I look at him strangely. “What do you mean? You mean have I been sleeping with other guys?”
He shrugs and pulls down his aviator shades.
“Emmett,” I tell him, pulling him to a stop. “I’m with you all the time.”
“You did say there was that Casey guy at work, the one who maybe took the pictures.”
I let out an acidic laugh. “Casey? Casey is a creep and also he didn’t take the pictures. I can tell. Besides, it is in our contract that the both of us can’t go around screwing other people.”
“I know what the contract says but it doesn’t mean you don’t want to.”
I’m not really sure what’s come over him and I’m also not sure how to respond. Do I play it cool or not?
I go for something in-between. I lean in close to him and when I’m sure no one is looking, I reach down and grab his crotch. “This is the only cock for me. All you and all the time.”
Finally, he breaks into a grin. I guess all I needed to do was stroke his ego. Or his cock.
“Oh my god, isn’t that Emmett Hill?” a girl says to her friend as they walk past.
Right. Back to being on. And as much as it’s not out of place for the world to see us like this, I really could do without a headline that says Alyssa Martin Loves Cock This Much or something like that.
I pull my hand away and give him a quick smile. “Let’s go inside.”
The winery is busy but it’s also fairly large so it’s not long before we find ourselves lined up for a tasting. The guy doing it seems completely enamored with Emmett and keeps giving us large pours, which is great. The cabin is in stumbling distance and I have plenty of time to sober up before dinner at my mom’s. On second thought, I might want to stay buzzed. Bringing Emmett to meet her is a bit nerve-wracking, no matter our relationship.
“So Emmett,” the sommelier says. His name tag says he’s Eric. “Can you give me the inside scoop on Boomerang? Is Doctor Death really going to steal Boomerang’s power? I have a theory that because Boomerang can go back in time by one minute, Doctor Death is going to develop a formula to do the same. But he’ll be able to do it for like a whole day. Essentially beating Boomerang at his own game.”
Emmett lets out a low whistle, seeming both humbled and flattered. “Impressive. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you took a look at our scripts.”
The guy beams. “I’m clairvoyant,” he says and I’m pretty sure he’s not joking. “I can see into the future, in bits and pieces. Nothing significant.”
“Maybe there should be a superhero show about you,” I tell him.
Eric gives me a faint smile and then fixes all his attention back on Emmett again. “Seriously though. I think that’s what’s going to happen. But I still think Doctor Death will die.”
Emmett shrugs, apparently not put off by it. “It depends on my contract,” he says.
I give Emmett a look, like I’m not sure if he should be talking about this stuff but he doesn’t seem to notice.
“So you’re not permanent,” Eric notes.
“Nah, man. Never was. I was supposed to be there for a few episodes but they loved me so much they kept me on. But I still think I’ll get written off at some point, maybe even soon.”
“Really?” I ask him.
Emmett nods, looks between the two of us. “Yeah. But it’s okay. This was never supposed to be my real comeback. You said so yourself.”
“I know but–”
“So then what will you do?” Eric asks. “And what happens to Boomerang?”
“Boomerang will find some other villain to tussle with. Look,” he says, adjusting himself on the stool, “we all know my character isn’t the Joker. He’s not even Klaus. He’s good for now but eventually there will be someone better. Or the show will get canceled.” He laughs when Eric looks horrified. “Anyway, I’ll find something. Probably go back to London and do theatre again.”
“What?” I whisper. This is the first I’m hearing of this. What the hell is he talking about, moving back to London to do theatre? When?
“Uh oh,” Eric says, starting to pour us all more wine. “Looks like you guys are in for a break-up.”
I practically snarl at Eric. “Mind your own business,” I tell him.
He stares at me with wide eyes and slowly backs away from our glasses. “This is the merlot. Enjoy.” Then he promptly turns around and starts dealing with other people.
“Hey, he was pouring good,” Emmett complains, swirling the wine around the glass.
“When were you going to tell me you were going to move back to London?”
His features go slack. “I don’t know. At some point.”
“But when?”
“I don’t know,” he says again and takes a sniff of the wine. “Not bad.”
“Emmett,” I hiss. “Please. I can’t believe you’ve been thinking about this and you didn’t have the courtesy to even tell me.”
His eyes narrow. “Courtesy? Why would I have to tell you?”
“Because.”
Because I’m me. And aren’t I something to you?
“Alyssa,” he says, lowering his voice, “we’re not an actual couple, you know. I don’t have to tell you everything.”
Oh my god. Ow.
OW.
I can’t help but wince at his words.
He sighs. “I didn’t mean it to come out so harsh,” he says. “I just…I don’t know, I’ve been thinking about it and that’s it really.”
“But you think you might have to leave Boomerang.”
“I know I will. My contract with them is only so long. It’s up pretty soon and from the way people have been talking and the way the scripts are going, the ratings, I don’t think I’ll be there for much longer. And it’s fine. For once, it’s truly fine. This is a good thing.”
“Yeah, for you.”
“Why not for you? Nothing changes. We’ll still fulfill our contract, you’ll still get your money. Don’t worry.”
“Yeah but…,” I trail off. But it’s not about the money. It’s about you.
Ah, shit. I’m thinking back to my conversation with Jackie last night and how carried away I was getting thinking there was more to us than there is. This is a perfect example of the fact that everything so far has just been in my head, wishful thinking.
I put on a brave, completely fake, smile. “I guess if I still get paid, that’s all that matters. I wouldn’t have wanted all of this to be for nothing.”
If my words hurt him in any way, he doesn’t show it. “You know, it wasn’t until I met you that I had the courage to realize what I really wanted. I think going back to my passion is the right thing to do. Maybe some people will say it’s failure or that I’m moving backwards, but I don’t see it that way.”
Well that’s good for you. You’ll move forwards, backwards, wherever, but it’s going to be without me.
He warned me. He really did.
“Come on,” he says to me, grabbing my hand. “I’ve had enough of this cockamamie place. We should probably go check on Jackie and Will, make sure she hasn’t drowned him or anything. Man, I haven’t seen a woman so easily affected by hanger before in my life.”
I nod absently and let him lead me out of the winery. When we’re back in the sunshine and strolling down the road back to the cabin, he still doesn’t let go of my hand.
“The sky here is so blue,” he says, staring up. “You must have loved growing up here. Fucking eh, it would have been so hot in the middle of summer but with having that lake right there I bet it was just bliss.”
“Yeah,” I say quietly, so confused. So, so confused.
He looks to me, tilting his head. “Are you okay?”
You might move back to London and you didn’t even tell me!
“Yeah,” I give him a big smile. “I’m fine. I guess I’m just taking it all in.”
“Would you ever move back here?” he asks me.