“Taryn… Honey, there are some people I want to introduce you to, if you’re finished with your conversation here?” Ryan inquired. The tone of his

comment clearly indicated I was to end my conversation - now.

I was enjoying talking to Kyle, but apparently Ryan’s tolerance had reached its limit.

“I guess I’ll talk to you later,” Kyle said, slightly irritated. He tried to appear unaffected by Ryan’s attitude, but the anger and resentment was

evident.

“Excuse me, Kyle. Please, enjoy the party.” I gently smiled, trying to hide my embarrassment.

Ryan took my hand and pulled me along through the crowd. He was towing me towards the poolroom, but I yanked him towards the empty

space by the kitchen door instead.

“What?” Ryan’s tone was curt.

“What’s the problem, Honey?” I asked sweetly, curbing the anger that was starting to swell. It was time for us to have this discussion. I let it go

when he first dismissed Kyle from our security detail but this jealous attitude needed to stop.

“What do you mean?” His eyes scrunched together, looking at me like he didn’t understand my question.

“I was just talking to him. I don’t understand why you’re being like this,” I whispered, thinking he didn’t trust me.

“I don’t like the way he looks at you, all right?” he growled.

“I don’t get it. How does he look at me, Ryan?” He was being ridiculous.

He scoffed at me, like I was missing the point. “What? You don’t see it? I’m pretty sure you know when you’re getting hit on, Taryn.”

I rolled my eyes. “Please,” I chided.

“I just don’t want you to accidentally give him the wrong impression, that’s all,” he said calmly.

I sighed heavily. “Ryan, I love you. There is no reason for you to distrust me.”

“I trust you, but I don’t trust him.” Ryan nodded his chin in Kyle’s direction.

When I looked over my shoulder, Kyle had a cocky smile on his face and he raised his beer bottle in the air to acknowledge us.

“You worry over nothing,” I groaned. “Now can we go back to having a good time?”

“Yeah, I guess,” Ryan muttered. “I’m sorry.”

“Just shut up and kiss me, you fool!” I teased, slipping my fingers over the edge of the front pockets of his jeans.

“There he is!” Tammy shouted. She hurried over to where we stood. She grabbed one of Ryan’s arms; Marie forcefully removed his other arm

from around my waist.

“Time to blow out your candles, Birthday Boy!” Marie announced as they hauled him off to the food table. Tammy had baked an enormous

birthday cake and we all sang to Ryan before he blew the candles out.

Everyone was having a great time; people were dancing, shooting pool, and playing darts. Ryan’s friends were attempting to get him wasted

but he reached a point where he refused to do any more shots.

I did the proper girlfriend thing and stayed away from Kyle as much as possible, even though he did try to talk to me several times.

I noticed that Suzanne and Francesca sat at the bar all night. Cory was leaning across the bar, flirting tough with Francesca. He even got away

with touching her hair a few times. She was smiling and pretending to be shy, but she was definitely engaging Cory’s advances.

Scott and Suzanne were hitting it off tremendously. She was touching him, squeezing his arm muscles, and laughing at everything he said.

Despite outward appearances, she still knew where Ryan was at all times.

It was getting late and many of our guests had already left.

“Do you mind if I take off?” Cory asked, his eyes slid over in Francesca’s direction. Suzanne and Scott were practically wrestling with each

other; they couldn’t keep their hands to themselves. Francesca stood by the door, waiting impatiently and staring at Cory while he talked to me.

“They invited us back to their hotel,” he admitted.

For some reason, I wasn’t too surprised.

“Go ahead. Have fun. Wait, are you driving?” I asked.

“Yeah, it’s okay though, I stopped drinking a while ago. I want to remember every detail of the next couple of hours if you know what I mean!”

Cory smiled smugly and flashed his eyes back to Francesca. “I’ll bring Ryan’s buddy back tomorrow.”

“Hey where are they going?” Ryan stopped dead in his tracks and wheeled around when he noticed Scott leaving. Scott didn’t even

acknowledge Ryan; he was completely focused on other things.

Slowly the rest of our guests departed and it was almost three in the morning when I turned off the lights. I planned to clean up the bar in the

morning. I had more important things to take care of.

Matt and Laura were stowed away comfortably in the guestroom. I closed our bedroom door and smiled in disbelief.

My birthday boy was sprawled out on our bed, wearing nothing but his birthday suit and a slightly drunken grin… waiting for his birthday present.

Chapter 24 - Sobering

“What the hell happened to Scott last night?” Matt asked, stuffing another piece of bacon in his mouth. Laura was taking her turn in the shower.

“He left with Suzanne,” Ryan answered. “Maybe she won’t be so bitchy now.” He chuckled to himself.

“Hopefully Cory gave Fran someone new to think about, too.” I winked.

Ryan smiled at me over his cup of coffee.

Once everyone was showered, dressed, and fed I went downstairs to clean up the pub. I was clearing off the tables when Ryan popped through

the door. He started to gather the garbage.

“What can we do to help?” Laura asked. I was thankful that I had willing hands to help clean up the remains of Ryan’s birthday party.

“I still can’t believe you did this!” Ryan said, kissing me on one of his trips past. “How long have you been conspiring behind my back?” he

asked.

“A couple of weeks. Your friends were more than willing to be in on the surprise.”

“Matt told me you made him look you up on the Internet,” Ryan teased.

“Yeah! He didn’t believe you had a girlfriend!” I poked him in the stomach and went to answer the doorbell.

“Hey! There they are!” Ryan’s voice boomed when he saw Cory and Scott walk through the front door.

“Man! What the hell is it with all the photographers and chicks out there?” Scott motioned with his thumb, pointing to the door. “Don’t they ever

go home?”

“No. They live here now. They’re like zombies that don’t die when the sun comes up.” I laughed at my own comment.

“So how was your night, Scott?” Ryan gave him a teasing nudge in the arm.

Scott’s eyes narrowed. “What do you think? I made her fucking night… several times!” he boasted. “She’s a screamer, that girl!”

He held up a small, white plastic bag in his hand. “Good thing we stopped at the drug store on our way back. I’m planning on making her scream

again tonight.”

Ryan’s face puckered up. He grabbed Scott’s arm and hauled him off into the poolroom. I didn’t care much for Suzanne, but she was Ryan’s costar

and a celebrity - she had no privacy either. There were enough rumors and scandals floating around in the media about the Seaside cast

already. Suzanne’s indiscretions didn’t need to be added to the pile. I was sure that Ryan was going to tell him the same thing.

“Francesca and Suzanne are planning on coming here tonight,” Cory quietly informed me. “I hope you don’t mind.”

I shrugged and shook my head. It didn’t bother me, as long as Fran wasn’t here to see Ryan. But I was wise enough to know things like this

could have powerful ripple effects.

“Cory, I’m not going to tell you what you can and cannot do, but you do realize that Fran is a celebrity. I hope you keep your private activities with

her private and discreet. Understand?”

“Yeah, I understand. I know what I’ve gotten myself into. Don’t worry, I’m not going to be like that guy and announce stuff to the world.” He