I’m nearing the end of the Widow’s Curse, incidentally. I think a few days of trying not to think about what I’d rather be doing has made me productive. Halloween looks iffy. How’s work?
Toni
From:Adelaine
To:History Toni
I think you protest too much, Cuddlebug.
I am struggling to decide if it’s a conflict of interest to complain about work when work is about the adaptation your book. Pretend I’m on a different project. My co-worker says I slept with you for the publicity. They either cast Cousin Colin really well so he’s Method-acting or he’s just a bloody nackle-ass. I guess it’s partly my own fault. I went out on a few dates with him, so I guess he’s still sore about me ending it.
Addie
This time, Toni called rather than emailing again.
“You went out with your costar?” Toni said instead of “hello.”
“I did. I wasn’t sure if I… I thought maybe I needed more in common to feel attraction, so I went out on a few dates with actors. Turns out, I’m simply not straight,” Addie said. “Also hello.”
“When?”
“When what?”
“When did you go out with Philip?” Toni sounded tense.
“Before I moved to Scotland.” Addie glanced at the clock. Shehad about ten minutes until dinner arrived. Maybe they’d be sharing a meal at a distance. Foolishly or not, Addie was excited by the thought. She was a social creature, so having a dinner companion—even one who was not in the same room—was preferable. HavingTonias that companion was even better.
“Oh! You thought I meant recently?” Addie shook her head, even though Toni couldn’t see it. “Seriously? You have massive trust issues.”
“No shit.” Toni paused, before she said lightly, “Historical swearing? If I wasn’t worried about Philip’s behavior, I might think you’re flirting with me by calling him a nackle-ass.”
“It can be both things,” Addie said, stepping onto the balcony. From here she could see the vibrance of the French Quarter, and she wished that Toni were here in person. “Just like both you and that fluffy demon are missing me.”
“True.”
“I’ll take that as an admission,” Addie teased, relieved that Toni was done panicking over infidelity.Would it have been infidelity if we aren’t committed?Addie had no desire to date anyone else, least of all Philip, but she found Toni’s reaction telling.She really likes me, whether or not she admits how much.
They caught up on the minutiae of their lives for a few moments before there was a knock at the door. “Room service is here. Can you hang on a moment?”
“I can let you go,” Toni offered.
“Or you can have dinner with me,” Addie countered, opening the door to find not room service but Philip standing there. She was at such a loss that she simply stared at him. “What areyoudoing here?”
Through the phone, still against her ear, she heard Toni. “Addie? What’s going on? Addie!”
“I thought I’d come rekindle old flames,” Philip said. He stepped forward like he intended to come into her suite. As he did, Addie caught the unmistakable scent of some sort of liquor. Philip stared at her. “Hang up.”
“No.”
He glared. “I thought you’d get a hint when I released the photos.…”
“What?”
“An old friend was there. He sent them to me, asked why I wasn’t there, too.” Philip shrugged. “I figured if you’re going to whore yourself for the role, everyone might as well see the truth.”
“Fuck off, Philip.”
“Addie?Philip’sthere? What’s going on?” Toni’s voice sounded harsh. “Talk to me.”
