My eyes squeeze shut, but that doesn’t stop the tears from falling down my cheeks. I know they’re just textmessages, but he sounds so hurt. How is he still able to fake it so easily? Why is he even bothering?
You’ve got an audition next week for an awards-season contender...
Of course. The last thing he needs before going in for some serious audition is a tabloid breakup story. Not that I would ever plan to run to the tabloids. But word will get out sooner or later.
Me:I’ll have Liz come by next week with anything you left at my place. Please pack up anything I left at yours and give it to her then.
Grayson:Jesus, Emmy. I’ve been worried sick over here and that’s all you have to say? Pack up my stuff?
Me:I don’t have anything else to say to you.
Grayson:You won’t even tell me what I did wrong?
Me:You know exactly what you did wrong, Grayson.
Me:Don’t contact me again.
Grayson:Emmy, we need to talk about this in person.
Me:No. And if you can’t respect my wishes, I’ll block your number.
Grayson:Why are you pushing me away right as we were about to take things to the next level?
Me:I’m not pushing you away.
Grayson:You are. You got scared, didn’t you?
I scoff out loud, the sound echoing around my empty condo. This man, this lying liar who lies, thinks he can psychoanalyze me?
Me:I’m not scared. I just finally figured out who you really are.
Grayson:...
Grayson:So this is it? You’re just writing me off for some reason you won’t even share? Writing off this relationship we’ve built and my feelings for you? Seriously?
Grayson:One minute you love me and the next you’re just done?
Me:Yup. Goodbye.
Grayson:I don’t even know what to say.
Grayson:I’m here. If you change your mind. I love you.
I click off my phone before I’m tempted to tell him I love him, too. Because I still do, of course, even if his declaration is a lie.
Keeping the blanket wrapped around me, I shuffle into my bedroom, climb under the covers, and go back to sleep.
Screen Scandals
We have some devastating news to deliver to you today, friends, and although we hate to be the bearer of it, we must report the facts. It seems our favorite (and hottest) couple #Emson is already headed for Splitsville. Paparazzi captured photos of director and Emmy’s best friend Liz Hudson delivering a cardboard box to Grayson West’s house and leaving with a different, much bigger box. It seems Emmy recruited her BFF to do the final exchanging of the stuff. Neither West nor Harper has been seen out about town, individually or together, since they made a splash on the red carpet at the premiere of West’s box office smashHostile Hostages 4(aka the site of the GIF heard ’round the world). Although our initial impression was that the couple was a bit of a mismatch, no one could deny their obvious chemistry. We are super sad to learn of this split, but we gotta admit, we’re now really looking forward to theNo Reservationspress tour, which is scheduled to take place in just a few weeks. Those should be some interesting interviews!
Chapter Twenty-Two
The knock on my front door is cheerful and unexpected and, therefore, I know before I reach said door that my mother stands on the other side. I still check, because I’m a woman who lives alone in a major city, but of course, all the peephole shows is my mom, dancing a little on my welcome mat to some unheard tune inside her head.
Luckily, she brought coffee.
I open the door with an exaggerated sigh. “We have these lovely things called cell phones nowadays, and they allow you to let a person know when you are going to be unexpectedly popping by for a visit.”
