Page 39 of The Fake Script
Emma adjusts her bangs. “Um, right. Well, I should get going. Shooting’s over.”
“We could do something tonight, if you’re free?” I suggest, and yes, it’s as pathetic as it sounds. Especially since this is my fourth attempt to spend more time with Emma this week, and I have a feeling she’ll turn me down again.
“Oh, no. Sorry. Alice and Hayley are leaving for France tomorrow, so we’re spending the evening together.”
“Right. You mentioned that. I completely forgot.” We walk together to her front door, and she turns her key in the lock. I suck in a small breath. “Are you sure you’re okay coming with us to Massachusetts? Madison kind of ambushed you.”
“It’s no big deal,” she says, leaning against the door. “My friends will be gone too, so it works out perfectly.”
“What about your cat?”
“I’ll just ask Mari or Beth to check on him. He’s a very independent feline, and I have a feeling he’ll just be glad to have his bookstore back.”
I chuckle. “Right. And don’t worry about lodging. I’ll make sure you have your own room, though. I’ll ask Robyn to get us a connecting one. With Madison running around, we’ll have to be careful.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
I shuffle my feet. “Well, I’ll see you tomorrow, then? Have fun with your friends.”
“Thanks.” She offers a small smile, then walks up the stairs to her apartment.
As I close the door behind me, warmth spreads through my chest. It would be selfish to feel disappointed about not spending the evening with her when she’s coming on an entire trip with me. I’ll have plenty of opportunities for alone time with Emma, and maybe I’ll finally manage to break down some of her walls.
Emma
“There she is,” Hayley exclaims when I enter our apartment, her voice brimming with emotion. “Our favorite grumpy girl.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Um, are youokay?”
“She’s just sad because she’s going to miss you,” Alice says, stepping out of her room. “We both are.”
I repress a smile. “You two will be fine. I’m sure you’ll be too busy eating snails and other disgusting stuff to miss me.”
Alice rolls her eyes. “I told you, we don’t eat snails that often! It’s more of a special-occasion dish.”
“Right. Because that makessomuch more sense.”
Hayley laughs, getting up from the couch. “We are going to miss you, though. And Darcy, of course. Are you going to be okay here by yourself?”
I fold my arms over my chest. “When am I ever not okay by myself? Besides, I’m going to Massachusetts for the movie, so I won’t be here much.”
“Wait,” Alice hisses, grabbing my arm. “Auston is taking you on a trip? When?”
I share an amused glance with Hayley. “She’s like a broken translator.”
“Oh, because it’ssodifferent,” Alice snaps back.
“Um, yeah. We’re going with dozens of people; it’s not just us. And we’re traveling for work.”
Alice’s big eyes stretch wide. “Be careful. Things are different when you’re not in your natural habitat. I should know. Look what happened to me in New Hampshire.”
Hayley chuckles, and I just shakemy head. “It’s not the same.” I release a long sigh. “Just when I thought I was actually going to miss you guys . . .”
“Oh come on.” She traps me in a hug. “You totally are. But we’ll DM you on Insta whenever we can.”
“We’ll send lots of pictures,” Hayley pipes in.
“And we’ll be expecting the same.” Alice winks, drawing a chuckle out of me.