Emma stepped closer as the four of us made our way off set. Kate was slightly ahead, chatting with Harrison. Well, Harrison was chatting, and it made me nervous. He flicked an open smile back at me. There was a gleam in his eye that made me suspicious. Had he really been that bloody clueless, or did I owe him big-time for forcing my hand? Maybe I would be angry later, but for now, the world shone brighter, and even people weren’t as annoying.
“Well, that was all very dramatic,” Emma said quietly at my side.
“I don’t trust Sally. I don’t trust anybody on this set. They’re trying to use Kate and it’s pissing me off.” We made our way out to where a car was waiting for us.
“Is it Kate you’re worried about?” Emma asked.
“Of course,” I said.
Outside, behind the lot, the town car waited for us, magically summoned.
Emma held my gaze. “Okay. Just be careful,” she warned. “Kate’s a grown woman. Remember that.” Louder to Harrison and Kate, she said, “Should we go get dinner? I think Charlie’s a bit hangry.”
Kate snickered and I rolled my eyes.
“Kate and I have plans,” I said.
“Do you?” Emma asked.
“You’ll have plenty of time for that,” Harrison said. “Come on, let’s take Kate for a night on the town. Give her a little taste of the celebrity life.”
“Oh yes!” Emma hopped excitedly.
I blinked at Harrison. It took all my effort not to growlmine.
“No. You guys don’t have to do that,” Kate said.
“We want to,” Emma said. “If we leave it up to him, you’ll just order takeaway and stay in all night.”
Kate shrugged, mirroring my own thoughts that the suggestion sounded like an ideal night in.
“You two really are homebodies,” Harrison grumbled.
“Listen, Charlie. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Kate. Don’t you want her to experience the fun side of fame?” I opened my mouth to object, and she held up a finger. “Don’t, you grumpy arse. There are plenty of perks and don’t you forget it.”
“I don’t even have anything to wear,” Kate argued weakly. I could see her considering the glamor of it all.
Yes, I hated it, but she really did deserve to have some fun.
Emma clicked her tongue. “Well, you obviously don’t need to worry about that. I keep tons of stuff at Harrison’s just for situations like this.”
Kate’s eyes widened in excitement at the prospect of seeing inside Emma’s wardrobe. I had to give her this. After so long of keeping myself at bay, after a day of filming and her doing amazingly, she deserved to have a night to be free and have fun. And sure, there were some perks to fame that I hadn’t exercised in a while.
“We’ll be careful with the paps,” Emma said to me, giving her famous pleading pout. “Let Kate have this.”
“Fine.” Emma clapped her hands and squeaked in excitement. I added, “I’m doing this for Kate. Not for you.”
“Oh, I know,” she said.
Kate’s smile transformed into such a breathtaking sight I decided to do anything she ever asked of me. Then something seemed to click in her brain and she frowned. She stepped closer to me. Emma took the hint and dragged an oblivious Harrison into the waiting car.
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay going out? What if I drink?” she asked.
I grinned at her and didn’t stop myself from tucking hair behind her ear. “I’m often around people drinking.”
“That’s not what I asked,” she said, holding my stare.
I grabbed her face with both hands. “I’ll be okay. I want you to have fun.”
