whole point of coming to the bar in the first place was to get a drink. “I should be buying you the drink,” I offered.

“Why? Because you’re a big movie star? I have a job, you know,” she said with a smirk.

“Actually, I don’t know. What do you do?” I asked, following her toward the dark oak bar and stools.

“Oh, I do hair. We don’t have a salon here in town, so I do hair out of my mama’s house most days. It’s not much, but it pays the bills. And I really love it.”

We sat side by side as the bartender meandered over, drying a glass. He was an older gentleman with salt-and-pepper hair and a mustache to match. “Evening, Celeste. And who’s your friend?”

“Hey, Mitch, this is Paige. Paige, this is Mitch. He’s been here forever.”

“Forever’s a long time, young lady,” he said, and waved a scolding finger at her.

Celeste pretended a pout. “I didn’t mean anything by it.