Chapter 44
Emma
Steadfast
Every week, a part of me waited for the other shoe to drop. That same small part worried that Sebastian’s steady supply of texts and phone calls would suddenly stop. That the sun would go dark.
But every week, my fears proved false. We’d text all day. He’d share film-set gossip, and I shared the ins and outs of starting a business. And every night when he wasn’t filming late, we fell asleep on the phone together. Things even got spicy.
A funny thing started to happen. Gradually, the fear lessened. Gradually, the messages and calls that populated my day became something to count on.
Even though we still haven’t given a name to what we are to each other, in the last two months of this long-distance thing we’ve got going on, he’s become someone I can count on.
Which is why I’m surprised that Sebastian has been radio silent all day, even though I’ve messaged several times. I know I’m being silly. But since we started this, he’s never gone this long without texting. And yesterday there was a tabloid article with him looking cozy with his costar.
I sigh and remind myself that he’s not my dickwad ex. There’s no reason to think that Sebastian is ghosting me. I know the tabloids are bullshit.
I tell myself he must be having an exceptionally busy day on set.
Luckily, Dream Space is keeping me too busy to obsess. Much.
When summer ended, Sadie returned from her internship to work beside me.
In the last two months, we got our preliminary business tasks ticked off our list. Our branding, website, and social media accounts are set up and polished.
Our pitch deck is perfect. Our systems are in place. And we’ve landed three more clients.
We’re even using the money that Sebastian deposited in my account to set up Grace Foundation, a non-profit to help people like my aunt who have a hoarding disorder. It’s a complex issue, and we’re still in the planning stages, so we’ll take it slow. But I’m excited for the challenge.
It hasn’t been all smooth sailing. Work-life balance still mocks me. Though I don’t pull all-nighters anymore, working through the weekend is not unusual. It’s a good thing I love what I do.
“Emma! This place looks amazing,” Olivia calls as she walks through the door of my new house, which also happens to be Dream Space’s new office.
I grin with pride. She’s right. It does.
Sadie and I spent weeks looking for the right place to rent.
It had to do double duty—as an office and a place for me to live.
We finally found the almost-perfect house.
We discovered it through a friend of a friend of Sadie’s, and we’re renting it for an incredible price.
Especially since it’s in an ideal spot near Pacific Palisades.
The upside. It’s got curb appeal if you don’t look too closely at the details.
It’s a 1920s Craftsman-style storybook cottage we painted white with crisp blue trim.
An awkward addition was built in the 1970s, so there’s enough space to hold client meetings and store our supplies. Barely.
The downside—the owner’s nephew who used to live here was more into catching epic waves than caring for the property. So it fell into disrepair.
We can’t do much about the house’s quirks like a sagging foundation, uneven floorboards, and “vintage” plumbing and kitchen appliances.
But my sister nailed the decorating. The office has its own separate entrance and feels peaceful and serene, awash in tones of sage and cream.
Even better, all my organizational baskets and acrylic bins lining the floor-to-ceiling shelves make me want to run out and tackle the next disaster of a house.
And the next. And the next. Until the entire world is orderly. I sigh happily.
“I’m glad you’re finally getting to see it. Sadie and I have been working twenty-four seven to get it ready. I’ll give you a tour.” I hug Olivia and then hold my arms out so I can see her better. “Love your new look. Do a twirl for me.”
“What? No!” she says with a laugh. Then she fidgets with her glossy blown-out hair and straightens her fitted skirt self-consciously. “I just came from a book signing.” She makes a face. “That’s why I’m dolled up. They’re fun, but they terrify the introvert in me.”
“Well, you’re gorgeous. And insanely talented. So you shouldn’t be terrified.”
Olivia smiles. “Right back at you.”
“Are you ready for a night of girl talk and wedding planning?”
“Can I be honest and say, ‘maybe’? I mean, I’m dying to marry Chase.
But the planning feels overwhelming. I even hired someone to help.
But she kept suggesting more and more details, and pretty soon it didn’t feel like our wedding.
It felt like a giant production.” She bites her lip.
“Anyway, thanks for offering to help me figure out a better plan. I know how busy you are. But I’m glad for an excuse to see your new place. ”
I grab her hand and squeeze it. “We’re here for you. With my organization, Sadie’s design, and Daisy’s style and enthusiasm, we can’t go wrong.” I pause. “Do you have any idea what you want?”
Olivia knits her brow. “I want something… intimate. Something that feels like Chase and me.”
