Page 78 of Rebooting Conor Flynn

Shanice sipped her drink and squeezed her can, leaving a dent. “Tomo is a boy, always has been. It’s why we broke up. Can’t keep it in his pants—and if that was just for me, it wouldn’t have been a problem, but he whipped it out for everyone. I don’t think he’s serious about Ashley, and I’m sure she’s using him.”

“Using him for what?” Not that I didn’t know Ashley was above using people. She did it all the time. “Her attraction to Tomo seems genuine to me. I mean, he’s an attractive guy.”

“Hot as hell and a great fuck.” Shanice grinned. “No doubt Ashley was physically attracted to him at the beginning, but I think she’s keeping him around for other reasons at this point.”

“Such as?” If I was going to fix my PR stumble, I needed to know everything about Ashley and her motives. Conor and I suspected she was the one who started fueling the cheating rumors once our pictures went viral online. She didn’t want her fans to perceive her as a fool, so she adopted the victim role instead.

“Ashley’s the type of person who needs a gofer—someone to do her bidding. I can guarantee you she has minions online who are driving those cheating comments about you and Conor.” Shanice stretched like a cat who just got the cream. “Tomo is just a big tool for her—and I’m not just talking about his dick—although that’s a big tool, too.”

“She and Tomo were discussing some pictures that worried her.” I plucked at my bottom lip. “I’m wondering now if those could blow up her poor me scheme.”

“Wait. I thought you wanted Ashley to change her image during this tour. Now you wanna sabotage her?” Shanice studied me over the top of her can.

“I don’t want her polishing up her image and trashing Conor’s.”

“And yours.”

“My image?” I jabbed myself in the chest with my thumb and laughed...uncomfortably. “I’m a PR person. I don’t have an image.”

“No, but you have a job. Is that in danger with this new narrative?”

Massaging my shoulders, I said, “Not if ticket sales keep ramping up. Every time someone leaks something about this tour, more and more people buy tickets to the circus. That’s good for me, my company, and Ashley.”

“Then leave it. Lean into it. Go snog Conor whenever you feel like it—and from the looks of you two, that’s all the time.”

I covered my face. “Is it that obvious?”

“Umm, yeah. But one thing you might wanna consider is what happens after the tour? 92 West is happy with you now because you’ve stumbled into making this tour a success and helping Ashley’s image along the way, but what happens when it ends?”

“What do you mean?” But I already had an idea of what she meant. It’s why I couldn’t get rid of the sick feeling in my stomach.

“I may be behind the scenes, but that’s the best place to be for observation. One of my besties suffered from the sly machinations of this business, so I know how it works—and how ruthless it is. 92 West will use you to sell tickets for this tour, but maybe they don’t want to deal with a publicist who inserts herself into their clients’ business. It’s messy and they can’t control it. The people pulling the strings like control.”

“You’re not telling me something I don’t already know. I have a father who’s exactly the same.”

“Then I suggest you manage this. Don’t let it manage you right out of a job.” She pushed up from the leather seat. “And get some sleep. Doom scrolling is not going to help.”

I squeezed Shanice’s hand as she left.

Gain control. That’s what I needed to do. I was not going to allow Conor to take the fall for this shitshow. And I was not going to lose my job...unless I wanted to.

Why did I even want this promotion? I’d been unhappy at 92 West for a while. When I first started working there, the company played the game but always put the well-being of their clientele first. After working for Baker Street, that attitude impressed me.

New management at 92 West changed the climate. I know Dina felt it too. More and more, she focused on her select clients and had even mentioned breaking off on her own to me. I could do that.

It would be tough at first, but the idea of running my own business made my mouth water. I had ideas about promotion that didn’t involve tricking the fans and putting pressure on the talent. Nobody at 92 West ever took my ideas seriously. Dina did and she had the power to implement them occasionally, but not enough.

I yawned. Shanice was right. I needed to get some sleep. We had a desert to cross before we got to our next destination. I pocketed my phone and crept upstairs.

When I reached the bunk I shared with Conor, I crawled onto the bed. I slipped out of my clothes and into my pajamas and stretched out, which made the springs of the mattress squeak.

I held my breath.

A whisper floated from above. “Noelle?”

I couldn’t pretend I was asleep. He just heard me climb into the bunk.

“Yeah.”