Page 12 of The Ex Factor

Ashley said nothing.

‘And then a funny thing happened. You heard of a TikToker called JazeLooksIntoIt? No? Well, she kind of looked into it.’

‘Looked into what?’

‘You two.’

Ashley felt a cold sensation in the pit of her stomach.

‘She went deep into both your socials and found a few photos. And she made a video putting together evidence that you two used to be a couple. Then she did a second video featuring some girl who used to live with Molly who remembers you “visiting”.’

Ashley didn’t say anything, but she did raise an eyebrow.

‘You know, her sitcom just got shit-canned.’

Ashley wasn’t exactly shocked. She knew it was on the decline. Though she felt Molly had only gone from strength to strength as a performer. And Ashley should know, she’d seen every episode, some more than once.

She was keeping her face shut about that little fact, though. ‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ was all she said.

‘Yeah, sad,’ Simon breezed. He sounded like he was opening post.

‘I don’t think you meant that,’ Ashley said.

‘I didn’t not mean it,’ Simon said. ‘But I do see just the tiniest bit of opportunity in her situation.’

Ashley sighed. ‘Okay, I’m done playing silly buggers. Say the thing you want to say.’

‘I’m doing a lead-up. You have to let me do my lead-up.’

‘No. Say it.’

‘Do you… know her?’

‘Yes, Simon. I know her.’

‘I think you two should date again.’

Ashley stared at the wall for a moment. ‘No.’

‘Hear me out.’

Ashley pinched the bridge of her nose. ‘Fine. I’m hearing you out. You have thirty seconds before I hang up.’

‘Excellent. So, first problem. You’ve got a tour coming up. The tickets are moving, but they’re not moving the way we’d like. Second problem, Molly Sullivan is suddenly unemployed.’

‘OK.’

‘People love the idea of you two together. There’s already fan art, for chrissakes.’

‘I don’t care, Simon.’

‘Well, people care. Especially if it was tragic.’

‘We dated briefly before we got famous.’

‘Exactly.’

‘How is that tragic?’