There’s a knock at the door, and then it swings open. “Darlings, I’m here!” Daisy announces.
I turn to greet my friend with a smile. She’s all blonde curls and pink fluff.
“That’s quite a coat.” I gesture to the voluminous jacket she’s wearing.
“Isn’t it? I found the best secondhand shop in Silver Lake. I fell in love. This fabulousness is a shearling maxi coat.”
“It’s a lot,” Olivia says with a laugh. “It’s only September.”
“And I’m a lot. Which is why I love it.” Daisy grins. She reaches into an oversized leather bag and pulls out a bottle of good champagne and a box. “Here, for our party. Sparkles and cupcakes.”
“How did you fit those in your bag?” I ask in awe. I open the box to find the prettily decorated treats still in perfect shape. They haven’t even shifted in their little containers.
“Practice. You never know when you might need a cupcake. And champagne. But don’t worry, Emma. The purple one with the sprinkles is sugar-free, just for you.” She looks around the room with an admiring gaze. “First, give me a tour. And then we’ve got a wedding to plan!”
“Wait, where’s Sadie?” Olivia asks.
“She’s on her way. She was meeting with a wallpaper installer. Come on. I’ll give you girls a tour. It’s the size of a postage stamp, so it won’t take long.”
Several hours later, Sadie’s arrived and we’re cozy in the living room, shoes kicked off, feet up, cupcakes eaten, and a few glasses of champagne in.
“So, that’s it. I think we’ve got Olivia’s wedding under control. How do you feel about the direction now?” I ask the bride-to-be.
She looks relieved. “I love it. I worried that having a small backyard wedding wouldn’t be fancy enough. That it would disappoint people. But you helped me see that it’s what we want that matters. And I love the vision—soft and romantic. Peonies. Lace. It’s perfect.
“And, you’ve got an incredible backyard. Just saying.” Daisy snickers.
“Plus, there’s the wedding dress Daisy is designing.” Sadie sighs. “You’ll be the most beautiful bride.”
“We’re good at this.” I turn to my sister with a teasing look. “Maybe we should start a side hustle in weddings.”
She groans. “We can barely keep up with our main hustle.”
“Is anyone else still hungry?” Daisy asks. “Should I order more snacks?”
“But you haven’t eaten the cookies I made,” I say.
“No offense, Emma, but those cookies are inedible.”
I look around at my friends.
Olivia nods reluctantly. “It’s true. We commend your growth journey using your oven for more than just pan storage. And actually trying out healthy recipes. Really, we do. But…”
“But we can’t eat those rocks of salt and sadness,” Sadie finishes bluntly. “You need to give up your new hobby. Consider this an intervention.”
“You’re all assholes. And I’m only going to listen to you because baking sucks.”
“It’s okay,” Daisy says. “You’re a boss babe. Not a baker. So? How’s work? I know that the first year of a new business can be a bitch.”
“Insane. Busy. But I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Sadie laughs.
“What she said,” I echo.
“And working together as sisters?” Olivia asks. “How’s that going?”
“We drive each other mad.”
“Emma’s… a little type A,” Sadie elaborates. “And I’m not. But luckily, I love her.”
My phone dings. Sebastian! I look at it hopefully. Disappointment shoots through me when I realize it’s just a message from an old assistant friend of mine.
“So, how’s your fake engagement going?” Daisy asks. “I haven’t seen any breakup rumors in the tabloids. I thought it was only a temporary thing.”
Olivia chuckles. “Daisy, you’ve been on tour with Ryder for too long now. You’re way out of the loop. Emma and Sebastian have moved on from being fake engaged to actually…” Olivia turns to me. “What is it that you are?”
“Oh!” Daisy says. “Are you together for real now? Is he your boyfriend?” she teases.
What can I tell my friends? Boyfriend sounds silly at our age—as if I should write Sebastian Blake is my boyfriend on my arm in permanent marker. And decorate it with hearts.
“We’re… exploring things,” I say lamely.
“Sexual things?” Daisy suggests. “It’s about damn time. The two of you have been the slowest burn ever.”
“Amen.” Olivia nods and takes a long sip of champagne.
Daisy regards me thoughtfully. “Why do you sound hesitant? Land that movie star. You’ve liked him forever.”
“How did you know? I thought only Sadie figured it out.”
Daisy waves her hand. “Oh, please. I can tell these things. Plus, wasn’t there that time a few years back that you both had to distract the paparazzi? And he kissed you so they would follow you two instead of Olivia and Chase.”