Page 26 of Is It Casual Now?

“Of course, she’s gotten under my skin. She writes trash that makes my life harder. And then just conveniently finds mein a bar and picks me up? And then her twin sister is teaching Harley?”

“It’s a load of coincidences, I get that. But you aren’t exactly known for your one-night stands.”

“So?” Siena’s defenses rose up, and she grasped for them.

“Well, there was obviously something about her that pulled you to her. Beyond the history in work lives that you didn’t even know you shared at that time.”

“Tequila! You said it.” Siena crossed her arms and glared at the wine on the table. Tequila would be nice right about now.

“Be truthful—and serious—right now. You need to hear it from yourself more than I do.”

Siena winced. She hated and loved when Tori called her out like that. “Fine. She’s beautiful and charming. No doubt it’s how she gets information she shouldn’t have access to and why she’s so damn good at her job.”

“Oh, now it’s information?” Tori picked up her wine glass and brought it to her lips. It didn’t fool Siena, who still saw the smile around the rim of the glass.

“What do you mean?”

“First you called it trash, now it’s information.” Tori waved her hand out in front of her, as if that would be enough of an explanation to get them to where they were going.

Siena groaned. Trust Tori to pick up on that.

“Fine. I haven’t found a lot of what she writes to be complete bullshit. And the stuff that is bullshit is always framed as questions or things she’s wondering. But she’s fucking with people’s lives. They have a right to their privacy—celebrity or not.”

“I know.” Tori nodded in agreement. “So despite the history and her sister teaching Harley, which by the way—I love Ms. K. She’s wonderful. And no wonder Jamie is getting under your skin if they really are identical.”

“Only in looks,” Siena added, far too quickly. She gulped at her drink as though that would stop Tori from noticing.

“Yes.” Tori chuckled. Of course, she noticed. “So despite these things. Why wouldn’t you go to the meeting tomorrow? Wouldn’t it be better to have someone like that on your side instead of always fighting against them?”

“Not sure she has a side to get on, at least not one I could trust.” Siena tossed up the idea.

“Trust is just another brand of bravery.”

“Why did I come here again?” Siena smiled so Tori knew she was joking—or at least half joking.

“Just think about it, Siena. Having someone in the press on your side might come in handy in the long run. Especially if you’re telling me you haven’t read anything that was entirely bullshit.”

“No.” She hated this truth. It would be so much easier if Jamie had spouted unfounded shit. “I haven’t found any outright lies, but she uses her platform to plant the seeds.”

“Okay, sure.” Tori nodded. “But what if you gave her the right seeds to plant?”

“What?”

“Surely there’s something you could offer her?” Tori raised her eyebrows not subtly leading Siena down the path she obviously assumed made sense.

“No.” Siena shook her head. It might make sense on the outside, but there were so many more dynamics than people realized. “Giving her access to me is one thing. I’m not giving her access to Bunny and Piper.”

“Wouldn’t it be a positive thing to have the person who’s written so much bad speculation be the one to actually write a story of truth?”

“You’re assuming she can be trusted.”

“And you’re assuming she can’t.”

Siena chuckled and shook her head as she looked down into the depths of her half-gone drink.

“What’s so amusing?” Tori asked, her lips in a soft smile though confusion filled her eyes.

“Just thinking no matter how much things change, I’m glad that some things remain the same.”

---