Page 55 of Toni and Addie Go Viral

Addie

Addie stood in front of the sink with tears threatening to bubble over. “Damn it. I’m in love with a fool.”

An older woman exited the stall and looked at her. “Aren’t we all? What did he do?”

Addie gave a watery laugh. “Well, she says we have to break up if either of us fall in love.”

“ Hmph. And folks say going gay is easier,” the woman grumbled with a heave of her sizable bosom. “Do you love her already then?”

Addie nodded. “Yes. I think I do. I didn’t realize it until… now. Today. There’s no future, though.” She paused and sniffled. “I can’t give up my career, and she… won’t even think about a future. How do I love someone who doesn’t want my love?”

“You tell her yet?”

“No.” Addie accepted the tissue the woman held out and dabbed at her eyes. “She flew here to be with me this weekend because some guy from work showed up at my door and called me a rude thing.”

“ Hmph, ” she said again. “The sex good? With your lady?”

Addie’s cheeks flamed. “Very.”

“Least they were right about that when they said it was better to date women.” The woman touched up her lipstick, and then looked at Addie in the mirror.

“So don’t tell her. Enjoy your weekend, girl.

Once that show of yours airs, everyone and their mama will be wanting a bite of you if you act half as good as you look. ”

For a moment, Addie just stared at her. “Oh.”

“Your face is on the side of my daily bus, child, and even if it wasn’t, I pay attention when shows film in my city.

” She sounded gentle as she spoke, as if she was afraid she’d spooked Addie.

She reached into her giant bag and pulled out a pen and a receipt.

“Can I get your autograph since we’re here? ”

Addie accepted the pen and paper and wrote, “To the wisest woman in NOLA, love Adelaine Stewart.”

The woman chortled. “I’m going to frame this, Miss Adelaine, and then I’m going to hang it on my wall and host the next book-club meeting.”

At that, Addie laughed. “Thank you for the advice and for cheering me up.”

“You get back out there and show her how fabulous you are, child. Then if she’s fool enough to let you go, you don’t let her know you’re hurt.

” The woman patted Addie’s cheek. “Go on, now. Enjoy our fair city. I’ve yet to see a heart that can’t be fixed by the music in this city.

At the least, it’ll ease what’s ailing you. ”

And Addie decided that it wasn’t a bad plan at all.

She was in New Orleans for Halloween, wearing a lovely costume, out to dinner with a stunning woman.

There was music on the street and pouring out the door of every bar she’d passed when she’d gone walking.

Why shouldn’t she make it a night to remember? A weekend to enjoy?

When she returned to the table, Toni stood and pulled out her chair. “Everything okay?”

Addie gave her a bright smile. “Why wouldn’t it be?” She trailed her fingers over Toni’s cheek and jawline. “No more gloomy subjects, though, okay? You made me cry, talking about your mother’s life.”

Toni gave her a strange look, but then she nodded and seated Addie at the table. When she took her seat she regarded Addie again. “You’re sure? Are we okay?”

For a moment, Addie debated coming clean, but all that would do was ruin their weekend. And this time, Addie wanted a whole weekend together with no drama. If it was going to be the last one, she wanted it to be perfect.

It has to be the end, though, or I have to lie about my feelings. I can do it for two days, but after that…

So Addie smiled and said, “Let’s explore, drink, dance. Tomorrow museums. Between them, I want to be ravished, Lord Darbyshire. Debauch me.”

Toni swallowed hard. “Well, okay, then. I can do that if that’s what you want.”

“What are friends for, right?” Addie glanced at her from under lowered lashes. “Shall we play a game?”

“You make me nervous with that tone, Adelaine.” Toni took a drink. “What do you have in mind?”

“Dealer’s choice. Show me what you can do with those fangs, or you can take a stroll to the ladies and take my purse with you.” Addie handed her the bag. “There’s a surprise in it.”

Toni took her bag and looked inside. “For me?” She looked up at Addie. “Are you sure I should be the one wearing that?”

The tiny bullet vibe had a remote control that Addie had hoped to hand to Toni, but now? Now Addie wanted the control. Once. Before this was all over. Addie wanted the power. So she pushed. She taunted, “Unless it’s too intimidating for you to give me control…?”

Toni shut the handbag and put it on the empty seat between them. “Any other options on this list of yours?”

“Maybe tomorrow,” Addie said lightly.

“After dinner.” Toni closed her mouth as the server delivered their meal. She looked over the table and pronounced, “Both.”

Once the server left, Toni gave her an odd look.

“I can’t concentrate once we start playing games, and right now, I want to talk to you, Addie.

You matter to me, so I want to know about your week, the filming, where all you want to go this weekend.

I was thinking The Presbytère, The Cabildo, and the 1850 House.

Dating me requires a lot of museum trips, if you’re willing. ”

Addie bit back a sound. She was willing. She was willing to do all the things, touristy and not, with Toni. All she had to do was hope that she could pretend not to be in love with her for two days—and hope Toni was deep enough in denial to not realize she was there, too.

And then I can fall apart over things ending already. Toni had only just admitted they were dating, and it was already the end. I can do this. I can enjoy the weekend and then let her go.

“Can we shop a little, too?” Addie asked as they started their meal.

“There’s a lingerie store I passed earlier,” Toni said lightly.

Addie giggled. “I was thinking about a bookstore.…”

“Fine.” Toni fake-sighed. “Drag me to look at books. Don’t complain when I take hours.”

“Tonight, though? Dancing!” Addie eyed her between bites. “There’s supposed to be a whole bunch of bars with great music on Frenchman? Frenchmen? Something like that.”

“Another scandalous waltz, perhaps?” Toni teased. “Maybe I can practice a bite on the other side of your throat to see how secure these fangs are.”

“I was thinking somewhere a little more southerly,” Addie said without even a quaver in her voice. “Unless that’s too—”

“It’s not too anything,” Toni said. “Not at all.”

Addie smiled at her before continuing her meal. This is enough. It has to be. Enjoy what we have right now, and then let her go.

Toni was a fool. Addie was certain of it, but this would have to be enough because the alternative was losing her tonight.

Despite the lies she’d offered, Addie was, in fact, very much in love.

And so is Toni, whether or not she admits it.

So she’d take her last weekend with her beloved and make it unforgettable.

There was no other option. Addie wasn’t going to throw her career away on anyone, and Toni would run away if she realized Addie loved her.

Whatever this could have been, it’s over now.

Sometimes love wasn’t enough. Sometimes clicking perfectly, great sex, laughter, and all the rest were still not enough. They had separate lives on separate coasts, and Toni didn’t want Addie’s love.

Briefly, Addie considered trying to talk, but what was there to say that she hadn’t already said? Toni had once again decided she made the rules, and Addie wasn’t interested in putting everything—her career, her self-respect, and her heart—on the line for someone who refused to even try.