Page 111 of The Golden Scoop

I get out and lean against the car.

Are you up for surprises?

Mills

Depends…

Whatever’s gotten her like this is infuriating. I have to take a deep breath and remind myself why I’m here.

Come outside and find out.

Not a minute later, her apartment door swings open.

She’s wearing my shirt. Little thief.

Her eyes widen. She takes two steps before realizing she’s barefoot. I push off the car and make my way over to her. Slow. Giving her time to decide our next move.

Must be a no-brainer, because as soon as I’m within arm’s reach, she wraps around me. The bag drops. My hands come up to cradle her head against my chest. We don’t move. She exhales long, melting further into me.

“Hi, Mills,” I whisper when she tilts her chin up to me. Her eyes are tired, but I can still see that spark of hers behind the worry. “Nice shirt.”

“Thanks. I just got it,” she chirps.

“Did you now?” I raise an eyebrow, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I missed you.”

Emma gives me a soft smile. “I missed you too.”

“Up for a movie? I brought snacks. You pick.”

“Anything I want?”

I nod. She pulls me inside without another word.

The popcorn goes in the microwave. I grab two beers and head to the couch, handing her one where she’s already plopped down. She scrolls so fast through the list of movies, I don’t catch a single title. When I sit next to her, I realize, it’s probably because she already knew what she was looking for.

“Didn’t peg you for a romcom girl,” I tease, as The Proposal loads on screen.

“Oh, this is more than a romcom. It’s comedy at its peak.”

“How many times have you watched it, Mills?” I ask, narrowing my eyes playfully.

“A couple?” Emma says, sheepish grin in place.

She’s watched it so many times she knows the dialogue by heart. Could audition right now and nail it all in one take. On the other hand, it’s been so long since I’ve seen a romcom, I forgot how funny they actually are.

Margaret’s currently running around holding that tiny white dog up to the sky. Emma’s losing it beside me, wiping tears from her eyes.

There’s nothing better than this. Nothing.

I could stay here. Admiring her laugh, falling in love all over again for the rest of my life and it’d be enough.

When we’re nearing the end of the movie, and Margaret flies back to New York with the immigration officer, Emma cuddles closer. I rub lazy circles on her shoulder. It’s not until my shirt turns damp that I realize she’s crying.

“Mills,” I whisper, wiping away a stray tear. “Are you okay?”

She nods. “I just love Betty White so much. And now she’s gone.”

“I’ll tell you what—next up, The Golden Girls.”