Something to Talk About(22)
Jo blinked. Emma felt stupid. She didn’t think she explained herself well.
“I just mean—” Emma furrowed her brow. “It’s basically my job to make you happy.”
Jo did something between a scoff and a sigh, and Emma didn’t understand it at all.
“Whatever,” Emma said. “I just want you to be happy, and if I am sometimes the one who makes you that way, great.”
That felt too heavy. God, especially with the rumors, what was Emma thinking, coming over and saying this to Jo? She tried to power through like it wasn’t awkward.
“I can probably make you laugh, actually,” she said. “My sister and I are doing ‘A Whole New World’ from Aladdin next on karaoke. You should come watch.”
“Have you done the proper warm-ups?” Jo’s voice was overly serious.
“If singing backup while Aly rocked ‘Build Me Up Buttercup’ counts as warm-ups.”
That, at least, got Jo to smile. Emma took a sip of her drink to hide her grin.
“You know I appreciate everything you do, Emma,” Jo said. “That award belongs to you, too—I wouldn’t get half as much done without you.”
Emma shrugged it off. “Sure you would.”
“I wouldn’t,” Jo insisted.
She held eye contact for a moment before glancing over Emma’s shoulder.
“I believe your sister is trying to get your attention,” she said. “It must be your time to sing.”
“Right,” Emma said. She turned to go, then turned back. “You really should come watch. Better than the original, I swear.”
Avery was on the other side of the rooftop. She could have walked over, but apparently she’d rather try to get Emma’s attention like an idiot, waving her arms around. Emma planned to tease her for it, but Avery teased her first.
“How’s your girlfriend?” Avery asked, dragging out the word.
Emma smacked her on the arm. “Seriously, could you not do that? Especially here. God, what did I tell you about this? I do not need people thinking you’re serious.”
Avery rubbed the place on her arm Emma hit. “Somebody’s touchy.”
“Somebody’s annoying,” Emma grumbled. “You don’t even know if she’s interested in women anyway. She’s probably straight and definitely isn’t my girlfriend.”
Avery leveled her with a look.
“No straight person writes queer characters as well as Jo Jones.”
“Maybe she’s got a lot of gay friends!”
Avery gave an exaggerated roll of her eyes. “No straight woman would’ve watched you walk away from that conversation the way she did.”
Emma could feel her face go red. “I said shut up. God, some of the crew already believe the rumors.”
She didn’t wonder how Jo looked at her. It didn’t matter. Jo was—Jo was her maybe straight boss, and Emma didn’t have a crush on her anyway.
“I’ll make it up to you,” Avery said, “by singing Aladdin’s part.”
Emma gasped. “You never let me sing Jasmine’s part!”
“A one-time offer.”
Emma squealed and threw her arms around her sister.
When Emma sang about an endless diamond sky, she spotted Jo, at the back of the crowd, just inside the door from outside. She was smiling.
Emma really loved wrap parties.
* * *
—
Later, Emma traced patterns onto a tablecloth as the last of the partygoers filtered out. Avery was—somewhat drunkenly—directing one of her employees in the collection of Floured Up’s platters. Avery’s chocolate Guinness cupcakes had been such a hit that Emma no longer felt bad about using her position as wrap party planner to give her sister business.
Emma watched Gina, one of the lead actresses, give Jo a hug before getting on the elevator. Emma and Jo were officially the only members of the cast and crew left. It was probably time to go. Emma bumped the table as she got up, but managed to catch her cup before it spewed its contents everywhere. At least no one was left to witness her clumsiness.
She made her way over to Jo, who still stood by the elevators.
“Do you always stay until the end of the party?”
“Honestly, no.” Jo’s eyes crinkled with her smile. “But this was an exceptional party. It must have had an excellent planner.”
Emma giggled. It had been a successful night. She hoped everyone else agreed.
“I meant what I said earlier, Emma,” Jo said. “I wouldn’t be here without you.”
Emma scuffed her shoe along the ground and bit her lip. “You would. You just probably wouldn’t be as entertained. I mean what other assistant is going to pull off ‘A Whole New World’ that well?”
“That’s true.” Jo’s smile was tender. “You have a beautiful voice.”
If Emma weren’t already red from the alcohol, she’d be red from the compliment.
“You ready to go?” Avery appeared at Emma’s shoulder.
Emma nodded. Avery pushed the elevator button, and Emma looked back to Jo, who was still smiling at her.
“Good night, Emma.”
“Good night.”
Emma stepped in for a hug. A half a beat, then Jo slid her arms around Emma’s waist. Emma breathed her in. Jo wore the same perfume, every day, just a dash of it. She smelled fresh—like clean sheets or snowfall or something.