Something to Talk About(20)

Regardless, she’d be going alone.

Except for the rumors, the SAGs were the best awards show Jo had been to in years. Prep went smoothly, they arrived late enough that she skipped interviews, and the food was delicious. Emma hadn’t simply been a buffer—she had been entertaining in and of herself. And Jo hadn’t ended the evening exhausted and longing for sleep; she’d ended it smiling as they dropped Emma off at her apartment building.

Jo wanted the GLAADs to be similar, wanted to enjoy them. But everything reminded her of the SAGs. As Kelli and Mai put her together, as she walked the red carpet, Jo thought of Emma. It didn’t help that both her prep team in the suite and the photographers at the event kept asking after Jo’s “girlfriend.”

She tried to let it roll off her, tried to keep a smile on her face. With no buffer, she had to talk to anyone who came by, but it was fine—it was; she swore the GLAADs were better than other ceremonies. Tonight they simply took more mental energy than she had.

And then, when Jo was almost at her breaking point, when she wanted to go home, Innocents won for Outstanding Drama Series, and she had a speech to give.

The whole cast came onstage with her. Jo accepted the award and stepped up to the microphone, everyone still hugging behind her.

She had a speech planned. They’d won this three years running now; she came prepared. She had a list of people to thank.

She didn’t.

“This is my favorite awards show,” she said instead. “This is the award I will always be proudest to win. I write fiction, but these are real stories. These are important stories.”

These are our stories, she thought but did not say as people applauded. This wasn’t about her, not really.

“There are plenty of people who work on our show who I could thank, but I want to thank you,” Jo said. “Thank all of you, for being so strong in the face of a world that sometimes seems like it would rather you not exist. Thank you for being proud in the face of people who think you should be ashamed. Thank you for being here, in this world. For surviving. You are an inspiration.”

Everyone congratulated her again as they left the stage together, hugs and high fives and big grins. Jo wished Emma were there.





5


    EMMA


Congratulations on the win,” Emma said as she handed Jo her coffee the Monday following the GLAADs.

“Thanks,” Jo said. “Is everything on track for Friday?”

Emma had never seen Jo do anything with a compliment except brush it off. She followed Jo into her office.

“Everything is set for Friday, yes,” Emma said. “Except for the last-minute RSVPs who I am going to make grovel before telling them they can still come.”

That got Jo to smirk slightly as she sat at her desk and opened her laptop.

“Would you like to see a list of songs for karaoke?” Emma asked. “So you can practice in advance?”

Jo chuckled. “Good try.”

Karaoke was Emma’s favorite part of every wrap party, but Jo never sang.

“I have a new duet partner this year,” Emma said. “You won’t want to miss it.”

“You’re bringing a date?” Jo said, looking up at Emma, her brow furrowed.

“I am!” Emma said. “My sister’s coming early to drop off the desserts from her bakery, and then she’ll change and come back as my date slash singing partner.”

The wrinkles in Jo’s forehead smoothed. Emma wondered if Jo thought she was bringing a date date—not that it would have quelled the rumors: What happened at wrap parties stayed at wrap parties. Part of planning the party was ensuring there would be no paparazzi anywhere near it. That was kind of a necessity when you had an open bar and no call time in the morning.

“Are you bringing anyone?” Emma asked.

“Have I ever?”

Emma smiled. “There’s a chance that in years past I may have been too busy with karaoke to notice your date situation.”

In years past, wrap parties were easier. She was a props assistant then, had no responsibility for the party. She just got to show up and get drunk and sing. This year, even with the added responsibility, she was looking forward to the week. It would be quieter, less stressful after weeks of rewrites and reshoots and struggling to get everything perfect for the finale.

“I don’t bring dates to wrap parties and I don’t partake in karaoke,” Jo said.

“Has anyone ever told you you’re not very much fun?” Emma teased.

“I’ll have you know, my five-year-old nephew told me I was the coolest.”

“Oh, well then,” Emma laughed. “You’ll never hear me disagree with a five-year-old.”

“They are your peers, aren’t they?” Jo asked, an eyebrow arched and the corners of her mouth quirked up.

“You really want to start age jokes, boss?”

Jo laughed and waved her off. Emma returned to her desk with a smile on her face.



* * *



—

The restaurant they’d rented out for the wrap party was a rooftop bar, strung up with twinkle lights. Karaoke was inside, and most of the mingling was outside, under a night sky dulled by light pollution.

Emma had to make sure everything was in place: food, drinks, security, entertainment. It was the first wrap party she’d ever planned. She wanted it to be perfect. Avery eventually pulled her away from explaining ticket taking to the bouncers for the third time.