Breaking Stars (The Celebrity 2)

“I can’t imagine what it must be like for you.” Her tone conveyed a sort of compassion that I rarely heard when people talked about me.

“I don’t want to complain, because I know I have an amazing life and I get to do things that most people only dream about.” I was over-explaining, but I couldn’t stop myself. Mrs. Montgomery was so warm and understanding, she reminded me of my mom, and I found myself opening up. “But sometimes things just aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. You know?”

“I can’t say that I do. At least, not from your perspective.”

I stopped myself from laughing at her blunt honesty. I’d been so used to people constantly agreeing with everything I said and saying the things they thought I wanted to hear, that her words were refreshing, to say the least.

“I just wanted to do something normal, and everyone in my life told me that I couldn’t.”

She glanced around at her surroundings as if seeing them for the first time. “Well, hon, this town right here is about as normal as you’re gonna get. And I can’t imagine what it would be like to be told what you can and can’t do all the time.”

“Like I said, Mrs. Montgomery, I really don’t want to complain. Thank you for listening. And for letting me stay here.” I’d already felt more at home and peace than I had since the news of Colin’s cheating broke, but I wasn’t ready to give my whole story to someone who could sell it in two seconds if the opportunity presented itself.

“It’s no trouble, dear. No trouble at all. But I’m here if you need to talk about anything. Okay?” She smiled and then turned back toward the dough, lifting it and pressing it into a waiting pie plate, then crimping the top edges carefully.

“Thank you. That means a lot.” Swallowing the rest of my tea, I dabbed the corners of my mouth with my finger, wondering if I could truly trust her or not.

“Now it’s my turn to ask you for something. If you don’t mind, that is.” Her blue eyes pinned mine, and I couldn’t help but notice they were the same shade of blue as her son’s.

“Of course not.”

“Have patience with him. That’s all I ask of you,” she said, then let out a light laugh.

“Um, okay?” I practically choked on the words as they left my lips. “Your son’s not my biggest fan.”

“You never know. Lightning could strike.” She grinned and hummed a tune as she put the finishing touches on her pie.

Confused and unsure how our conversation had turned in this direction, I pushed through the screen door and sat down in one of the rockers on the covered porch. Birds flew through trees I didn’t recognize, and a breeze gently lifted my hair. The air was sticky and humid, but I didn’t mind it as the sun started to set. I found if I listened real hard, I could hear the sound of water splashing in the distance.

Being here for a couple of days wouldn’t be the worst thing that had ever happened to me. I could definitely handle this.

I’m Such a Dick

Tatum

I took off after showing Paige to her room; I had to get the hell out of there. Being near her, around her, surrounded by her scent and her long legs, it was all too much. My mind refused to think straight in her presence, and my dick completely took over all rational thought. All I could think about was pulling her against me and having my way with her. The pure physical attraction I felt toward the girl was off the freaking charts.

I wanted to kiss her¸ touch her, and make her moan my name all night long. Why the hell I wanted to do that, I wasn’t quite sure, to be honest. Of course she was gorgeous, but I’d seen gorgeous girls before. It wasn’t just that. Paige exuded a sense of innocence that I wanted to corrupt.

Shit.

Why does everything I say always make me sound like such a dick?

I didn’t mean it in a bad way. I was intrigued by her innocence, a complete sincerity that I would refuse to believe if I hadn’t witnessed it myself. Paige Lockwood’s personality screamed “I’m a good girl,” and that pulled me to her like a moth to a flame. Stupid analogy, but call me a moth.

I’d pretty much sworn off women after my ex-girlfriend dumped me for dropping out of college and moving back home. At the time she’d broken my heart, and I had stupidly convinced myself that I’d never get over her. It was funny the shit you believed when you were blindsided by love. Or what you thought was love when you were just a kid.

Looking back, I could see that what Brina and I shared wasn’t real love. At least, not the kind that was worth a shit. I probably would have jumped in front of a train for that girl if she’d asked me to. Good thing it never came to that. My misplaced loyalty sometimes astounded me.

I drove to the shop and switched out my Chevy for the tow truck, then made my way to Paige’s broken-down car all alone on the highway. I had to admit it was a nice-looking ride, and I wouldn’t mind taking it for a spin when it was fixed. We don’t get too many foreign cars in our town, and I’d never pass up the opportunity to drive one. Maybe I really shouldn’t have acted like such an asshole to her. I’m betting she’d never let me drive it now.

Hitching the front of the car to the rig, I lifted the front end and made sure it was securely fastened to the truck before I cautiously towed it back into town. After pulling into the garage, lowering the car to the floor, and detaching the equipment, I started to close the shop’s garage door.

“Hey, Tatum. Nice car,” Brina’s voice called out from behind me. I turned around to see her and her best friend, Celeste, stopped in the middle of the street, watching me.

I shrugged. “Thanks. It’s not mine. Obviously,” I added for emphasis. Brina had expected that my football scholarship would lead to big things for me…for us. And when it didn’t, she was quick to opt out of our so-called relationship. I kissed my scholarship, college degree, and girlfriend good-bye all in the same week. It had been a really shitty week.

“That’s too bad. So, whose is it? No one I know has a BMW,” she asked, prying for information that was none of her business.