Page 44 of Toni and Addie Go Viral

Addie

The flight was blissfully short, but Addie had noticed several passengers looking at them.

Do they know something? Recognize us? The average American only read a few books a year at most. The show, however, had ads on billboards and on the sides of buses.

Addie had no idea whether they were looking at them because of the scandal, the show, the fact that they looked like they were together, or just the fact that they were women in first class—which typically was filled with far more men than women.

“Are you okay?” Toni asked as the plane bounced along the runway.

“Fine.” Addie had on the smile she wore around her parents and men who aggressively hit on her. It didn’t look anywhere near real, and she knew it.

Toni opened her mouth like she was about to reply, but she didn’t. She closed it and stared at the flight attendant until it was time to stand to deplane. The people in row one grabbed their bags from the overhead, and Addie tried not to flinch as she took in the tense set of Toni’s jaw.

Addie wasn’t sure what to say. She wasn’t about to admit that she felt self-conscious deplaning with Toni.

She didn’t admit that she’d never flown first class, although the flight was short enough that it didn’t matter that much.

She thought about mentioning that it was nice to be up front, where fewer people were able to stare at them—but she didn’t really want to talk about the media debacle anymore.

Addie glanced out the window once more before saying, “I’ve been here once.”

“DC?” Toni looked back at her.

“I was a teenager.” Addie shrugged. “We did the usual monuments and museums tours.”

Toni stepped into the aisle and retrieved their carry-ons from the overhead. Then she looked at Addie. “After you.”

Addie tried to remind herself that being charmed by basic courtesy ought to not be a thing, but her dating experience was thin enough to not need all of her fingers to count the people who had taken her out more than a few times—and none of those people had been like Toni.

There were a few attempts at dating boys, including that mess with Philip, and then a couple of sort of friendshippy-date-things with women. Then her. Toni.

Without letting any of those words out, Addie stepped in front of Toni.

She held out a hand for her bag, but Toni ignored her.

For someone who claimed they were friends, Toni sure acted like they were dating.

That would be the case even without the sex.

She was considerate in ways that no friend had ever been.

Other than that crass remark. Let’s not forget that. She said I was a woman she was fucking.

Addie kept her spine straight and her pace quick.

Toni caught up once they were off the jet bridge and stayed at her side, silent as they walked.

Her behavior continued at the baggage claim; she loaded Addie’s giant luggage onto a trolley.

Then instead of a car service or rideshare, Toni pointed. “This way.”

They walked through an underground walkway to a parking garage, and Addie felt a little bad that Toni was pushing the trolley with all the luggage.

“I feel like I ought to do something,” Addie admitted.

Toni scowled briefly. “About?”

Addie gestured. “You’re carrying everything and—”

“You’re wearing heels.” Toni glanced at Addie’s feet. “This is faster.”

After that, Addie kept her mouth shut and trailed behind her until they reached a bright red Jeep. Toni loaded the bags into it, paused, and asked, “Do you have clothes that aren’t from another historical period?”

“What I’m wearing.” Addie shrugged. “I wasn’t expecting to need more things… but maybe I’ll be able to go home quickly?”

Toni sighed. “Do you want to stop at a store?”

“The store? Like for shopping?” Addie blinked at her. “You want to go shopping with me…?”

“No, but I can’t imagine you want to wear corsets all week if you’re stuck here.”

“I have regular underthings, and I can wash these.” Addie gestured at her underwear and bra. Although they were covered by her jeans and top, Toni’s gaze fixed on Addie’s chest for a long moment.

“Do you have spare jeans? Or pajamas or whatever?”

Addie sighed. “Can I borrow maybe a T-shirt or sweater or something? Hopefully I’ll only be here a day or so.…”

Toni’s expression tightened.

“So no sleeping at your place or wearing your clothes?” Addie guessed. “Is that what this is?”

Toni was silent at first. Then she said, “No. You can wear some of my things. That’s not the issue. My jeans and my shirts just won’t fit you. You’re shorter, for one, and you have a lot of… your chest is… You have curves, Addie. I like them, but my clothes aren’t going to fit you right.”

