The Sterling Boys(70)

Dude has seriously lost his mind.

"Sorry... I have no idea what you're talking about."

He gives me an incredulous look, as though I'm the one confusing him, and then he leans forward.

"You're Dean Easton."

Yep. He's crazy. I've heard a lot of actors are mixed in with drugs. I guess he fits the cliché.

"No. I'm Dane Sterling. You just asked me that like five minutes ago."

He laughs low and throaty while shaking his head. "No, I mean you're Dean Easton from the Easton Boys. Rain Noles's biggest new hit. They're filming, and I'm supposed to be Dean—you. Problem is, Rain has already had numerous other Deans cut, and it's looking like I'm next. So I'm here to find out how I'm supposed to be."

After opening and closing my mouth several times, I finally give up on speaking. Rain wrote a book I didn't know about?

"I've read all of Rain's books, but I've never heard of a Dean Easton. I think you're mistaken."

He laughs while grabbing the whiskey from just behind the bar and pouring himself a glass. I'd kick someone's ass for that normally, but I'm more curious than angered right now.

"That's the kind of stuff I'm talking about. Tell me more. You've read all of her books, except these, obviously. That means you're one of those guys that holds back, right? It's obvious you care about her, yet you're too scared to tell her or something? This is the depth part I need to keep Rain from kicking my ass off the set. And this will be a four-movie deal, so I really want to keep it."

"I'm... I don't... I didn't hold back from Rain. She left me. I told her I loved her, and even asked her to move in. What'd you say the name of those books were?"

He looks amused as he pulls out his phone and makes a note of what I've said.

"So she left you. Did you cheat on her or something? The books depicted you as having a constant fling with one girl or another. Is that what happened?"

Motherfucker. I'm going to strangle this douche.

"No. What'd you say the books were called?"

"It's the Easton Boys series. It's under a different pen name. So these—hey! Where are you going?" he yells as I rush away from him, weaving through the mess of people who are clearing out tables.

I'm in my car and on the road in less than a few seconds, and I head straight for the biggest bookstore in Sterling Shore. It doesn't take me long to get there, and people watch with intrigue as I dart across the parking lot.

"Dane," Cindy says as I walk in. "Do you have an order?"

I have a standing order for any book written by Rain Noles, but apparently she didn't even write it under her name this time.

"No, but I'm looking for something called the Easton Boys."

She grins huge as hearts form in her eyes. "Why can't all men read romances? You sure you can't date me?"

I force a smile. Normally I laugh, but not today. She pouts while pointing to a large center display.

"Finally branching out and reading more than just Rain Noles?" she asks as I make my way toward the sparse looking display.

"Something like that,” I mumble absently.

I start grabbing them, trying to make sure I have them all. James said four movies, so I assume there are four books.

It's then I see the title of the first book. Meeting My Easton Boys. Right under it, I see the name that makes my heart speed up. R.S. Sterling. Rain Sky Sterling.

Seeing my name on her... I only thought my heart couldn't hurt worse. Then I open the cover to read the dedication page while Cindy rattles on about things that don't interest me.

To the real Dean Easton, I've been in love with you since I was thirteen, and I always will be. Thank you for giving me all that you did. Even if we didn't get our own story.

And to my real Easton boys, you guys gave me family when I needed it the most. I love you all.

I take it back. This hurts the worst.

I start grabbing the other titles, all of them. Maybe there's an answer somewhere in these. Always Better with the Eastons. Prom Night With the Eastons. In Love with an Easton.

"Here," I mutter, shoving all four books at Cindy. "Ring these up."

"Sure. You know, if you like R.S. Sterling, then you should try—"

"Ring these up now. I need to go," I snap, cringing at what a dick I sound like.

"Yes, sir. Sorry."

Good thing I read fast. I need answers now.



My heart has swelled and broken at least thirty times while reading these. If Rain is describing how she felt for me all those years ago, she loved the hell out of me. It makes me hate myself for not telling her how I felt. But why'd she run away from me the first time if she loved me so much? And why the fuck did she leave me this time?

Everything in these books actually happened, and every detail is precise. Even down to our dialogue. It's astonishing, really. I always knew how much Rain meant to all of us, but I never realized how much we meant to her. I sure as hell never understood how much I meant to her.