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 Ijustmoved here. I bought it. My first home that Iown.”
“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 yourfriend,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 wasthat?”
