Shedid. God, she thought about it too much last night, drunk and texting the wrong person, but she was sober now and she was still thinking about it, still thinking about just how true everything she said to her father was. Emma was herrock. Every bad day she’d had this year was because she and Emma weren’t on good terms. When things were going well between them, Jo hadgotten through everything—the stupid rumors and the morons at the network and the writer’s block. Emmawasmagnificent, and Jo was anidiot, just seeing all of this now.
Emma was in Jo’s office, discussing location scouting for the spring arc ofInnocents, when Evelyn texted.
How’s the hangover, sweetheart?
Jo ignored her. A minute later, her phone buzzed again.
How’s Emma today? Still magnificent?
Emma paused and looked at Jo expectantly, giving her time to respond to her phone if need be. Jo was grateful that Emma had stopped avoiding all eye contact. She responded to Evelyn.
Absolutely.
Ev typed back immediately.
You’re such a lesbian.
Emma looked away. How long had it been since Jo had taken her last ibuprofen? Her head still ached.
I’m a hungover midlife crisis of a person in love with my assistant. Give me a break.
Jo’s phone rang. She should have expected that. She declined the call and gestured for Emma to go on.
“Calgary is looking like a good option,” Emma said. “Cheaper than Vancouver, and—”
Jo’s phone rang again. She declined it again. Emma paused for a moment, then continued.
“There are good outdoor opportunities, of course. There is some interest in—”
The third time Jo’s phone rang, she gave Emma a clenched-tooth smile.
“Can we go over this later?”
Emma nodded and started gathering her things as Jo picked up her phone.
“Hello?”
“Are youserious?” Evelyn’s voice was so loud that Jo worried Emma might overhear.
“This actually isn’t a great time.” Jo kept her own voice steady.
“She’s in your office, isn’t she?”
“Yes.”
Emma had all of her papers and her tablet by now, gave Jo an awkward half smile, and headed for the door.
“We need to go over what happened when your dad visited,” Evelyn said.
“We don’t,” Jo said, even though she needed to go over it withsomeone. She wished she could’ve been honest with Emma about it, could’ve told her just how much she wanted to kiss her—and not as a drunken accident or in the heat of the moment. “And we can’t right now. I’ll call you later.”
“If you don’t, Jo Jones,” Evelyn said, the threat clear in her voice. “If you do not call me back and tell me everything, I am going to fly to LA myself.”
Jo believed her.
“Mm-hmm,” Jo said. “Okay, talk later.”
She hung up. Emma was gone by now. She had pulled the door closed behind her in case Jo needed privacy. Jo dropped her forehead onto her desk. The impact just made her head hurt more.