Page 47 of The Publicity Stunt

Sighing, she sets the wine bottle on the spot next to the salad and leans back in the leather seat. "We're not that far from Enderlin."

Tessa nods her head. Only Tessa can fully understand. The last time Bri came out this way, she found herself bombarded with reporters and false claims made by her parents. She'd been run out of town before she could reach the hospital where Mr. Hanks stayed after having open heart surgery.

"I think I might be on the verge of a panic attack."

"They're not here," Tessa assures her. "And if they are, they'll have to deal with me. And then Kace and his family will have to deal with me. You will probably have to bail me out of jail at that point, though."

Bri forces a laugh, but she can't get her parents out of her mind. All she's wanted for years was her family. The one she had before performing, and it hurts how much they've soured what she loves at her very core. It's a wound she doesn't know will ever heal.

"Tell me about Kace."

Turning back to her best friend, she lowers eyebrows. "What about him?"

"Have you finally... you know?"

"Finally... what?"

Tessa glares at her. "Really? You're gonna make me say it? Fine! Have you finally let him take you to pound town?"

Bri doesn't have to force this laugh, and she's thankful for the divider between her security team in the front seat and the two of them in the back. She bends forward, holding her stomach, as she continues to laugh. "What did you just say?"

Laughing right alongside her, Tessa slaps her own leg. "It just came out. I don't even know."

She wipes her eyes as she sits back up. "Oh, I needed that laugh. Thank you."

"You're welcome. But don't think you're getting out of answering the question. Have you finally let him see you naked?"

Biting her lip, she just looks at the floor. "Maybe."

"Oh my God!" Tessa shrieks. "Really? When?"

"There have been multiple occasions," she says and looks at Tessa. "The first night was when he surprised me in Chicago."

Her eyes widen. "How could you keep this from me?"

"I know you're still upset about Trevor and everything, and I didn't want to rub my relationship in your face."

"Wait, wait, wait. Does this mean you two are more than just fake dating?"

Nodding her head, she can't hold back the smile on her face. "The interview I gave saying we were together was real. We talked about it the night before. In bed. Naked. He said there was nothing fake about what we're doing."

"Is it big?"

"What?" Bri gasps.

Tessa tilts her head. "He's a freaking giant. Is it as big as you'd expect from someone so, you know, ginormous?"

Should Bri really talk about this with her? "It's not small."

"Oh my God!" she giggles and stomps the floor. "How big?"

"I didn't measure it!"

"I miss sex, but based on the blush you have right now, this was better than any time you had with Easton."

Looking away, she wills her face to stop giving her away any time she's embarrassed. "Mmhmm."

"Brianna!"

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