Page 67 of The Publicity Stunt

"We play here from time to time. We know people," Brett says. "Bri, please?"

Both Brett and Rudy get down on their knees and fold their hands as if praying, and Bobby sighs. "If you don't want to talk to them, we'll throw them out. But if you want to give them a chance since they look like they're on the verge of crying, we'll stand right over there. Watching."

"Why not, I guess," Bri says and sighs as she wipes her tears. "What could you possibly have to say to me?"

"I'll be right here. Watching and listening. And Rudy Marshall, I know exactly who you are. Give me a reason, just one, and I'll break something. Something painful," Bobby says.

Bri smirks and looks at the ground. Bobby and his threats. "Are you here to twist the knife a little more? Or would you like some more information to take to the media? What do you want to know? If I climbed into bed with him? How old I was when I lost my virginity? Why my parents and I haven't spoken without lawyers for the past three years? At this point, I don't know you could do much more damage to my mental health, so just tell me what you want to know."

"That's not what I'm here. I... I wanted to explain," Rudy says as he and Brett move from their knees to stand in front of her again.

"What's there to explain? I started a fake relationship with a guy and was stupid enough to fall in love. He was hurt and betrayed by you, and he wanted to stick it to his ex. He got what he wanted. A woman who looked good on his arm, brought the attention he wanted, and someone to fall into his bed willingly. Along with multiple other women."

Brett's eyes widen. "You slept with him?"

Her stomach churns. Maybe she said too much. "I'm surprised he didn't give you that little detail. But there you go, you got something to share to embarrass me more. For the record, he has quite a few lines he could teach you to get the women swooning. If they worked on someone as untrusting as me, it has to be easy for... what did you call them? Puck bunnies?"

"Hey! You got the term right... not the point. Sorry." Brett says. "He wouldn't have told us that, and he's certainly not saying anything now because he's not talking to either of us. Not that he really talked to Rudy before, but he's done with us."

"I'm sure he'll come around. You've all been friends forever."

Rudy shakes his head. "No, he won't. Listen, this whole mess started from a big misunderstanding."

"What kind of misunderstanding?" Hope fills her momentarily before the cynical, jaded version kicks in and reminds her just who they're talking about. Kace Lyons, master manipulator and sex god.

"I was dating this girl named Amanda. She dumped me over a year and a half ago, and her reason was because she cheated on me with my teammate and best friend, Kace."

Kace slept with Rudy's girlfriend? "So, he cheated on Sasha before he was publicly dating me and sleeping with other women?"

"He didn't. That's the thing."

Sniffling, she leans against the wall again. "I'm confused. I'm not getting much sleep these days, so forgive me. What the hell are you talking about?"

"Amanda told me she slept with Kace, but she never did. They both disappeared from the same party that night, and I thought it was right because it made sense. Turns out, he never even met her."

Brett nods. "He left because another chick, Tiffany, did a keg stand and puked all over Kace. He left because, well, he was covered in vomit."

"That's gross. Really gross. I still don't understand the point of telling me this."

"Because I thought he cheated. That’s what Amanda told me, and it all seemed to fit. That's why I went after Sasha. I told her about Amanda, and she fell into bed with me. We kept it from him for a while until she said she found a ring in his place, and she was pretty sure he planned to propose. She wanted to get back at him, and that's when we decided to tell him."

Tessa walks out into the hallway. "There you are! Wait, what the hell is this?"

"They're giving me a really long story, and I don't really understand any of it, or why they're telling me," Bri says.

"I'm surprised Bobby left this asshole standing," Tessa says, looking from Bobby to Rudy. "Although, I think Brett deserves just as bad of a beating."

"He's standing and waiting. He promised not to break Kace's knees, but I don't think I owe either of these two anything," Bri says.

Tessa points to Brett. "By the way, you're just as big of an ass as this douchebag right here."

"Do I know you?"

Rolling her eyes, she crosses her arms over her chest. "Yeah, you're definitely an ass."

"Oh! You're Bri's best friend. The hot blonde that came with her to the first game. Wore my team's jersey in the Bootlegger's box. Wait, aren't you dating our trainer?"

Her jaw clenches, and Bri grabs her, pulling her back. "Bobby, can you bring her to the dressing room to wait for me?"

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