“I had nothing to do with that love note or any letters for that matter!” he barked.

I had never told Kyle about the letter I found in Ryan’s hotel room until now. How did he know it was a love note?

I smiled. “You couldn’t find any dirt on him, could you? That week you were there poking your nose around – you came up empty-handed! Ryan has been completely faithful to me, and when you couldn’t find any evidence, you fabricated your own.”

Kyle scoffed. “Maybe if you’d bother to open your eyes for two seconds and look at reality, you’d see that actors never stay in relationships for very long. They trade up every chance they get. The way I see it, things couldn’t have happened at a better time. You needed a wake-up call to see how things really are.”

“You’re incorrigible!” I bellowed.

“You think that someone like Christensen is going to stay with you for the next forty years? I highly doubt it. There were so many hot women walking around down there on his movie set… he may be strong enough to resist now early on in this thing, but give it time and he’ll cave. You should be happy that you didn’t waste a lot of time on him - save yourself from further humiliation when he dumps you for one of his own kind.”

I stared blankly at him for a few minutes while I concocted my next plan.

“You’re right, Kyle. You’re absolutely right,” I sniffed, pretending to finally give up hope and faking sudden extreme sadness. I leaned up on the wall. “I’ve been deluding myself to think that I could have a future with Ryan. How could I be so naïve? Lauren is gorgeous. I can’t compete with her.”

I wiped my eyes, hoping my acting was Oscar-worthy. “I’m going to end it,” I murmured, nodding to confirm my decision. “Then I won’t be in Lauren’s way anymore and I won’t get my heart broken again.”

I took an embellished, stuttering breath. “I’m not even close to being in the same league. Lauren is so much more sophisticated and cultured than I am. She’s a famous celebrity and I’m… nothing,” I said sadly, playing up my self-deprecation. “A nobody from Seaport.”

I inconspicuously placed myself next to the security keypad as I continued my dramatic performance.

“I can’t blame any man for not being able to resist her. You’re right… Ryan will be better off with her. I realize that now. Lauren knows what it takes to have a high-profile relationship. She’s probably a much better lover than I am too,” I said, acting completely dejected.

Kyle scoffed. “I’ve had better,” he muttered.

As soon as the words slipped from his mouth, he realized he had made a fatal mistake. “Babe, you are so much more desirable than she is!

Don’t ever put yourself down like that,” he encouraged, approaching me slowly.

“Stop,” I breathed out, ordering him to stay where he was. “I know I’m better than she is, after all, you just confirmed that she’s nothing more than a manipulative whore. I’m surprised you two aren’t madly in love with each other, considering that you are so much alike!”

“Taryn!” he bellowed, taking another step.

“Don’t come any closer! All I have to do is tap it and the police will come immediately,” I informed confidently, my index finger hovered over the illuminated button on the security keypad.

“Forced entry, the bruise on my forehead from when you hit me with the door, a few tears and you’ll be handcuffed in no time. Can you still be a bodyguard with a police record?”

“Taryn, please, don’t! It was an accident! I’ll lose my job!” he pleaded.

“That didn’t seem to concern you while you were fucking Lauren in her trailer or conveniently waiting to rescue me in Miami!”

“Just hold on, all right?” Kyle requested urgently.

“I’m done holding on! Start talking or so help me I’m going to press it!” I threatened.

“She came on to me – not the other way around,” he informed, holding out a cautioning hand to keep me from being hasty and pressing the button.

“You’re such a liar!” I said mockingly.

“I’m telling you the truth! We had a few drinks. She threw herself at me!”

I laughed. “And of course you took her up on her offer! Your final gesture to Ryan to make sure that if he did take her back, he got her back… used.”

I heard my front door open; it was easy to distinguish subtle sounds in my home.

“And the letter?” I bellowed.

“The letter was her idea, not mine. She planned it. Just don’t…”

“I’m sure you can run before the cops get here, but where would you run to? I’ll petition the court to grant a PFA order on you. It probably won’t take more than an hour or so, after all, this was assault,” I mused, rubbing the tender spot on my forehead. “I wonder what a protection order would do to your career.”

“Okay, okay! Just don’t,” Kyle begged. “I can’t have a record. I’ll lose everything. Baby, please…”

“I’m not your baby!” I firmly stated. “Kyle, how could you ever think we’d be able to have a healthy relationship with you hurting me like this?”

“I love you, Taryn! Everything I did, I did out of love! I just couldn’t stand idly by and watch him destroy you! It was killing me!”

“This isn’t love, this is sickness. You destroyed me, Kyle. Not Ryan. You! You ripped my heart out!” I screamed at him.

“I never meant to hurt you!” he said with conviction.

“Taryn, are you all right?” Pete yelled from the other side of the door.

“Yes,” I quickly replied, watching surprise and shock coat Kyle’s face.

“The police are on their way. Is he armed?” Pete asked. I could hear the sirens.

Kyle’s eyes widened with fear. “No,” he uttered.

“He says he’s not armed,” I yelled back to my friends.

Pete plowed the door open; he had my baseball bat in his hand, ready to swing. Marie was right behind him.

“You just keep away from her!” Pete threatened, waving the bat at Kyle.

“I’m not going to hurt her.” Kyle’s derisive inflection was noticeable.

Marie tried to pull me out of the hallway and into the kitchen – to safety, I presumed.

“Taryn!” Kyle called out. “Please? I’m sorry! I can’t go to jail!”