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“You’re unbelievable,” Phil said. “It was ajoke.”

“A joke that demonstrated you’re not ready for a position likethis,” Emma said. “You’re a good PA, Phil, but this isn’t the right job for you.”

Phil left. He just left the room with a scoff and nothing more. Emma’s skin tingled, her heart raced. Phil was her best friend on set, but friend or not, that had been completely inappropriate. No, her job wasn’t guarding nuclear launch codes, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t important. That didn’t mean it could go to someone who couldn’t read a room and understand when a joke might not be a good idea.

She gave him a few minutes’ head start to get away from the conference room and maybe blow off some steam before she headed back to her desk. Thankfully, there was no sign of him.

“How’d the interview go?” Jo asked as soon as Emma returned.

Emma tried to smile at her. “Fine,” she said. She didn’t want to think about it. “I’ll have a decision made by the time we go to Calgary.”

“Great,” Jo said. “Our last business trip together.”

Emma didn’t want to think about that, either. She was nervous about the promotion. Rationally, she knew she already had plenty of production duties. She knew she had stepped up, done more than she needed to as an assistant. But staying onInnocentsin a new position while Jo left? Something about it made her skin crawl. It wasn’t her crush—she had no chance with Jo whether they worked together or not, clearly. But not working with her directly... except for the week they were fighting, Jo had always had her back. She had this unwavering belief that Emma would succeed. No matter what happened between them personally, Jo had always been there for her professionally. Emma was nervous to lose that, especially at the same time she was stepping into a new position.

“Don’t forget to bring your inhaler,” Jo said with a wink.

Emma half laughed at her. “Of course not, boss.”

Moments like this, everything felt normal between them.

“Hey.” Emma started at the voice behind her. She turned to find Chantal, whose approach she hadn’t noticed. Chantal was just as small as Jo, but without heels to add height or announce her arrival.

Chantal looked between Jo and Emma, eyebrows not quite raised. “Got a question for you,” she said to Jo.

“Come in,” Jo said, giving Emma one last smile before retreating to her office.

Chantal followed.

Emma wished she could ask Jo if they were really okay. Wished she could tell her that she was sorry for almost kissing her, that she understood Jo was with Evelyn and it didn’t matter even if she wasn’t. But of course she couldn’t. Better just to make sure she didn’t look at Jo too long, didn’t stand too close, didn’t let their fingers touch when she handed over papers or Jo’s coffee. Better to make sure she didn’t call Jobosswhere anyone else could hear.

—

The trip to Calgarywas the final step of location scouting for an arc ofInnocents. It had been well vetted, approved all the way up the ladder to Jo. All that was left was for her to fly out and take a look at various sites to give her own approval. She and Emma were scheduled for a quick two-day tour, flying out Friday morning and back on Saturday evening, the day before Emma’s birthday. Normally, Emma might have minded going on a weekend or so close to her birthday, butInnocentsonly had one more week before breaking for the holidays. The trip felt like Emma’s last adventure in a job she wasn’t quite ready to leave. She wasn’t going to complain about any part of it.

On Thursday, Emma went to Avery’s for dinner to see her before heading off on her trip. Dylan was picking up the twins from a friend’s house, so it was just Avery and Emma as Avery prepared dinner. She was using turkey stock from Thanksgiving to make soup. Emma sat on a stool and watched her, not allowed to help.

“So who’d you hire to replace you?” Avery asked as she sautéed carrots, celery, and onions.

“A woman named Marlita,” Emma said. “She’ll do well.”

“Is Phil gonna be pissed it wasn’t him?”

Emma rolled her eyes. “I’m the one who’s pissed at him. I told him he didn’t get the job at the end of his interview.”

Avery added broth into the pot and stirred it quickly before joining Emma at the kitchen island.

“Tell me everything.”

Emma did. She felt vindicated when Avery announced, “Fuck Phil, then.”

“Right?” Emma said. “My job is important. If it weren’t important, why’d Jo say—”

She cut herself off. Avery didn’t know that story.

“Why’d Jo say what?”

Emma shook her head. “It’s nothing.”