Page 13 of PR Stunt

I know all her moods, every expression, every shift in her tone. But this one, I can’t quite pinpoint. Is that…nervousness?

She avoids my eyes and says, “I’ve been trying to reach you. Where have you been?”

“And why do you look like a drowned rat?” Juno adds.

I huff out a breath, grabbing the takeout bag from her hand. “Because the internet decided I’m Grayson Cole’s latest conquest, and I needed to outrun the collective delusion.”

Juno kicks off her heels and steps. “Ah. That explains the tragic hair situation.”

I glare at her, pulling the sushi out of the bag.

We gather around the kitchen island. I stay in my rain-soaked running clothes, too restless to change. Anna, arms crossed, still looks like she’s holding something back. Juno moves to the cabinet, grabbing wineglasses. I open the miso soup, sipping it immediately, and then move to the scorched salmon rolls.

Juno pours the wine and passes me a glass. The combination of sushi and wine is helping my mood a fraction.

Whatever was on Anna’s face before is gone now, her expression all business. Standing in her usual two-piece blazer set, she says, “Alright, we need to discuss the article.”

Juno wrinkles her nose. “Can we get into the juicy details after Charlie showers? She smells like seagull poo.”

A laugh slips out before I catch it. I grab another piece of sushi, leveling her with a look. “I’ll remember that the next time a scandal happens to you, Junebug.”

Juno raises a brow, eyes dancing. “Please. My scandals would be far more interesting.”

Rolling my eyes, I shove the sushi into my mouth and turn on my heel. “Fine. Give me ten minutes.” As I head up the stairs, I holler over my shoulder, “And don’t eat all the sushi!”

Juno’s voice floats up immediately. “No promises!”

I strip off my damp clothes as I go and take a quick shower. I step out, wrap myself in my fluffy white robe, and pull on my favorite fuzzy socks, sinking into their warmth. Then I head back down to the living room, flipping on the fireplace before settling onto the couch beside Anna and Juno. Juno has already moved all the sushi to the coffee table, and my wineglass is waiting next to it. I take a sip, letting the warmth linger before I look at Anna.

Anna clears her throat. “Charlie, you know how you mentioned wanting to get back to work?”

I nod, popping another piece of sushi into my mouth.

“I found you an opportunity,” Anna continues.

I pause mid-chew, narrowing my eyes. “That’s great. And I’m looking forward to hearing the details, really, but don’t we have slightly more urgent issues right now?”

Anna shifts in her seat. “It’s…related.”

I frown. “Related how?”

She presses her lips together, like she’s choosing her words carefully. “It’s…a strategy. I think putting out a we’re just friends statement will only make it worse. It’ll come off as defensive, and those kinds of denials never actually work. But if we pivot, if we get ahead of it, we can redirect the narrative before it spins out of control.”

“Okay? So, what? Another charity event? A new campaign?”

Anna shakes her head.

I sit up straighter. “A surprise interview? A—oh my God, please tell me you didn’t get me a reality show.”

“No,” Anna says quickly. “Of course not.”

I exhale, relieved. “Okay. Then what?”

“It’s a pr stunt.”

I stare at her. “A what? I mean, I know what that is, but I don’t understand what you mean in terms of this…situation.”

“A pr relationship,” she clarifies, like that somehow makes it better. “It’s the best way to shift the focus.”