by J. Sterling
Tatum: No, absolutely not. It’s nothing like that. Let’s just say that when things got difficult, I pushed her away.
Wendy: I’m sure it can’t be easy for someone like you to date a world-famous celebrity. You seem so normal, Tatum.
Tatum: (Laughs) I am. And no, it’s not easy. But Paige is worth it. And that’s where I messed up, Wendy. I let her walk away from me. Things got scary, and I got uncomfortable and I let her go. But I was wrong. Because Paige Lockwood isn’t the kind of girl you push out of your life; she’s the kind of girl you run toward. The kind you fight for and pray like hell she’ll take you back after you’ve been an idiot of epic proportion.
Wendy: Wow. I hope all the guys across the country are taking notes tonight because this is how you do it. That’s one heck of an apology. I hope Paige accepts it.
“Mom, I have to go,” I said as tears streamed down my face.
“Yes, you do. Go accept that boy’s apology. And then bring him over here for dinner!” she shouted after me as I ran to my car.
• • •
After pulling to a screeching stop into Quinn’s driveway, I all but sprinted inside the front doors. The camera crews had already packed up and gone, but I could hear the sound of Tatum and Ryson’s voices filling the air as I rushed through the house.
“Tatum!” I shouted as the sound of a chair scooting across the tile floor hit my ears.
“Paige!”
We both rounded corners at the same time and stopped at opposite sides of the kitchen.
“I’m so sorry,” he said, then took a tentative step toward me.
I bolted toward him and surprised him by jumping into his waiting arms. Wrapping my legs around his waist, I squeezed him as tightly as I could.
“I can’t believe you went on TV,” I said softly against his neck.
He shivered, and I smiled to myself as his grip on me tightened. He pulled his head back, his eyes meeting mine.
“I did it for you. And Quinn helped. A lot.”
“Yeah, I did,” she shouted from somewhere in the dining room.
Tatum rested his forehead against mine, a smile on his lips. “I love you, Paige.”
“I love you too,” I admitted for the first time as my previously cracked heart clicked into place, making me feel whole.
“I’m so damn sorry for how I reacted. I can’t promise you that I’ll never act like a dumbass ever again, but I can promise that I’ll try. I meant every word I said tonight. You’re worth it. I should have fought for you, and I’m so sorry I didn’t.”
“Shut up. God, just shut up already.”
I crushed my mouth against his, all my feelings pouring out as I reacquainted myself with his mouth. I kissed him for all the days we’d been apart, as well as all the nights I’d dreamed of him, wishing we were still together.
As I unwrapped my legs from around his hips, he lowered me gently to the floor, his hands never breaking contact with my body, our mouths still connected.
“Jeez, get a room already,” Ryson pretended to complain as he walked past us.
We pulled apart, smiles on both our faces. “Maybe we can christen the Jungle room since you’re a boy and Quinn never lets me stay in there?” I asked loud enough for Quinn to hear, and she groaned.
“Damn it, Paige, what is it with you and that room?”
“Can’t we go home instead?” Tatum looked down at me, looking happier and more relaxed than I’d ever seen him.
“Home? Like my home?”
“Yes, Paige. Your home. Our home. Whatever. Let’s go home,” he insisted, and who was I to argue.
Epilogue
Paige
Six months later
Tatum moved in that night after the interview. Actually, he just never left. My family met him soon after. They not only forgave him for hurting me, but practically gave their blessing for our future wedding and kids, something Tatum and I hadn’t even talked about yet. It had been a little awkward, but secretly I craved their approval and was thrilled at how much they seemed to love and accept him.
Aside from flying back home once to pack a single bag of his things, Tatum refused to be away from me. It was during that trip home that his mom finally told him that his dad had left a life insurance policy for them. She’d put aside half the money for Tatum when the time was right, and when she presented him with a check for almost two hundred thousand dollars, he refused to take it. That was, until his mom reminded him that she had the other half and would not be hurting for money if he left her on her own.
Our moving in together might have seemed crazy to some, too soon to others, but it felt right to us. It still does. We both knew that if he moved all the way out here and I forced him to rent his own place purely out of principle, it would be a complete waste. Rental property in Los Angeles was overpriced and ridiculously expensive. And that was something I didn’t feel right about doing—wasting his family’s money when it wasn’t necessary. Plus, waking up in his arms each morning was the highlight of my day.
I got accepted into UCLA and started attending classes in the fall. It was a difficult adjustment, way harder than I’d anticipated, and I’m not sure how long I’ll keep attending. The students in my classes did a lot of staring at first, but no one really talked to me, so I ended up feeling very out of place and alone. People talked about me, but never included me in the conversation. It was as if they were too afraid to approach me, but weren’t afraid to stare at me and make things awkward.
Tatum promised me that it would eventually die down, and he kept encouraging me to give them more time. I didn’t believe him, but he was right.
