I turned slightly to look at him. I was wondering if he’d be able to look me in the eyes while he spewed his lies. I found myself shifting from fear to anger.

“So which one of you came up with the panties idea? Was it you or Lauren who thought that one up?” I asked angrily as I rubbed my throbbing wrist. “It was a nice touch, actually. I didn’t check the wastebaskets, but I’m pretty sure I would have found a used condom lying out in the open too… am I right?”

“There you go, jumping to conclusions again,” he said emphatically.

“How much did you pay the bellboy to deliver it? I hope you paid him well to be part of your devious plan, or am I to believe that Lauren masterminded the whole thing?”

Kyle stared at me incredulously, like I was crazy.

“So you’re telling me that pretty boy was caught red-handed with some other chick’s underwear laying about and yet he still managed to convince you that he didn’t fuck around on you?” he asked, laughing slightly while questioning my sanity. “Boy, are you gullible!”

I looked down at the garnet ring that Ryan had placed on my finger, remembering the words he had engraved inside it – “My heart is yours.” I became furious for allowing myself to fall victim to Kyle’s underhanded plan.

“Ryan loves me,” I said in defense while random memories and different voices flashed through my thoughts. Taryn, you’re the one he wants to…; there are other things I can’t say – yes, I believe him; better that all this happened now instead of having Ryan leave you after you’re…; if you only knew…; get used to spending your husband’s… “Ryan was going to propose to me,” I whispered out, finally realizing what everyone had been keeping secret. “You found out he was going to propose, didn’t you?” My eyes locked on Kyle’s, watching his reaction. Kyle’s lips pursed together. I obviously hit a nerve.

“Ryan told Lauren, thinking it was safe to tell her about his plans since she was already in a committed relationship… and Lauren told you!

That’s why Ryan wants proof that Lauren lied about still being with Lucas!”

It was all making sense now.

Kyle frowned. I could see the expression change on his face as he switched tactics.

“I don’t give a shit about them! I only care about you. There is something here, Taryn!” He gestured between us. “It’s powerful, and I know that you feel it too. Just give me a chance to take care of you… to love you like you deserve to be loved and have a normal life without all the public

scrutiny, maybe even raise a family. You’re kind and caring, smart and strong…”

“Oh, cut the bullshit, Kyle. You knew! Didn’t you? Just fucking admit it!” I yelled at him.

“Admit that I knew what? That Christensen is all wrong for you? How being involved with someone in a different league unnecessarily risks your life every fucking day? Do you know how much it pains me to see the woman I love wasting her efforts on some sleazy, two-bit actor?”

My mouth dropped open from his admission.

“There, I said it. Now you know,” he uttered in defeat. “I’m in love with you, Taryn.”

Kyle took one step forward, but I held my hands up to stop him before he got any closer.

I was shocked. How could Kyle possibly be so in love me? We never spent any quality time together, getting to know one another on any deeper levels. Our relationship was so superficial, we were barely even friends.

There was an attraction, but it was purely physical – at least it was for me anyway – and we never acted on it. “They scream that they love me… how could they even say that?” I heard Ryan’s voice say. Kyle was just as pathetic as some of Ryan’s fans.

“You don’t love me, Kyle,” I said softly.

“Don’t tell me how I feel!” he shouted angrily.

“You don’t really want the shiny toy – you just don’t want the other boy to have the shiny toy,” I concluded. “You’re jealous and angry that someone like Ryan would fish in the same pond as you.”

“You don’t belong in that world, Taryn! If you truly believed you did, you would have never left Florida! But you walked away, devastated, because deep down inside you know how easily you can be replaced!” he said irately, pointing his index finger at me.

“I’ve had unemployed losers easily replace me with strippers, Kyle! Ryan’s career choice has nothing to do with this! Besides, whether Ryan is still in the picture or not, it wouldn’t matter.”