Page 104 of The Rom-Commers

A burning humiliation that started at my feet filled my body. My clothes felt hot. My collar got damp.

Time to say something—anything.

“I’m so sorry to interrupt,” I said.

Then I faltered as I caught a fleeting glimpse of Donna Cole’s expression, perhaps best described as:Seriously? What the hell?And I saw Katie Palmer with a similar one. And then I saw T.J. indulge in a little triumphant smile, anticipating how satisfyingly this moment was going to confirm every mean thought he had.

No way out but through. I pushed on. “I just wanted to…”

But whatdidI want to do? Foist my unwanted screenplay on Donna Cole? Beg her to love me? Burst into tears? Dissolve into fumes of shame?Perish?

“I just wanted to—” I tried again. Then, “I really don’t mean to—”

“Do you need something?” Donna Cole asked.

Oh, god. Oh, god. What had I been thinking, coming over here? Humiliation clutched at my neck. My lungs withered.

Eject! Eject!

I so badly wanted to turn and sprint out of there, leaving only cartoon streaks of shame behind. But my feet still wouldn’t move. And I was just wondering if my only option was to drop to the floor and crawl out on my hands and knees… when Donna Cole’s gaze shifted to the side and her face broke into a smile.

I turned, and there was Charlie. Hands in his pockets, hair pointing in ten different directions, demeanor allaw-shucks—but smiling big, like he knew exactly how cute he was.

“Charlie!” Donna Cole said, standing and reaching out for a hug.

“Donna,” Charlie said, leaning in to kiss both of her cheeks. “Radiant as ever.”

“Aren’t I?” she said, shrugging with pleasure. She took in the sight of him. “You look adorable.”

Charlie nodded. “I’ve taken up line dancing.”

“I love it,” she said. Then, leaning closer, she said, “What are you writing these days?”

“I’m writing a rom-com,” Charlie announced, loud and proud.

“What!” Donna Cole gasped—total surprise with a splash of delight.

Charlie nodded to confirm, likeYep. And then, god bless him, he yanked me sideways, put his solid, nothing-can-ever-hurt-you-again arm over my shoulders, and said, “Under the tutelage of this one.”

Charlie, I could kiss you.Wait—oops. I already did.

I felt all eyes shift to me, now under the loyal protection of Charlie Yates’s arm.

“But,” Charlie went on, “I guess you already know each other.”

Donna Cole looked me over with new eyes. “We were just… meeting.”

“Great!” Charlie said, making everything okay with his big we’re-all-impressive-people-here energy. “Emma Wheeler, meet the legendary Donna Cole. Donna Cole, meet my new favorite writer, Emma Wheeler.”

Donna Cole tilted her head. “Your new favorite writer, huh?”

I didnotglance over at Jablowmie for his reaction to that pronouncement.

Charlie gave Donna Cole a lifted-eyebrow nod, likeYou better believe it. Then he said, like this was not an opinion, but a fact: “She’s good.”

Donna Cole looked back and forth between us. “Is she?”

Another nod from Charlie. Then, “Like I haven’t seen in—” He stopped and thought a second. “Nope. That’s it. Like I haven’t seen.”

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