Page 38 of Necessary Roughness

I looked at him, puzzled. “You’re asking me for a picture in the bathroom?”

The guy and his friend scoffed as they walked out of the bathroom. “Rude-ass, stuck-up celebrities.”

But I was in no mood to worry about the public’s perception of me.

I needed to find that phone. And not just for the device itself or the contents therein. I desperately needed to know what Brett had said.

Why hasn’t anyone told me about his comments?I wondered as I flung open the door to each stall to look for my phone.

Oh right, no one knows how obsessed I am with him.

I pushed open the first stall. No phone.

This is ridiculous. I’ve taken hits from linebackers twice my size.

I shoved open the second stall. No phone.

But I’m being taken down by a missing phone.

Finally, I kicked open the third stall, growing more frantic as I searched in vain.

The universe is conspiring against me.

I rushed through the door into the hallway, my eyes darting across the floor, searching for my phone.

I noticed two people standing at the opposite end of the hall.

For a moment, I considered running over and asking if I could borrow their phones for a moment.

Then I reminded myself that I’d look like a lunatic if I did that.

Brett had reduced me to an anxious pile of nerves. Whether he was criticizing me or praising me, I was hooked on every word.

But there was no way in hell he had praised me.

Where the fuck is my phone?

Suddenly, Joe reappeared. “We’re ready for you on stage!”

On stage?

I hadn’t agreed to do any public speaking.

“What do you mean?” I asked, my eyes still roaming the room, trying to find my phone.

“For your speech,” he said, placing his hand on my back and ushering me forward.

“Oh…,” I said, my voice trailing off, trying to find the words to tell him that I hadn’t agreed, or prepared to speak. “I wasn’t told about any?—”

“Our animals appreciate it so much,” Joe said, cutting me off as he gestured toward a table with pictures of rescued dogs and cats.

It was jarring to see photos of so many helpless animals juxtaposed against such a glamorous event with candlelit tables.

Joe nodded at me, anxiously awaiting my response. “A quick speech from you would bring millions of views online. And that translates into countless rescued animals.”

“Quick?”

Joe nodded encouragingly. “Quick is fine, I know you didn’t have anything prepared.”

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