“What’s the situation?” Toni steered out of the lot.
Emily sighed. “There are a couple photos that went viral, and they’re still climbing in visibility. You two look great together, and there are memes now. Plus, of course, the period dress. The show. The bestselling book. It was basically a perfect storm of reasons, and now you have this viral, buzzworthy moment.”
“What does that even mean?”
“Millions of views, Toni. It means millions of views. And that means that people are noticing.”
Toni listened, trying not to panic. “Right, well, what’s the plan? How do we make it go away?”
“We don’t. You make a smart couple, and even though gossip stuff doesn’t pay as much attention to authors, your book is a phenom, and Addie is stunning.” Emily sighed. “There are wedding gifts from a few foreign publishers. I think some of it is trying to be seen being pro-LGBTQ. Some is the network. Anything film or TV is always more buzzworthy. This could have turned into a MeToo moment, but instead it’s looking like a good thing… unless Addie makes a statement to counter that.”
“I want to issue a statement. Point out that Addie’s casting wasn’t because of… me? That this is a lie.” Toni flinched at the word. It was only partly a lie. She was involved with Addie. She wasn’t pretending… but theweddingitself was fake.
“No statement. You’re sleeping with her, Toni, so saying it’s all a lie would actuallybea lie. Do you see the problem?” Emily paused like she expected a blowup that didn’t come.
“Fine. I want to make a statement that we are dating casually, but that Addie was living in Scotland, and we met before the book and that I had no idea she was auditioning.”
“Are you sure?”
“I don’t want her reputation to hurt because I wanted her in my room for the weekend,” Toni said.
“She went along with it.”
“Em.”
Emily sighed. “Fine. Draft a note, send it to your publicist, and we’ll pretty it up. But Addie should still stay there for a few days, and then she can go back to filming. That gives it time to be less exciting, and then… well… people will eventually move on.” Emily sounded forcibly cheerful as she added, “Maybe don’t do anything else newsworthy this week.”
“That shouldn’t be too hard.”
Emily’s laughter wasn’t encouraging, but Toni was optimistic. Her week was filled with lectures, meetings, and, if she was lucky,getting things back to a solid friendship with Addie. They weren’t doing to do anything newsworthy. She was sure of it.
While Toni drove, Emily chattered. Then a few moments later after they’d seemingly moved to lighter topics, Emily said, “How are you coping?”
“With all the news? I keep my phone off and—”
“No, sweetie. How are you coping with having Addie in your condo?” Emily had the speaking-to-feral-creatures tone now, but Toni couldn’t truly blame her. Emily knew Toni better and longer than anyone ever had.
Until Addie. She understands me already.
“She stayed in the guest room.” Toni slid between a couple of cars and switched lanes. “I pissed her off, and… I said some things.”
“Are you okay?” Emily was the definition of loyal. They both undoubtedly realized thatToniwas in the wrong, and yet Emily was still asking about her feelings.
“I like her.”
“Yes, that part is very obvious. I knew that before seeing you looking smitten in every viral picture,” Emily said dryly.
“No, Em. Ilikeher. I liked waking up with her this weekend, and I like having her in my house.” Toni took the exit toward campus. “If I wanted a relationship—”
“Thisisone. Just because you don’t want forever doesn’t undo what it already is.” Emily sounded more frustrated than usual.
“Did something happen with you, Em? That sounded… I don’t know.”
She sighed. “I want what you have with her, and you are running from it. Sometimes life isn’t fair. It’s not your fault, but I wish it was me. I wish I foundmyperson. You found the perfect woman for you, and you’re being a dumbass.” Emily paused, as if there were more things to say.
When Toni didn’t reply in that long silence, Emily added, “I’ll check in later today.”
And she disconnected after stilted goodbyes.
