Off Screen by J.A. Armstrong

Author:J.A. Armstrong
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: JA Armstrong Books
Published: 2015-03-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven: New Time; New Place

Emma placed a hot cup of tea in front of a quiet, almost sullen looking Addison. She watched as Addison toyed with the tea bag repeatedly, never lifting her gaze from her silent task. Emma wasn’t certain what was bothering her friend. It was obvious that something was. It made her heart ache. Addison’s friendship meant the world to Emma. She looked forward to their Saturday afternoons. She delighted in their late night conversations. Addison had no expectations of how Emma should behave, and Emma was confident that the writer would not care whether she was wearing a pair of jeans, an Armani evening gown, or a holey pair of sweatpants and a baggy T-shirt. Addison liked Emmie. She knew Emmie Bronson. As Emma kept her silent watch over her friend, a faint hint of insecurity made its presence known in Emma’s heart. Would Addison be able to accept Emma Bronson as easily as she had Emmie? Emma Bronson’s life could get more than a little crazy. Then, another question popped into her head. Perhaps, Addison feared that the end of their four coffee dates heralded the end of their friendship. Emma sighed. “Addy?” she said softly.

Addison picked up her head and greeted Emma with what could only be described as a sad smile. “Thanks,” Addison said.

Emma sighed deeply. “Addy, can I ask you something?

“You can ask me anything,” Addison said. She immediately wished she had not made that response. “Good Lord,” she mentally scolded herself. “What the hell will you say if she asks how you feel about her?”

“Do you still want to keep seeing each other?” Emma asked hesitantly. “What I mean is, you don’t think that because this was our fourth agreed coffee hour, well…you don’t think that means….”

Addison smiled. “Emma,” she said seriously as she finally let go of her tea bag and took her friend’s hand in reassurance. “Of course.” She realized suddenly that her response could be taken different ways. “I really hope that those coffee dates were just the beginning.” It was a benign statement, but deep down Addison knew there was more truth in it than she had spoken in hours.

Emma breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. Feel better?”

“I’m all right,” Addison promised. “So, is Saturday our standing date, or what?” she asked.

“Absolutely, except this Saturday.”

“Hot date?” Addison asked, trying to keep the hurt and fear out of her voice.

“I have heard Riverton referred to many ways. Hot date has never been used in the same sentence; I don’t think.”

“You’re visiting home?” Addison asked curiously.

“Yeah. It’s my parents’ 35th anniversary. Why that matters as a milestone, I don’t know. They’re weird. Every five years that have this family dinner to celebrate their anniversary. I mean, I get that for maybe the first twenty. Really?” Emma giggled. “Could we not step up to increments of ten now?”

“I think it’s kind of sweet,” Addison said.

Emma’s eyes sparkled at the comment. Addison was a complete sap. Again, Emma’s thoughts drifted, wondering how that fact impacted Addison’s work.

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