Breaking Stars (The Celebrity 2)

I blew out an exasperated breath as she exited her ridiculously overpriced car, her blond hair blowing in the breeze. Being a young actress in Hollywood sure had its perks. The paparazzi that had gathered again attempted to swarm and attack her, but she maneuvered through them with ease, appearing completely unaffected by their presence. It was as if they didn’t even exist to her as she refused to acknowledge them or even look their way.

Bursting through the double doors like a hurricane, she raised her sunglasses and narrowed her eyes at me. “Tatum?”

“Quinn?”

“Hi, Sam,” she said before giving the man a hug, and I watched as the older man practically turned to goo in her arms.

“How’d you know I was here?” I asked as she faced me and placed a hand on her hip.

“I get any media alerts about Paige sent to my phone. And I was already close by, so I figured why not come here and see what you’re all about.”

“All right then,” I said, my tone hesitant.

She narrowed her eyes on me. “You hit Colin.” It wasn’t a question.

I shrugged. “Allegedly.”

She grabbed my hand and inspected my knuckles. “Allegedly, my ass. Sam, I’m stealing him for a bit. Make sure his car stays here, and don’t tell Paige I have him. Promise?”

Sam frowned before slowly nodding his head.

“Say you promise, Sam. You can’t tell Paige.”

“I promise,” he reluctantly agreed, his gaze pinging between the two of us.

I shrugged at his unasked question. I had no idea what Quinn was up to any more than he did.

“Unless she kidnaps and murders me,” I told Sam with a grin. “Then definitely tell Paige, okay?”

“You’re too cute to murder.” Quinn gave me a slight smile. “Now hurry, before she gets back from wherever she went.” She turned toward the door and started walking.

“Where are we going?” I asked as I followed in her wake. The woman was like a force of nature.

“To my place.”

Quinn drove like a crazed lunatic, swerving in and out of traffic as the paparazzi trailed behind us. How celebrities lived this way seemed utterly insane to me. When you viewed a chase like this onscreen, it didn’t seem entirely real, as if it were a movie. But actually being chased like this felt pretty damn real. And it was terrifying.

“This is crazy,” I said as I glanced back at the cars following dangerously close behind us.

“Don’t look at them. Ugh, Tatum, open the glove compartment.” She pointed, and I did as she asked. “There’s a pair of sunglasses in there. Put them on.”

“Damn. You really are bossy.”

“Nice to meet you too.” She glanced over and smiled, then turned her gaze back to the road.

I stared out at the ocean scenery whipping past us as Quinn drove. It was beautiful. Mesmerized by the waves crashing against the shore, I immediately saw the appeal of living here, especially if you got to see this view every day.

“I’m mad at you,” she announced, but I had figured as much.

“I know.”

“Do you even want to know why?”

“I’m pretty sure I already do,” I said, figuring it had to do with the way I left Paige.

“Then how come you’re in LA?”

Her tone wasn’t entirely friendly, but I assumed it could be much, much worse. Something told me that Quinn was many things, but stupid wasn’t one of them.