A thump sounded as Toni dropped her bag and darted out to steady Addie. Toni’s arms wrapped around her, and instinctively, Addie nestled closer. There was something perfect about being in Toni’s arms, and after spending Friday night, Saturday day, and Saturday night in those arms, it had felt unsettling to have such distance between them all day.
“My cat,” Toni finally finished. “He’s territorial about his den.” Her smile was indulgent. “The fringe has somehow become his door.…”
Addie giggled as a pair of fuzzy paws stretched out. The rest of the attacker’s body followed in a flowing stretch, like he was some great lion or panther. He was an oversized fluffy cat of indeterminate breed—at least to Addie’s eye. Maybe someone who knew more about cats would have a better guess. Her answer was that he was a fluffy-breed kind of cat. She hadn’t ever had a cat, but the one in front of her managed to be both regal and daunting.
“He’s gorgeous,” Addie said.
“He knows it, too.” Toni watched the approach of the cat. She was grinning at the furball with a disarming kind of openness that made Addie bite back a sigh.
She’s even lovelier when she’s relaxed.
Toni looked down as if the cat understood her and said, “Don’t give me that look. I know you had plenty of love and food, Oscar Wilde. Emmy spoils you.”
The cat let out a noise that was somewhere between a meow and a yawn before sitting down, tail wrapped around his feet like a fluffy cloud, and staring up at them.
“This is Addie,” Toni said, introducing her to the cat as if that was normal behavior. “Addie, meet Oscar Wilde.” She glanced at him again, smiling affectionately. “Em was cat-sitting this weekend, so no matter what he says, he’s not been neglected in the least.”
Addie squatted down and reached a hand toward him, figuring he could either reject or lean into her hand. “Hello, Oscar Wilde. I’m Toni’s friend.”
The fluffy creature took one step forward, pressing his head into her palm.
“Aren’t you just the sweetest thing?” Addie whispered as she gently petted him.
“Lies,” Toni muttered from behind her. “Moody and arbitrary beast. Terrible manners.”
Addie looked over her shoulder. “I’ve heard animals resemble their humans.”
Toni rolled her eyes. “I am not going to dignify that barb with a reply, Miss Stewart.”
When Toni walked away, Oscar Wilde pranced after her like a joyful downy cloud, and Addie took the moment to settle her feelings again. This situation with the faux wedding had brought up a lot of complications—not just the viral photos.
Addie looked in the direction Toni went, and she had to fight back the urge to follow her.
She is not great at emotions.
Don’t pressure her.
It’s pointless anyhow. She has a life here. I have a life in LA.
Instead of following Toni, Addie stood and walked to the guest room, alone. She closed the door while she looked for something to wear for the night. On the bed was one of Toni’s shirts, and Addie forced herself not to pick it up and sniff it.
This is not just a fling, not for me. I’m falling for her.
Chapter 33Toni
Toni struggled to sleep that night. She waited in the living room for Addie to reappear, but Addie stayed away. Toni, objectively, couldn’t blame her. It wasn’t often that Toni was that insensitive, but her default reaction when women tried to get too close was not kindness. Cold words and exit: that was the strategy that had always enabled her to stay commitment-free.
I want to spend time withher,though.
Addie was settled in the guest room; fortunately Emily had washed the bed linens and tossed them in to dry before she took the train back to Manhattan. A part of Toni could admit that she was being ridiculous about pushing Addie away again, but she wasn’t sure how to undo that without getting in deeper.
They weren’t really dating, and honestly, if they weren’t on opposite sides of the country Toni would have ended it by now. Hell, she hadn’t even shared her last name over the year they emailed. Maybe the illusion that there was a distance, literally and emotionally, was why Toni let Addie get this close.
I should stay away from her.
Two nights in a bed ought not be enough to miss the feel of Addie next to her, and inviting Addie to sleep in her actual bed was different than sharing an anonymous hotel bed. That was commitment territory, and Antonia Marie Darbyshire wasn’t commitmentmaterial. So she was alone in her bed with the woman she wanted out of reach, even though they were under the same roof.
Toni flopped over again, picturing the woman she’d trusted enough to talk to like a friendandspend two nights in a row with. Addie was remarkable. Funny, even at seemingly odd times. They’d laughed during sex, and that was always a sign that a person was a great match. Sex ought to be fun. It ought to make you feel like all the stress in the world has temporarily vanished.
