"Not going to let them bring us down, honey," Romeo reminded him as he stretched his arms up over his head with a slow intake of breath. "I think it's amusing how much my presence bothers them. Honestly, I work so hard, a little comedic relief is always welcome. I don't even have to try to piss them off now, just the mention of my name manages it. The difference between them, and between Justin and Billy is that they don't have anything to fight for to know what should be valued in life. Billy and Justin do. Maybe thinking they might actually lose you will help them dig their heads out of their asses. I don't think it's any remote coincidence that they're they're both single and have a problem with you dating. Sour grapes."

He exhaled as he brought his arms down again and then his hands came to rest in his lap as he gave Winston a sympathetic tilt of his head. "I'm glad you're happy. That counts as something, right? I've confided in you about things I would never talk to so many weak, two-faced people in this business. I know I can trust you, and you're an amazing listener. I don't care if they think I'm a bitch, darling. If they're thinking I'm a bitch, it means they're threatened. And if they're threatened, they're lacking in their own self-confidence. I'm not... and it's taken me a long time to get to this place. I can't let people like them pull me down again. If they give me a reason to play nice, I'll play nice. Ball's in their court. Now come here and kiss me."