Friends with benefits. That’s all this is.
Still, before she could stop herself, Toni leaned down and kissed Addie, who sleepily murmured, “Not saying no, Professor. Just let me sleep bit more first.”
Toni pressed her lips tightly together to stop a laugh from escaping.How I wish…But stock signings and midday flights were all that Toni had on her schedule today.
“Next time, love.” Toni glanced at the bedside clock. She was already running late, and she hadn’t showered out of fear of waking Addie. That could be awkward, and Toni would rather skip that. This was the problem with the morning after: it was either awkward or Toni had to slip away like a thief who had already stolen the finest jewels.
The idea of seeing Addie again added complications, but they had jokingly—or not?—discussed a few intimate things to try, and Toni was all for playing teacher to the outspoken gorgeous actor currently curled up in her hotel bed. If not Toni, Addie would find someone else to satisfy her recently awakened curiosity, and the thought ofthatmade Toni feel like worms were crawling through her belly.
It was just protectiveness, right?
I have no right to be possessive.
Toni brushed the strands of Addie’s hair away from her face and reconsidered waking her to say goodbye. That was absurd, though. They had already been becoming friends. Now they were just friends who had amazingly satisfying sex and—
Emily texted again. So far she had texted no less than four times.
Toni discarded the thought of waking Addie and scrawled a note:You’re amazing. Thank you for everything.
Then she shoved her last-minute items into her carry-on and headed to the door. When she woke with Addie snuggled into her, Toni had legitimately considered blowing off the signings, rescheduling the flight, and taking an extra day in LA.
Completely too far,she told herself as she rolled her bag to the elevator. One night of sex wasn’t reason enough to change her routine. Weekends were author time, and weekdays were teaching time. It was how Toni kept things in order.
Where does Addie fit in?
Toni caught a glimpse of herself in the mirrored elevator walls and realized that it was for the best that she had a friend with the makeup skills she lacked. The last thing she wanted was social media photos where she looked even more exhausted than usual.
As Toni stepped into the hotel lobby, the clickety-clack of Emily’s shoes sounded like a reprimand. Emily came toward her with a travel cup of coffee in an outstretched hand.
“It’s cool enough to drink now,” Emily said. “Possibly cold, in fact.”
Toni took a long sip, swallowed, and glanced at her best friend as Emily took her carry-on from her.
Emily crinkled her face up. “Sweetie, we need to pause in the gift shop.”
“Why?” Toni followed her, sipping her coffee like it was nectar of the gods.
“You smell like sex.”
“I washed up,” Toni sputtered.
Emily muffled a laugh at Toni’s uncharacteristic awkwardness. “I’m glad for you, but I thought maybe we should buy a nice cologne… because I’m guessing you don’t want to walk into the bookstore smelling like—”
“Fine!” Toni marched into the store, feeling like a child caught breaking rules.
After a few minutes, Emily pointed inside a case in the store. “Let’s try that one.”
The woman at the display case held it out, and Toni dutifully sniffed.
“Do we like this scent?” Emily asked. “Or at least tolerate it?”
“Fine.”
Emily handed over a credit card. “And flowers for room—”
“What?” Toni shook her head. “I don’t send flowers, Em.”
Emily signed the credit card slip, spritzed the air around Toni’s hair and neck lightly, and walked out. Toni trailed after her.
