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They were impersonal

It fucking hurt that he wouldn't engage with me

"Well, let hts before they make me cry I watch as he turns to where I'd displayed the paintings and he walks down the line of them, hand to his chin as he evaluates them with a critical eye

"These are really different than your other stuff," he says casually

"I know," I say with a low , which is exactly how I've felt this hile I let s out onto the canvases

"But I like the to keep two here for the shop and I think it's time we up the price on them a little I'll send the others out to some of the local retailers"

"Aweso soet an even better price I' a steady incos account started I look past Stevie to the back "Olivia working today?"

"Nope," he says and then looks at his watch "She's getting ready for the gala tonight, and speaking of whichwhy aren't you doing the same? It starts in a few hours"

My body goes stiff at the ht of Max going there without anization, with the proceeds going to the funding of after-school activities for the underprivileged who can't afford such things It's a great cause, and one that is and should be very personal to s for my niece and nephews

"I'," I say in a whisper of a voice

"Why not?" Stevie exclaims "These parties are always so lammed up?"

"Me," I adirl I like those things I just don't have the ability to carry off the deception that I'ed into the celebrity lifestyle, and it's so painfully obvious I don't belong there "I told Max I wasn't going because I just don't like the spotlight on s have been a little strained between us"

"I straight up call bullshit on you," Stevie says dra on?"

Stevie stares atfor a nuance in et to the truth His look scares me because it tells me his bullshit ht still lie to him or even put him off with some excuse as to why I have to leave, but honestly, I want to tell him I want someone to hearthis way

I suspect I ao ahead and lay it all out there

"I'm scared of Max's world," I tell him by way of simple explanation

"Go on," he prods me with a nod

With a pained sigh, I tell hilekids has taken a toll And then Max co and has done so--that I should be over the ht?"

"Right," Stevie agrees

"Except I keep focusing in on the negative stuff and it drags me down," I admit to him, almost shamefully

Yes, sha to do

"Like what?" Stevie inquires

"Max is famous People are drawn to him Women are drawn to him He has fans so devout that some of them hate me just because I have his attention Hell, I had a wo She told er, and hell, even Max's brother questionedto raise kids and deal with their father, who's now threatening to try to get them back It's justit's too much"

I look at Stevie expectantly, because I' woman's shoulders

"So what?" Stevie says dismissively

"What?" I ask incredulously

"So What," he repeats slowly "It's really simple If you love someone--and I know you love Max--then you take the bad with the good The good totally outweighs the bad in this situation, so you ignore the bad Figure out a way to suck it up, buttercup, because that's Max's life If you want him, you take him as is"

"But--"

"He took you as is You say your life isand he said, 'So what?' He took your bad and he reveled in your good He wanted the good sowith the bad And sweetie pie, I' of you is going to go away It's not here to stay People may question your motives now, but why do you care? There will be a day when that won't happen, and even ht now? Max doesn't question you, and really, he's the only person that matters"