Page 72 of The Publicity Stunt

Her right shoulder shrugs. "Tour's over now, so I was close to Texas."

"Stay," Kace says, his eyes never leaving her. "Please."

"I can't," she says.

He reaches a hand out to her. "Come here?"

Pausing for a moment, she seems to give in and walks over to take his hand. "I was worried about you when I saw the hit."

"You watched the game?"

"It was on where we were at," Bri says.

Her vague commentary bothers him. Where was she? Who was she with? Why does she look like she hasn't seen daylight in months?

"Stay, please," Kace says. "Bri, please."

"I can't," she says and pulls her hand from his. "I have a TV appearance and an appointment in the studio I have to get to. My sixth album has a release date, so I have to get it finished."

As bad as his head hurts from the light, he doesn't want to close them. Not when she stands right in front of him. "Can you call me when you're done? Please, Bri, talk to me."

Her fake publicity smile appears on her face. "We don't have anything we need to talk about, Kace. I need space to process everything that happened, and I'm finally finding some time with the tour done. Please don't send your friends to bombard me again. It just makes it worse."

"My friends?"

Walking to the door, she turns and looks at his father. "Victor, I arranged a hotel room for you. It's right across the parking lot here, and it's reserved for the next week. Feel free to change the date as you need, and I also have a ticket for you at the airport when you're ready to head to Texas. Just call for the date you need, and they'll take care of it. I know you won't let me pay for first class, but I did put you in business class. And before you argue, it's all already taken care of."

"Bri," Kace says. "Don't do this. Please, baby. I miss you. We need to talk because there are things you don't know."

"I didn't know a lot. But I do now. Don't worry, I know all about Amanda and Rudy and some girl named Tiffany throwing up on you. It sounds... really gross, actually."

He needs to come up with something. Anything. "Bri-"

"Get well soon. I'm glad you're okay, and I hope you and the team make it to the Stanley Cup. It's your dream, and I wish you nothing but the best. I really hope you get what you want, Kace. One of us should."

Nia walks up. "Bri, sweetie, we need to get going if we hope to make it on time. Hair and makeup are already on the plane, and I have four outfit options for you to choose from waiting."

"Goodbye, Kace."

Ushering her away, Nia looks back and glares at him before he has a chance to say anything. His head feels like a dull ache compared to the gaping wound in his chest watching the woman he loves walk away.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Bri

Bri held it together for the planned appearance and her studio session, but when she got back to the hotel, she broke down sobbing. Seeing Kace hit like he was, and then not getting up off the ice, scared her more than she expected. The relief that washed over her when she saw him with his eyes open in that hospital bed made her feel both instantly better and brokenhearted all over again.

She'd told Nia she couldn’t leave until he woke up and was okay. Nia didn't like it, but Bri didn't care. After everything, she still loves him and wants nothing but the best for him.

Now, two months later, the album is mostly done, with only a few final touches left, and she can finally hide away in her New York apartment. She continues to go back and forth between stepping back and out of the spotlight and continuing to write and perform. It feels weird not being on the go yet, but after a decade of never stopping, she thinks it might be time to calm down a little.

Just as she steps in the door, her phone rings, and she's so surprised to see Easton's name, she answers it.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Bri. How are you?"

"Oh, you know, hiding from the public after being devastated and publicly humiliated. How about you?"

---