“Your blazer fit. I can wear a larger T-shirt or tank top and maybe one of your jackets…?”

“Or we could stop and pick up a few things. There’s an outlet mall called Potomac Mills about thirty minutes away we cou—”

“No. What I have is fine,” Addie insisted.

She felt like she was being absurd, but she was not interested in going clothes shopping with Toni.

Something about it felt too personal, and Addie already couldn’t handle that with the way Toni was acting.

She’d called her someone she “fucked,” and then treated her like she was a delicate sort of wife.

Toni carried bags, walked so that Addie was sheltered from anyone who might bump into her, and in general was as chivalrous as the ideal spouse—but she claimed they were “friends” and referred to what they were doing as fucking.

How am I to make sense of any of this?

“Fine.” Toni started the Jeep and headed out of the parking garage. She didn’t say anything else, and the silence dragged out until Addie decided that she wasn’t going to bother trying to talk to her.

DC’s traffic was no worse than LA’s; it may even have been better.

Riding with Toni felt different than car services or rideshares, though.

Toni was an aggressive driver, which ought not have been a surprise.

What was a surprise was that Addie found it stupidly attractive.

She darted a glance at Toni, who was sliding her Jeep in and out of the, what?

six lanes of traffic currently, but doing so with the sort of comfort that Addie could not fathom.

If she had to drive in traffic like this, her knuckles would be white and her jaw would be clenched.

“You’re staring,” Toni said, not looking at her.

“You’re an arrogant driver.” Addie didn’t mean it as an insult or a compliment. It was a statement of fact. “It probably shouldn’t surprise me, with your control issues.”

Toni laughed. “You’re more of a passenger princess?”

“Better that than a pillow princess,” Addie quipped.

“I’m okay with those.” Toni kept her eyes on the road. “You’re only the second passenger in the Jeep, though.”

“Oh?”

“Em.”

“She seems protective of you.” Addie wasn’t jealous of Toni’s agent. Maybe she ought to be, but it was obvious that she’d totally misread them in Scotland. Now that she’d seen them in LA, Addie realized that the two were the sort of friends who were more siblings than potential lovers.

“We’ve known each other since middle school,” Toni said. “A lot of years.”

“I always wanted a sister. I have Eric, but… he’s like a brother. Literal cousin, but close like a brother.” Addie relaxed as they started chitchatting again. This was closer to normal.

Their conversation drifted in and out as Toni drove them to her place. She keyed in the gate code and drove to a numbered spot. For a moment, she didn’t move. She turned off the engine, glanced at Addie, and said, “I’m really trying not to be weird about this.”

“Being fake-married?”

“Yes, but… bringing a woman home. I know there’s no way to say this without it sounding like I’m…” Toni shook her head. “I’ve never been great at letting people into my home, and I just moved here. I bought it. My first home that I own. ”

“So more of a garden-and-hotels sort of woman,” Addie teased.

“Yes.”

Addie reached over and squeezed Toni’s arm.

“I figured that out a while ago. I’m your friend, Toni.

I’m not judging you for whatever you did before me.

” Addie couldn’t bring herself to add “or after me” because she didn’t want there to be anyone else.

“But you’re my friend, and we’re in this together, and we were already tied up together because of the show. …”

“So you think I’m overreacting,” Toni surmised.

“Yes.” Addie climbed out of the Jeep. “So I’m visiting a friend in DC today. I promise I don’t require special avocado toast or bedtime stories. I just need a place to be while our publicists figure it out, and because of what’s going on, it makes more sense if that’s here with you.”

Toni nodded. “You’re right. You are. I know that. I just panicked.”

Addie went to the back of the Jeep and got her carry-on. “Lead on. I can come back for my trunk after I’m not trying to guess where I’m going.…”

“I’ll come out and get your trunk.” Toni took Addie’s carry-on from her hand again. “Come on.”

