“Aw, that’s so sweet,” Emma said. “But once again, I will ask, what did you think of the interview together? I can’t help but notice your avoiding the question.”
Charlie let out a highly annoyed sigh. “Just say what you want to say, Emma,” Charlie said.
I hid my face in his arm.
“I saw you two sneak out. Right in the middle of it! It was only a two-hour special. You couldn’t wait?” Emma pointed as she laughed at us.
“Wait, they did?” Harrison turned to us. “You guys left?”
“Oh, yeah, Harrison. You’re the most observant,” Emma teased.
I still had my face hidden in Charlie’s warm, strong bicep.
“Kate and I had important things to discuss that couldn’t wait,” he said.
“Right. Talking.” She clicked her tongue with atsk. “The two of you have no shame.”
“Wewerejust talking,” I said indignantly yet in a tone far too high-pitched to be believed.
It was true. We couldn’t wait. Charlie had pulled me away almost as soon as the premiere started. He told me how sorry he was for all our time apart, for the unspoken truths and machinations on his end. I understood his fear and shared my own. The last few weeks, we’d been communicating again. It was wonderful to have him back in my life all day, every day in our emails—except for the bit where I went off the map. I wouldn’t have been able to keep my surprise visit from him and it had all been a whirlwind. And our big conversation had to happen in person.
“I needed to apologize to Kate. I couldn’t wait any longer,” Charlie said.
“I had to say some sorrys of my own,” I added.
“Hmm, two hours is a long time to apologize,” Emma teased.
Of course, we totally did end up making out and getting each other off, but that was neither here nor there. I cleared my throat.
Charlie spoke up. “That’s a lot coming from you, Emma. I saw you and Wesley—”
“You saw nothing,” she said primly.
Harrison looked between his two best friends, dumbfounded. “Was I the only one that actually watched the special? It was quite good.”
We all laughed, and I cuddled deeper into Charlie, feeling more relaxed than ever.
“I do have a home theatre. We could watch it,” Harrison offered.
The rest of us agreed it was a good idea but made no move to go. From the crackle of the fire to the cozy blankets that surrounded us to the pleasant, teasing conversation, there was something so perfect about this moment that none of us wanted to ruin it by moving.
“I have to admit, I enjoy this house much more with you all here,” Harrison said. “I don’t have to head to Albuquerque to start filming until next week. We should all stay. Like the good old days. We could swim and watch movies. I’ll get that awful blue Kool-Aid and bags of microwave popcorn just like when we were kids.”
I smiled at Harrison. His excitement reminded me so much of his younger self, the one I’d seen in film and early interviews. I hadn’t realized how absent his authentic joy had been until just this moment.
“I can’t be in this city right now.” Emma swallowed and looked to the side. “It’s difficult to be this close to Wesley. Sorry, Harrison. If he wasn’t right bloody next door.”
“Ah. Yes.” Harrison’s easy smile twitched. “I completely understand.”
I felt a pinch of guilt. He seemed so crestfallen now. “I have to get back to finish up some stuff in Minneapolis. I’m training a new person to replace me,” I explained with sympathy.
“How’s he doing, by the way?” Charlie asked me.
“He’s good. Smart. Listens. Gail likes him even though she acts like she’ll be lost without me.”
“You have that effect on people,” he said.
“What about you?” Harrison asked Charlie hopefully.
