“If he’s so stupid, what does that make me?”

“Damn it, Paige! That’s what I’m trying to get through that skull of yours. He is not you. His actions do not define you. They define him. HIM!” she shouted at me, her frustration rolling from her in waves. “They make statements about his character, not yours. How you handle yourself and how you react to all of this shit will speak volumes about you.”

The glass door behind us slid open and Ryson called out across the yard as he walked toward us. “My two favorite ladies.”

“I’m sorry,” Quinn whispered. “I didn’t mean to yell at you. I know you’re hurting right now, but I just really hate him and I want to kick him in the balls for being such an asshole.”

I sucked in a quick breath and then slowly released it. Quinn’s theory was most likely right, but that didn’t stop me from feeling like complete crap. No one could deny the fact that when one half of a relationship did something tabloid-worthy, the other half usually got dragged through the mud as well.

Ryson leaned down and planted a kiss on Quinn’s mouth before giving me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “How are you doing, babe?”

I tried to force a fake smile, but failed, so I shrugged my shoulders instead.

“I’ll kick his ass. He better not come anywhere near me, Paige, I swear. I’ll break his perfect little smug face.” He smirked as he said it and my mood lightened. The idea of Ryson beating Colin to a pulp was definitely enticing.

“I appreciate the offer.” I hesitated, knowing he most likely meant every single word he said and that I really shouldn’t encourage him. “But he’s not worth it.”

“Let me know if you change your mind. It would be my pleasure to teach Colin a lesson.” Ryson punched his left hand against his right palm. “Or twelve. Seriously. Just say the word.”

“Oh Lord, Ryson. Stop. She’s had enough for one day.” Quinn kicked at him with her bare feet, and he grabbed one and started to tickle the bottom of it. She squirmed and screamed, begging him to stop.

“Say you love me,” he teased, his fingers still prancing along her arch.

Quinn’s lips pressed stubbornly together, and he only attacked her feet with more fervor than before.

I rolled my eyes behind my sunglasses and lay back against my chair, all too familiar with their antics.

“Say it, Quinn, or I’ll never stop tickling you and you’ll die.”

“You’re not the boss of me,” she huffed out between fits of laughter.

“I beg to differ,” Ryson said, moving his hands up her sides.

“You’re so stubborn, Quinn AmberLynn Johnson! Just say it!” I shouted as I turned my gaze in their direction and fought back my laughter.

For as long as I could remember, Quinn and I made up fake middle names for each other and used them whenever we tried to get the other’s attention. The more ridiculous the middle name, the more fun it was.

She bolted upright in an attempt to stop his fingers from moving and squealed to Ryson, “Okay, okay. I love you. Please stop.” Then she turned to me and said incredulously, “AmberLynn? Really?”

I shrugged as Ryson planted a soft kiss on top of her nose and asked, “Was that really so difficult, AmberLynn?”

Quinn frowned. “Obviously.”

“Obviously,” he mimicked, and he wandered back inside just as my phone blared out the ringtone for Colin.

“Ooh, give me the phone!” Quinn practically shouted as she reached for me. “Please! Please let me talk to him!” She reached toward me, nearly falling off her chair as she grabbed at m

y phone.

“You’re not talking to him. Stop acting crazy,” I said, slapping her hands away as I pressed Ignore and breathed out in relief.

“This isn’t acting, honey,” she drawled, waggling her eyebrows.

I almost laughed. I’d done a lot of that today. Almost smiling. Almost laughing. Almost forgetting that my screwed-up love life was currently splashed across every tabloid and entertainment channel across the country. Squeezing my eyes closed, I couldn’t stop a few new tears that forced their way out. I sniffed and wiped them with the back of my hand.

Quinn reached over and patted my shoulder. “Hey, don’t cry. Are you okay?”

“I don’t want to talk to him. And as angry as I am at him right now, I’m also hurt. Is that stupid?”

Tags: J. Sterling The Celebrity Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net