The calmness was all on the surface, underneath he was hurting like hell.

It was a mask, one he'd worn many times over the years; when Starla had told him she had a date to their first high school dance, when she announced to him she was engaged, when she said goodbye as she left the wedding reception for her honeymoon.

After so much wear chinks in that armor had to develop, and one now let some of his bitterness through.

"Couple parts don't make you a movie star, Starla."