Page 13 of The Ex Factor

‘Because you broke up.’

‘Most couples do.’

‘Yes, but most couples don’t have fans making compilation videos set to sad acoustic covers.’

Ashley groaned. ‘Those people need hobbies.’

‘You are their hobby.’

She hated when he had a point. ‘So what exactly are you suggesting?’

‘Not dating dating.’

Ashley closed her eyes.

‘Just appearing together occasionally. A dinner here. A premiere there. Let people speculate.’

‘That’s insane.’

‘It’s publicity.’

‘It’s manipulative.’

‘It’s publicity.’

Ashley stood and wandered into her kitchen, looking in the fridge. ‘Did Molly agree to this?’ she asked as indifferently as she could manage.

‘I haven’t asked her.’

There was nothing good in the fridge, and she shut the door. ‘Then why are we discussing it?’

‘Because if you immediately say no, I save myself a phone call.’

‘You know we haven’t spoken properly in years.’

‘You literally spoke last week.’

‘That wasn’t a real conversation. It was a social accident, and we got through it as best we could.’

‘Tens of thousands of people on social media don’t agree.’

‘Ah, well. That changes everything.’

Simon laughed. ‘Look, all joking aside, it’s not a terrible fit. Your tour gets attention. She gets attention. Suddenly she’s not “sitcom actress whose show ended”. She’s “beloved actress spotted reconnecting with famous singer ex”. That’s a different narrative. And your narrative is even better. Reva really screwed you. But I think people know she was the villain. They’d know it even more if they saw you getting cosy with an old love. Makes you seem like the romantic hero who survived Reva’s lies and manipulation. Without us ever having to, you know, say it.’

Ashley hated that he was framing another human being as a narrative. She hated even more that he was probably right.

‘You know what’s missing from your plan?’ she asked.

‘What?’

‘The fact that Molly is a person.’

‘I am aware of Molly’s personhood.’

‘Are you?’

‘If I must be.’