Without another word, Addie followed Toni to the front door. The condo was an end unit that had a standard New England, red brick, colonial vibe. Addie took in details as Toni keyed in a security code and turned the key in the door.

The windows she could see all had blinds, and the building itself looked like new construction.

Inside Toni put their bags down in the foyer and motioned to the steps. “The living room is that way. Bathroom to the left. Guest room and office are down here. Another bathroom here that will be yours. I’m going outside for the other things.”

Then she left Addie there to make her way deeper into Toni’s home.

Addie kicked off her shoes, setting them to the side and headed upstairs.

The view was lovely. A simple room. Minimalist in style.

A few photographs: landscape, not family.

The kitchen, to the right, was spartan. In all, it could’ve been a generic model home or vacation rental—except for a plush purple sofa with gold trim and fringe.

That stood out as an unusual flash of difference.

“Wow.” Addie stepped closer. The sofa looked like it could be on the set of the show. Victorian. Over-the-top. Plush. Addie ran a hand over the arm before looking back to see Toni coming up the steps with her trunk.

“Watch out for—”

“Ouch!” Addie leaped back, stumbling over a coffee table, as something scratched her ankles. “What was that ?”

A thump sounded as Toni dropped her bag and darted out to steady Addie.

Toni’s arms wrapped around her, and instinctively, Addie nestled closer.

There was something perfect about being in Toni’s arms, and after spending Friday night, Saturday day, and Saturday night in those arms, it had felt unsettling to have such distance between them all day.

“My cat,” Toni finally finished. “He’s territorial about his den.” Her smile was indulgent. “The fringe has somehow become his door.…”

Addie giggled as a pair of fuzzy paws stretched out.

The rest of the attacker’s body followed in a flowing stretch, like he was some great lion or panther.

He was an oversized fluffy cat of indeterminate breed—at least to Addie’s eye.

Maybe someone who knew more about cats would have a better guess.

Her answer was that he was a fluffy-breed kind of cat.

She hadn’t ever had a cat, but the one in front of her managed to be both regal and daunting.

“He’s gorgeous,” Addie said.

“He knows it, too.” Toni watched the approach of the cat. She was grinning at the furball with a disarming kind of openness that made Addie bite back a sigh.

She’s even lovelier when she’s relaxed.

Toni looked down as if the cat understood her and said, “Don’t give me that look. I know you had plenty of love and food, Oscar Wilde. Emmy spoils you.”

The cat let out a noise that was somewhere between a meow and a yawn before sitting down, tail wrapped around his feet like a fluffy cloud, and staring up at them.

“This is Addie,” Toni said, introducing her to the cat as if that was normal behavior. “Addie, meet Oscar Wilde.” She glanced at him again, smiling affectionately. “Em was cat-sitting this weekend, so no matter what he says, he’s not been neglected in the least.”

Addie squatted down and reached a hand toward him, figuring he could either reject or lean into her hand. “Hello, Oscar Wilde. I’m Toni’s friend.”

The fluffy creature took one step forward, pressing his head into her palm.

“Aren’t you just the sweetest thing?” Addie whispered as she gently petted him.

“Lies,” Toni muttered from behind her. “Moody and arbitrary beast. Terrible manners.”

Addie looked over her shoulder. “I’ve heard animals resemble their humans.”

Toni rolled her eyes. “I am not going to dignify that barb with a reply, Miss Stewart.”

When Toni walked away, Oscar Wilde pranced after her like a joyful downy cloud, and Addie took the moment to settle her feelings again. This situation with the faux wedding had brought up a lot of complications—not just the viral photos.

Addie looked in the direction Toni went, and she had to fight back the urge to follow her.

She is not great at emotions.

Don’t pressure her.

It’s pointless anyhow. She has a life here. I have a life in LA.

Instead of following Toni, Addie stood and walked to the guest room, alone. She closed the door while she looked for something to wear for the night. On the bed was one of Toni’s shirts, and Addie forced herself not to pick it up and sniff it.

This is not just a fling, not for me. I’m falling for her.