I knock it over, the bubbly liquid rushing across the tablecloth and into Melly’s lap. James is here now, too, leading a furious Rusty away from the table before he can reply.
“Oops! Butterfingers,” I sing, pulling out Melly’s chair and dragging her toward the door. I stop a passing waiter. “Can you put those two tables on our bill? Room 649, guest Carey Duncan. I swear I’ll be down to sign it all and leave you a giant tip. Sorry! Thank you!”
He nods dumbly, rightfully confused, and I push Melly out of the restaurant and into the lobby bathroom.
Once inside, I don’t even have to peek in the mirror to know that my cheeks are red-hot with anger. I check under all the stalls before turning on her. “What the hell were you thinking?”
She’s already pacing. “I can’t believe him! He thinks this family got its squeaky image without me running along cleaning up everyone’s mess? Including his?”
“What good will getting vocal credit for everything do when there are photos and tweets and videos of you two arguing?” I ask. “Weren’t you the one who insisted we keep this whole thing going?”
She waves this away like my point is frivolous. “It’s fine.”
“Melly, those photographers outside were here specifically to catch you and Rusty fighting, you know that.”
She pauses, then shrugs it off. “Come on. Not everyone is on Twitter, Carey.”
“Maybe not, but tonight you were eating dinner in a dining room full of people with phones and various other recording devices. Even if two people there posted about what they saw, you know how many people that could reach? These are people who otherwise might want to buy your book. You know, the one on marriage that you’re supposed to be signing tonight with the man you want everyone to think you’re happily married to?”
My phone vibrates in my hand, and I wish I had a pillow to scream into. I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and count to five before I look. Thankfully, it’s a text from James. Unfortunately, it doesn’t make me feel any better.
You better get up here. Room 940
I look up to see her reflection in the mirror. “We need to get upstairs. Now.”
She steps up to the sink and calmly washes her hands, dries them. She smooths her hair and touches up her lipstick with a tube from her clutch. Aside from the wet spot down the front of her clothes, she looks a little flushed but camera ready, as always.
Luckily, we’re not alone in the elevator; I know Melly well enough to know that she would change the subject as quickly as possible and I’m grateful I don’t have to answer any questions about James. The people with us either don’t know who Melly is or are too polite to mention it, thank the Lord. My phone starts vibrating with increasing frequency by the second floor, and by the time we make it to James’s room there are a handful of messages from James, some from Robyn, and shit—one from Ted.
Judging by the look on James’s face, his says the same thing:
FIX THIS
Ella 1967_Disney_bound • July 12
HOLY SHIT THEY CANCLED THE TOUR?
TMZ TMZ • July 12
Cameras catch lovers’ spat as Melissa and Rusty Tripp dine together amidst rumors of infidelity and scandal. Promo tour canceled. tmz/2L6Kz8l
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booksnbangtan booksnbangtan
1967_Disney_bound I cannot be reading this right. They lost it in front of an entire restaurant? And what cover up are they talking about in the article?
Ella 1967_Disney_bound
booksnbangtan Like you couldn’t just eat your pasta primavera and be nice?? Not positive on the rumors but it’s been a circus the last few months. Remember this doozy?
TMZ TMZ • April 4
Melissa Tripp out with friends. Sources say mysterious bruises have team concerned HollywoodLife/2L6Kz8l
booksnbangtan booksnbangtan
1967_Disney_bound WHY ARE THEY SO MESSY THO?
And mysterious bruises? Please, if we going knock down drag out my money is on Melissa. A lot of pent up rage behind all that makeup
Ella 1967_Disney_bound
booksnbangtan idk take your pick lol. I know people suspected rusty had a drug habit after he lost some weight last year, and don’t get me started on their kids
Pitty Pittypattington7th
booksnbangtan 1967_Disney_bound I was supposed to go to the Seattle event and they canceled at the last minute.
Jenna Jennanadamcuthbert04
Pittypattington7th booksnbangtan
1967_Disney_bound I have a friend who knows their son from school and said he has a thing for hookers and vegas. Do with that what you will.
Abashed1999OC Abashed1999OC
Jennanadamcuthbert04 Pittypattington7th
booksnbangtan 1967_Disney_bound no shit??
Part of me is relieved to see