“Definitely.” She sniffed and tossed her hair over her shoulder. By the time she looked at me again, a smile was fixed in place. “I’ve just had enough of this club.”
Once composed, Charlie waved Harrison over.
“We can head home and put on comfy pants,” Emma said, her voice slightly slurred.
“You don’t have to sell me on that,” Charlie said. “Is that okay with you?” he asked me. There was a look in his eyes that said our previous activities might need to be put on hold to take care of Emma.
“Of course.” Tonight had been like a dream but it wasn’t something I needed. More like something my older self would have been grateful to have experienced. But honestly, I was just as happy to get out of these heels.
“I’m sorry. If you guys want to stay, I can get a different car.” She stumbled, reaching for her bag.
“Not a chance. We’ve got you.” Harrison helped to steady her.
For just a moment, her smile faltered. I glanced away as she said to her best friend, “You were right. I should’ve just left well enough alone.”
“He’s an idiot,” Charlie said. Emotion swelled in me for this sweet friendship.
My heart longed for such support. What it might be like to fully rely on someone you’ve known most of your life? I could only hope.
34
Kate
Charlie’s handthreaded through mine, and my whole body pressed against his in the limo.
Harrison and Emma whispered to each other across from us. He spoke in a constant low rumble, and she responded with a quick nod or sniff. When she tried to speak up in a high-pitched “But I never—” Harrison’s deep and soothing voice cut her off.
I let my head drift onto Charlie’s shoulder, and the gentle rocking hum of the car made me drowsy.
Emma finally settled as Harrison pulled her in for a hug. She had her arms crossed, but her head rested on his shoulder. I felt the need to fill the silence of the car, the evening having taken a decidedly somber turn.
“Thank you again for letting me stay with you,” I said to Harrison.
“Mi casa etcetera,” he said lightly but with tired eyes.
“It’s a beautiful home,” Emma said and then looked up at him. “You don’t stay there much. Such a waste.”
“It’s a lot of house for one guy,” Harrison said, his smile not quite convincing. “Thought it would be filled with kids by now. Alas, I’ve managed to fill the empty space with all my Oscars.”
Emma rolled her eyes but squeezed him tighter. He smiled brightly but it didn’t negate the sadness in his eyes. He hid it well. Of the three of them, I’d assumed that he enjoyed fame and fortune the most. But the more I got to know the Intrepid Trio, the more it seemed their picture-perfect celebrity life wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. I’d assumed that people whose lives were objectively a success would be the happiest. But it looked as though I had managed to romanticize even the most glamorized life.
This trip was a vacation from the realities of my world, but it wasn’t sustainable. I needed to focus on getting published and being taken seriously as a writer. After all this, I would go home to an empty apartment and a stale career, if I wasn’t careful.
Charlie lifted my hand to kiss my knuckles as though he read my mind.
“You know, I’ve only been there a few times, but your house always reminded me of George’s.” Emma sat up and turned to Harrison. “I can’t believe I never told you that before.”
“That’s why I bought it. Reminded me of our summers at his house,” Harrison said. His eyes went hazy with recalled memory.
“George Sedar, the author?” I asked.
“Yes,” Harrison said. “All of us went to school on set during filming but during the summer holiday, we’d usually spend at least a few weeks at George’s place. He treated us like just another one of his grandkids.”
“Do you ever talk to them? The grandkids?” Emma asked Harrison. “You were good friends with one of the girls for a while, weren’t you?”
“Not in many years,” Harrison said tightly, the fuzziness in his focus sharpening into a glare.
“It’s hard to believe those kids are our age. In my mind, they’ll always be little,” Emma said. “Like those perfect summer weeks have remained exactly the same in my memory.”
