She dialed June. “Hey.”
“What’s going on? Have you seen the latest?” June sounded strained. “This is bad press, Addie. Youneedto do the joint interview.”
“Why?”
“Why? Because she was seen with another woman,” June said. “Have you talked to her?”
Addie felt tears burn. Apparently pushing Toni away for a week was all it took for her to move on. “We aren’t really married. You know that. Let’s do a release saying it was a scene for the show that was misconstrued. Could we use it? A fake wedding that the character remembers?”
June was quiet. “There is footage that works. I’ll call Marcela. Let me see what I can do.”
Addie hung up and opened her laptop. There it was, Toni and her TA. Addie knew it wasn’t what the media was saying, but what stung was where they were. Clearly, the building—a memory care home—was where Toni’s mom was, and Toni was okay taking someone else there. She could take a random student to visit her mother, but not Addie.
“You letherin,” Addie muttered. “Not me, though.”
She clicked away from the photo and opened her email. She read all of the messages straight-though. The last one was about the photo:
From:History Toni
To:Addie
I swear the pictures are not telling the story they claim to. I was visiting my mother. I wasn’t there with Kaelee. I swear, Addie. You can email Kaelee if you need proof. I said I would be monogamous with you, and I meant it. Please stop ignoring my calls and messages.
Toni
Addie had no doubt that Toni had kept her word on monogamy. She’d heard Toni’s pain over the fact that her father was unfaithful. Toni might be a fool, but she wasn’t a cheater.
From:Adelaine
To:History Toni
I know you aren’t sleeping with your T.A. That’s not why I haven’t replied.
Addie
Not two minutes later, the phone rang. Addie didn’t have to look to know it was her. She ignored it. Her email chimed again.
From:History Toni
To:Addie
Answer the damn phone.
Toni
This time when Toni called, Addie answered. “Do we need to do this?”
“Do what?”
“Talk about things?” Addie sighed. “Can’t we just… I don’t know… not?”
Toni was silent for a long moment. “I don’t understand what happened. We had a great weekend. I didn’t do anything I can think of—”
“I think we just took this as far as it can go,” Addie said, cutting her off.
“I don’t understand. I did all the things you said you wanted. I held you, and we talked. I just don’t fucking get it.” Toni sounded frustrated, veering toward either anger or panic. “What did I do wrong this time? You were feeling upset, and I dropped everything and flew there. Christ, Addie, I’d come to you any time you needed me. Anywhere.”
“What if I need you every day?” Addie asked quietly. “Forever.”
