Breaking Stars - J. Sterling Page 0,41

middle of nowhere with no one to find them.” She laughed, tossing her head back, and her fiery hair fell from around her shoulders and spilled onto her back.

“You made it.” Brina leaned in to give me a quick hug and my defenses sharpened.

“Yep.”

Brina looked me up and down before commenting, “Nice boots.”

I looked down. “Oh, thanks. They’re Mrs. Montgomery’s.”

Her eyes widened as her lips pressed tightly together. She turned to look at Tatum, who was busy talking with a group of guys, drinks in hand. When he didn’t acknowledge her, she turned back to me. “It’s nice that you get along so well with her.”

I wasn’t sure what she meant exactly. Was she hinting that she and Mrs. Montgomery hadn’t gotten along when she dated Tatum? I couldn’t imagine that, so I dropped it, hoping I could ask Tatum about it later.

A strong hand found its way onto my lower back once again and I leaned into it after making sure it belonged to Tatum. “Here’s your tea.” He handed me a red plastic cup filled to the brim.

“You didn’t spike this, did you?” I asked playfully, peering up at him through my eyelashes.

He took a swig of his beer before winking. “Want to get out of here?”

“But we just got here,” I said, disappointed. “And you’re drinking.”

“No. I meant here,” he gestured to the crowd still surrounding me, “away from the crowd and picture taking.”

I looked around, wondering what exactly he had in mind before I agreed, not that it really mattered. I’d follow Tatum anywhere he wanted. “I guess.”

“Come on.” He reached for my hand and interlaced our fingers before pulling me away. I waved my cup at Celeste, who had a smile ten feet wide plastered on her face, and Brina, who wore a scowl about the same size.

“Where are we going?” I whispered.

“Just over to my truck.”

We walked to the back where Tatum lowered the tailgate and placed our drinks on the ground. He spread out a thick blanket he had brought across the bed of the truck, then hopped in. “Hand me the drinks, please,” he drawled, and I happily obliged. Putting them down, he reached out a hand to pull me up. Two beanbag chairs were pressed against the cab of the truck, and he straightened them out before sitting down on one and patting the other one for me.

I plopped down next to him and looked up at the darkening sky. I’d never seen so many stars before and it was barely dusk. LA had too many lights that drowned out the night’s sky almost completely. Even during nights when I thought I could see a lot of stars, it was nothing compared to this. I found myself wishing again that a camera would do any of this justice, but I knew it was up to my memory to capture the view and hold on to it.

“It’s beautiful out here,” I said before turning to look at Tatum.

“It sure is,” he said, looking straight at me.

I felt myself blush as I wished he’d let me wrap myself up in his arms. The kiss on the cheek made me want more from him, but I was too scared to initiate anything physical. Tatum could make me feel amazing and wanted one second, and discarded the next.

“So, are you having fun yet?” He leaned his head against the back of his makeshift seat.

“I am. Everyone’s really nice.”

He grinned. “They didn’t leave you alone the second they found out who you were. How many autographs did you sign, Paige? How many pictures did you take?”

I shrugged my shoulders, not knowing or caring what the answer was. This type of thing was part of my job, and I was used to it. But there was a niggling in the back of my mind. A realization had forced its way through and I frowned.

“What’s wrong?”

“Just thinking,” I admitted and forced a slight smile.

“About what?”

“Nothing. Everything. I don’t know.” I shrugged, stumbling on my words, my thoughts, my emotions.

“Why are you really here?” he asked. “There’s more to the story than what you’ve told me.”

“Of course there’s more to the story. We’ve barely talked at all. I mean, I try to talk and you get all pissy and shut down.”

He looked away briefly. “I know. I just…”

“You’re not good at making small talk. I know. You’ve told me that one already,” I said for him. “More than once.”

“That wasn’t what I was going to say. Smartass,” he teased.

“Oh.”