Page 56 of The Publicity Stunt

"I thought he loved me," she says, more tears falling. "Tessa, this hurts. It feels... It feels like someone just ripped my heart from my chest and threw it in a blender."

Rocking with her, she runs a hand over her greasy, sweaty hair. "I know it does."

"No, I don't think you understand," she sobs. "This hurts more than losing my family and being left alone."

"I know it feels that way-"

"I fell in love. So completely in love because for the first time, it felt like someone could see me. Brianna. Not Bri Waters, just me. That he saw me for more than what I could do for him, and I let my guard down. I trusted him, and I told him things. Things I don't tell anyone but you, and I was nothing more than a publicity stunt for him. God, he introduced me to his family! I started to believe I could finally have what I wanted more than anything."

Nia walks over and crouches down. "Bri, I am so sorry. This is all my fault. Neo and I came up with this plan, and I don't blame you if you want to fire me. I'll resign if you want me to."

Tears blur her vision, and she shakes her head. "I don't want that. I want... I want... I don't want to do this anymore."

"Do what?" Tessa asks, and she sounds even more alarmed than before.

"I don't want to perform anymore. I don't want to be a superstar. It's done nothing but take everything from me. Everyone I meet wants to use me for their own personal gain. I can't do it anymore."

Rubbing a hand on her back, Nia sits on the ground and rocks with them. "He was just a guy, Bri. A loser, asshole guy."

Bri stiffens and shakes her head. "No, he wasn't. I don't know how to explain it, but when I was with him, I felt... I felt more like me than I ever have. The version I always thought I could be but never quite could reach before."

"That was still you, babe," Tessa says.

"No, it wasn't. With him, I was strong. In a way, I felt safe and protected, which made it possible to be strong. And he had this way of looking at me with such amazement. Like I was a Wonder of the World or something. No one has ever looked at me that way before. Ever. God, he should stop being a hockey player and go into acting. He put on such a great act."

"Bri, what do you want me to do here? Do you want me to put out a statement saying that Kace Lyons lied because you dumped him, and his teammates and friends wanted to help him save face? I can spin that and make him a social pariah. He'll get nothing but bad press, and then hopefully his team never makes it to the playoffs," Nia says.

Shaking her head, Bri lets out a shaky breath. "No, don't lie. You can put out a statement that we met under the pretenses of a fake relationship, but we wanted to try it for real. Or, at least, I thought it was real."

"Bri, that gives him all the power," Tessa says and looks her in the eyes.

She can't help the dry chuckle. "When have I ever had the power? I got my heart broken. I lost. Everything I thought I had and could have disappeared with one interview. There's absolutely nothing to fight for."

"Dignity."

She stands. "I don't remember the last time I had any dignity. Not since before my parents tried to put me into a conservatorship to control me. I sure as hell won't have any if we lie and make Kace look even worse than he already does. Tell them the truth, Nia. It started that way, but I fell in love. And I was stupid enough to believe he was falling, too, but it seems he was not."

"Where are you going?" Tessa asks.

"I really, really need a shower. And then I think a bottle of some type of really strong liquor is on tonight's menu for dinner."

Tessa nods and looks at Nia. "I'll be back."

"Where are you going?"

"To get the tequila."

"And that's why you're my best friend," Bri says.

Chapter Nineteen

Kace

"Itold you what I'd do if you ever hurt her," Bobby growls and hurls Kace out into the parking lot.

The cry from Bri that echoed down the hallway gutted him as Bobby and the others forced him further and further away. All he wants to do is run inside and hold her. Tell her it's not what it sounds like. He never had any other women, and he would never cheat. Not even if the relationship was fake. That's not a loophole, and that's not who he is.

"None of that was true!" Kace shouts and pushes Bobby away from him. "There has been no one since Bri, and I sure as hell don't find anything about what we have as fake."

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