Page 42 of Toni and Addie Go Viral

“You better not say ‘if there is a second room open,’” Addie shook a finger at her. “I fake-married you!”

“I was going to say ‘if there are spare blankets.’ I like having you in my bed.”

“Awww.” A warm flush came over Addie as she realized that she wasn’t the only one with a few firsts. “I guess we’ll figure it out when we see each other.”

Toni’s sudden discomfort was as obvious as a flashing sign.

She might not be screaming in panic, but the expression wasn’t hard to read.

Addie hadn’t missed the way Toni used the word “friend” like a shield, but the wide-eyed look on her face when Addie commented on “seeing each other” was frustrating.

So Addie continued, “The good news is that, most of the time, I’ll be in my cozy bed without fighting for a corner of the blanket, but maybe if we are at the same promo thing or you are in LA or…

Oh! New Orleans! We’re filming the outside bits in New Orleans because it has that ‘historic streets’ thing. You should come!”

Toni got out of bed. “Maybe…” She walked into the bathroom, leaving Addie there feeling like she’d crossed an invisible line. The only time Toni truly opened up was during sex or if no mention of the future was made. At all.

While Toni was in the bathroom, Addie pulled out her phone to check email.

Supposedly it was a no-tech weekend, but today they would return to the real world.

Next week, after the studio vetted all the photos, there would be a deluge of promo publicity—and already there were undoubtedly photos from the signing.

Addie’s news alerts—which, yes, she still had set on Toni’s name but now also included her own name, the book, and show title—had exploded. Addie’s eyes skimmed them in growing horror.

SURPRISE WEDDING?

VICTORIAN MYSTERY WRITER WEDS STARLET

NEPOTISM? THE brIDE WAS CAST IN HER NEW WIFE’S SHOW

Addie sank back on the bed as she kept scrolling. These were not the social media posts she expected. Signing photos? Sure. Wedding pictures out of context? No. Footage of the two of them getting married? Definitely not that.

“Toni? I think you need to come here.” Addie’s voice sounded shrill, but she was panicking a little.

Toni came into the room, toothbrush still in hand. She met Addie’s gaze. “What’s up?”

“The wedding…” Addie held out her phone. “Check your email. I need to call Marcela. Fuck.”

Toni stared at the headlines as if she couldn’t process what she was reading.

Definitely not a morning person.

“Hey?” Addie put a hand on Toni’s arm. “Get your phone. Email or call your agent or your publicist.”

“It was a fake wedding,” Toni muttered.

“Yes.” Addie clicked on a headline. “That’s really you on one knee, though.” She scrolled. “That’s really me with flowers in my hair. That’s actually us kissing.”

“But the wedding was fake.” Toni pulled out her own phone. “Like the whole weekend. It was all just pretend.”

Addie knew what Toni meant, but the words still made her wince internally. She snapped, “Not everything was fake. The sex certainly felt real enough, and the conversations we had, and—”

“You know what I meant.” Toni pulled on her trousers hurriedly, as if she were dressing for battle. She said nothing comforting to Addie; she didn’t acknowledge the real parts. “This is a fucking disaster.”

And Addie pointedly did not stare at the beautiful woman in nothing but her trousers. It wasn’t fair that Toni looked that good even as she said such heartless things. Toni glanced at her, said nothing else as she grabbed a bra and shirt. Then she went into the bathroom with her clothes and phone.

The snick of the door sounded louder than it should, and Addie felt like they were having an argument.

I didn’t do this.

I didn’t make her stage a proposal.

I didn’t force her to sweep me around the ballroom.

I didn’t make her fake-marry me or… look at me the way she does.

Those were the pictures that made everything seem real: the way Toni had looked at Addie in the proposal and wedding shots. Well, that and the ones of them kissing. They could explain the wedding as a publicity stunt, but there was no doubt that at least some part of the story was true.

Addie turned her back and flipped over to her private email. Her parents had emailed repeatedly, and they’d undoubtedly called, too. She’d get to that. And Eric. For now, her reputation, the show’s reputation, had to be her first priority.

From: Marcela

To: Adelaine Stewart

Re: Wedding??

Call me. ASAP. 818-555-5555

Marcela

That was the email Addie had to address. She took a breath and tapped the number. While she was waiting, she closed her eyes and made a wish that this was not a disaster.

“Addie?”

“Um, hi?”

“You married her?” Marcela sounded as if she wasn’t sure whether to yell or cheer. “What happened to friends ?”

“I can explain,” Addie said. “There was a room shortage, and the owner said we couldn’t share and—”

“You didn’t think to call?”

“No? The photos and this video of the wedding weren’t to be shared unless the studio vetted them. Just like the dinner,” Addie said weakly. “It was fake, Marcela. We can make a statement that the wedding isn’t real.”

“Addie.” Marcela sighed, and Addie could picture the tightening around her eyes.

“It was as real as the period clothes and carriages,” Addie offered. “The whole thing was make-believe. We issue a statement—”

“It’s not that simple. She isn’t looking at you like it’s fake. And that kiss looks damn realistic.… You’re obviously involved with her, and I’m not going to issue a lie. Was that a real minister?”

“I don’t know, but… the wedding wasn’t real,” Addie said weakly. “We didn’t have a license, so it’s not a real marriage, right?”

A voice in the background said something.

“That’s her people calling,” Marcela explained. “Go speak with her. We’ll come up with a plan on our side, but for now… go back to Washington with her while we sort this out. There will be a ticket waiting for you at the airport. Stay off socials until you hear from me.”

Addie was staring at her now-silent phone when Toni walked back into the room. She looked up as Toni scrubbed her hand over her hair.

Awkwardly, Toni said, “I guess you’re coming to DC.”

“I guess.” Addie looked up at her, hoping that they could laugh this off, hoping that Toni wouldn’t withdraw into herself.

Instead Toni walked over and started packing. She said nothing for several minutes, and then when she finally spoke, all she managed was, “It was a stupid idea. The wedding.”

“It was to be a tech-free weekend,” Addie pointed out. Her voice was a little shrill as she added, “Other than the approved photographers, it was to be tech-free.”

Toni gave her a look that made Addie feel like she was a fool.

“I didn’t want there to be bad press about you sleeping in a hotel off-site, and I wanted you with me, so I thought— You know what?

It doesn’t matter what I thought. I’m sorry this happened.

We can find you a hotel in the city while we sort it out. ”

“I thought you had a guest room…?” Addie felt her temper fray.

“I do, but—”

“So you don’t let friends stay with you?” Addie snapped.

Toni pressed her lips tightly together, like she was trying to trap words. She failed, though, as she said, “I don’t bring women I fuck to my condo.”

The words hit Addie like a slap. “Well, luckily for you, it turns out you aren’t fucking me anymore.

So I’ll be staying in your guest room while the publicity people figure out the next move.

Either of us staying in a hotel will add fuel to the fire, or I’ll be forced to hide out in my room the whole time, so no one knows I’m there alone.

What do I do, Toni, live on room service in my historical dresses and a hotel robe? ”

Tears slipped over her cheeks. She hadn’t created the spectacle. She hadn’t leaked the photos. And she wasn’t the one currently being a bitch.

But I am the one they’re saying got the role on my back, and not because of my acting skills. Philip accused me of that when he talked to Marcela. Is he involved? He wanted to come here and… Addie didn’t bother sharing any of that. What does it matter?

Toni closed her eyes and took several breaths, but she didn’t reply. Addie hated this, hated everything about the fact that yet again she was pushed away.

Neither woman spoke as they packed and headed to the airport.

At least we won’t be seated together.…