Despite what Jayson said, my career didn’t falter. I still did the occasional audition when the part was too good to pass up, not wanting to put my career completely on hold while I went to school. Plus, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss acting at all. I missed it more than I ever thought I would, so with Madison’s help, we attempted to find a balance until I figured it all out. So far, so good.
Hiring Madison has been the best career decision I’ve made so far. Working with her is like a dream come true. Having her and Walker as good friends has been an added bonus, and when we all get together with Quinn and Ryson, it’s always a loud and fun time.
It’s been exciting to make normal friends and talk about normal, everyday things with people. But Tatum was also right all those months ago—my life will never truly be normal. Despite that, this experience that I’ve fought so hard for has been thrilling. Even the homework doesn’t bother me, much to the chagrin of my new friends who constantly call me crazy.
Hell, maybe I was, and maybe I am. I don’t care, though; I like the new me. Being crazy has its perks.
Tatum
After my interview, it didn’t take long for the press to find out exactly where I’d been born and raised. They bombarded Hanford with camera crews and reporters, taking over my tiny town. Paige had freaked out, feeling responsible for ruining the place, but the truth was that she helped give it new life. My mom’s bed and breakfast was filled to capacity on most weekends now, thanks to the busloads of tourists that Paige’s visit had inspired. Everyone wanted to sleep where Paige Lockwood had slept. Even the swimming hole had become a tourist attraction for families and couples.
My dad’s garage did more business in the last six months then we’d done in the last six years. Whenever I started to feel guilty about not being there to run the place, my mom reminded me that they were doing just fine and that I wasn’t missed.
I knew she was lying about the last part because she’s been out here to visit me and Paige three times already since I moved. As much as I love living here with my girl, I love it even more when my mom comes to visit. She claims that once she retires, she’s moving here. Nothing would make me happier than having both my girls in one place.
Yeah, I know, I’m a total mama’s boy. I don’t even care.
I’ve been working with Walker Rhodes at his studio. I never inten
ded to let Paige pull any strings for me, but when her agent, Madison, set up a dinner at their Malibu house to welcome me to town, well, Walker and I bonded instantly the same way that Ryson and I had.
Creative people tended to gravitate toward one another, I soon realized. After several beers, Walker convinced me to play a couple of songs I’d written about Paige for him. He got on the phone with someone the instant I finished, and when he hung up, he shook my hand.
“We have a deal,” he said with a smile.
“A deal?” I asked, not sure what the hell he was talking about.
“I want those songs. Both of them. I’ll buy them, but I want you to produce them with me. Come up with a few more to show me next time we get together. You’re really talented, man, and your sound is fresh. LA needs someone like you, but I want you first,” he said with a laugh.
“Are you shitting me right now?” I couldn’t believe that it was happening this easily and quickly. But then I remembered that nothing in my life had really come easily to me. I had sacrificed my own dreams for years. When you’re so used to failing, success feels foreign. I suppose when things are meant to be, they fall into place effortlessly. This was the best I’d felt about life and my future since high school. And high school felt like a thousand years ago.
“Dead serious,” Walker said. “I want the songs. You help me produce. You’ll get writing credit on the album, which means you’ll make money on each sale of the songs you write for me that we release. I’m so excited, man. I want to go in the studio now and record this, but Madison will kill me if we don’t get back out there.” He patted my shoulder.
“Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.” I didn’t know what else to say.
“I know you do. I like helping out good people, and Paige is good people. I can tell you are too. Welcome to LA, man.”
We walked out of his home studio and back to where our girls sat on the balcony overlooking the Pacific Ocean. I’d only seen houses like this in the movies, and now I was having dinner in one.
How was this my life? I glanced down at my short-haired brunette beauty and smiled, wondering how on earth I had ever gotten so lucky, and promised myself that I’d never let her go, no matter what life threw at us. I would never walk away, push her aside, or leave her ever again. I planned on marrying that girl someday.
But probably not before Ryson and Quinn tied the knot.
Coming Soon
Coming next in The Celebrity Series: Losing Stars – Quinn and Ryson’s story.
About the Author
Jenn Sterling is a Southern California native who loves writing stories from the heart. Every story she tells has pieces of her truth in it, as well as her life experience. She has her bachelor’s degree in Radio/TV/Film and has worked in the entertainment industry the majority of her life.
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If you enjoyed this book, please consider writing a spoiler-free review on the site from which you purchased it. And thank you so much for helping me spread the word about my books, and for allowing me to continue telling the stories I love to tell. I appreciate you.
Also by J. Sterling
In Dreams
Chance Encounters
10 Years Later- A Second Chance Romance
The Game Series:
The Perfect Game - Book One
The Game Changer - Book Two
The Sweetest Game - Book Three
The Celebrity Series:
Seeing Stars- Madison & Walker
Breaking Stars- Paige & Tatum
Losing Stars- Quinn & Ryson (Coming Soon)
Heartless, A Serial:
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Heartless, The Box Set
Episodes 1- 3
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