Chapter 86

We waited with bated breath as Penny skidded to a stop beside the benches. She leaned over and put her hands on her knees

as she panted.

“Breathe, Penny!” I said, moving toward her. I offered my arm for Penny to rest on as I carried her to the seat. Penny plopped

down and gasped.

“Timothy just scored an exclusive interview with none other than Carl Plunk!” she said all at once. My eyes widened in disbelief.

“THE Carl Plunk? The famous reporter?”

Penny nodded with a grimace, holding her sides as she took a deep breath. “Yep, that’s the one. He’s interested in diving into

Timothy's story a bit more.”

I exchanged a surprised glance with Timothy, who seemed to be taking in the news. with a mix of pride and uncertainty. “That's

quite something,” he admitted.

Penny nodded. “Yeah. He said you deserved to have your story heard and spread to the masses, something about forming a

redemption arc for you!”

Timothy set his empty cup of ice cream on the table and ran a hand through his hair.

I leaned in with curiosity. “Is there a catch to all this? I feel like there’s more.”

Penny’s grin turned sly. “Evie, you have to be there too.”

My heart skipped a beat as their eyes turned toward me. “Me?

Why do I have to be there?” Penny’s tone was reassuring as she explained. “Carl Plunk wants to hear both sides of the story —

yours as Timothy’s lawyer and, well, as his rumored love interest.”

I nearly choked on my ice cream, my cheeks turning crimson. “Rumored love interest? Seriously?” Penny's gaze softened.

“Think about it, Evie. This is a chance to tell your side of the story, to show how you've been a influential presence in Timothy's

journey.”

Timothy's voice was gentle as he chimed in. “Evie, your perspective is just as important as mine. This could be an opportunity to

share your side of it too, like Penny said.”

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I met his gaze, catching the sincerity behind his words. After a brief moment of contemplation, I nodded.

“You know what, Penny? You're right. Maybe this is an opportunity to clear the air and let people see the truth.”

“Yes! That’s the spirit!” Penny cheered, grabbing her phone. Her thumbs tapped against the screen rapidly and her phone pinged

immediately after.

He says that the interview will take place in two days, so prepare accordingly. He'll be sending me more information soon!”

I nearly choked on another bite of ice cream. “Only two days?!?” Timothy took this pretty well though, chuckling softly. “Well, I

guess I better get my best suit pressed in the meantime.

“Forget the suit and tie!” Penny waved her hand quickly. “Keep it casual, you two. The more comfortable you are, the smoother

things will go.”

Penny’s words lingered in the air as we left the park soon after. Could this truly be a chance to reshape people’s perception of

me? To show them that my relationship with Timothy didn’t go beyond mere speculation?

With the interview set for two days from now, I felt a mixture of nervousness and excitement churn within me. The spotlight

wasn’t my usual place, but if this was a chance to speak my truth, then I was willing to step into it.

The drive home was quiet, allowing me some time to mull over the upcoming interview. When I finally pulled into the apartment

complex. I noticed Aria engrossed in her phone.

As I parked and stepped out, that was when she burst. “You won't believe this, Evie. The posts about the dog washing fundraiser

are blowing up on social media!”

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Blowing up? In a good way?”

Aria’s grin was infectious. “Oh, definitely. The number of likes, shares, and comments are through the roof. It’s like we've become

overnight celebrities!”

I chuckled, feeling a swell of pride. “Well, who knew washing dogs could create such a buzz?” Inside the apartment. Aria heated

up some leftover beef stew. My

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Chapter 86

stomach rumbled in response, having only been filled by coffee and ice cream the whole day.

We sat down at the dining table, savoring each bite. Aria was stills scrolling through, grinning and liking the occasional comment.

I suspected that those photos would attract quite the following on her end.

I took one more sip of the chunky stew before slipping my spoon back in the bowl. I reached out my hand and tapped the table,

drawing Aria’s attention. “So, I have

some news.

Aria perked up. “News? Do tell!”

I took a deep breath, my heart racing a bit. “Timothy scored an exclusive interview recently.” Aria’s eyes widened in

astonishment. “An exclusive interview? With who?”

“Carl Plunk,” I answered.

“Carl Plunk! That’s massive, Evie!”

I nodded, the excitement causing my stomach to twist and churn. “Yeah, and here’s. the kicker — I have to be there too.”

Aria’s face lit up with excitement. “Wow, Evie, this is your chance to tell your side of the story.”

I sighed, my apprehension coming to the forefront. “I suppose so. But it also means being in the spotlight.”

Aria waved it off and blew a raspberry. “You should be used to the exposure by now! This is so exciting!”

After dinner, I took a leisurely shower, the warm water soothing my tired muscles. Those dogs, while cute and full of excitement,

were a chore to clean up. Many of them were leaping in and out of the tubs, shaking off excess water, and slobbering

all over us.

I couldn't imagine how Timothy kept his apartment so clean with Duke being so energetic. I was more of a cat person, energy—

wise. I was never able to own one, though.

As I stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in a fluffy towel, I was already looking forward to slipping into my cozy pajamas and

curling up in bed. I threw on my

satin top and shorts and tied by hair in a bun before draping a warm robe over my shoulders.

I walked into the kitchen and started warming up some hot water. Aria was on the couch, still in her day clothes, as she swiped

her phone.

I shook my head. “Your fingers going to fall off eventually,” I said, grabbing a tea bag from the box on the counter.

She didn’t even look up, deciding to keep her flow. “It’s just so much. So many Timothy fans.” Once the hot water warmed, I

poured some into my mug for the tea bag to seep in. I gave Aria one more mournful look. “Goodnight, Aria.”

“Night,” she muttered with a yawn.

I rolled my eyes and shuffled back to my bedroom, hitting the light on the way to my bed. I set the mug down on the nightstand

and flicked on the lamp. I took a moment to breathe in the fresh smell, one not ridden with mildew and dirt.

It was so nice having a furnished apartment.

Right as I slipped into bed and pulled the covers over my legs, my bedroom door burst open, and Aria practically bounced in.

“Evie, guess what? I’ve got the perfect idea!”

My heart nearly leaped out of my chest at the noise. “Damn, Aria, you scared me!”

Aria’s eyes were practically sparkling with enthusiasm. “Since the interview is a big deal, I think you need to get serious about a

few things. This is the time to make an impact.”

I grabbed my tea and took a sip, my eyebrow twitching. “Can the inspirational speech wait until the morning?”

“Absolutely not!” She drew an “Xx” in the air and shook her head. “This is your time. to truly be a star.”

“I know,” I said with a sigh, painfully aware of that aspect.

Aria’s eyes sparkled mischievously. “And you know what that means, right?”

I looked at her, raising an eyebrow. “What?”

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Aria clapped her hands together. “Makeover time!”

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