Page 32 of Nothing to No One

Checking all the stalls were empty, she went into the last one and grabbed her phone from her purse. Thank God Struan followed through because he was her first call, the only call.

“Fawn?”

“I can’t do this.”

“Do what?” His concern was instant. “What is it?”

“There is a boardroom full of people,” she hissed under her breath, cupping her mouth near the microphone. “They are going to ask questions. I’m not qualified to do this. I was an idiot in the car with Mieux, asking stupid questions aboutUndercover Ops.”

“Questions your boyfriend should’ve answered?” He exhaled. “Shit, baby, I’m sorry, we didn’t prep you for this.”

“I don’t think there is prep for this. No one can prep for this. Now there’s NDAs and people want interviews. Why were you on the island? The Pacific island?”

“With Mieux? Don’t read into that, baby, it was work. A dumb competition thing meant to improve Ro’s image. Course he screwed it up.”

Like he screwed everything up. And instead of judging Struan for putting up with it, she ached to comfort him.

“Why wasn’t I there?”

“People will want the story,” he said, getting her meaning without missing a beat. “We should’ve come up with a narrative. I’ll talk to Priest.”

His best friend. “Why would—”

“Because things went down on the island, we’ll need to prep Sway.”

“People will ask her about us too, won’t they?”

“She’s been doing this a long time, she’s a pro, but someone has to look out for her.”

This guy cared about everyone. Roman cared about no one. Maybe there was a set amount of empathy imparted on a fetus and somehow Struan got Roman’s dose too.

Though she didn’t want to be pathetic, she asked, “Can you come here?”

A beat. “Me… or Roman?”

God, she didn’t even know how to answer that. She wanted Struan’s support, trusted him to have her back. If Roman showed up… Maybe he meant him as Roman. God, it was complicated.

“I’m sorry, never mind. Forget I said anything—”

“I’ll come down there, baby, no questions asked. You just have to tell me who you want me to show as ‘cause Roman is due on set. They’re refilming the pilot. Roman wasn’t in it, he wasn’t the guy set to—”

“Mieux told me.”

“Your stupid questions.” Though he immediately grumbled. “I’m sorry we set this up and turned you loose. It isn’t fair. I can tell Mieux—”

“I don’t want more people lying for us.”

And as frustrating or annoying as this situation might be, she had to remember that it was her actions that put them there. Her and Struan’s. Even if she hadn’t known who he was, she still shouldn’t have been so forward, so willing to sink into him, so eager.

“I’m sorry I got us into this, baby.”

This wasn’t all his fault. “You think if the power hadn’t come back on we’d still be down there?” she asked. “In the basement?” The point of the question was to ease the mood, though it didn’t do that. Instead, it cranked the crackle to a sizzle; goosebumps rushed across her skin. “On that bed… you and me… alone…”

“I think if I could choose to be anywhere in the world right now, it would be back there with you. Anywhere alone with you.”

His support lessened some of her burden. “I can be vague with them, nod along. Do what I’m told, but…”

“If you need me there, I’ll be there.”

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