♥

I had to look up what you were referring to, and...on some levels, yes. I am that dog. Unconvinced, the scoff I just scoffed. I'm plenty convincing, B, wasn't my first trip to Canada and will not be my last. I'm just now going with a newfound adoration for the poutine. I had...rubbish poutine before then. I think he secretly likes people singing his praises, but he just doesn't know how to handle it quite yet. You'd think after all his success, he'd be receptive to it. We'll see if it takes off, I've heard it's already written but haven't seen a script yet. Patience is key, darling. And maybe I am, don't question it.

You had to look it up? Do I need to start sending you memes again? There's so much happening right now in my head and so many questions I have to ask that I'm just gonna skip straight on past and say I'm glad that you're enjoying poutine, it's the best, and totally worth regular trips to Canada. I mean, I don't know the guy well enough to judge but I'm sure if you keep at it, he'll eventually resign himself to the fact that he's not Completely Awful. Ugh, I'm going to be so jealous, I want to read it and find out what happens to Colt and Jody so bad. I'm invested, officially, and patience – you know – is not a part of who I am. Wow.

Lucky for you, you never have anything to worry about over here. I'm a picture of 'everything's fine'. You know, there's really nothing to divulge. We had a fun weekend, I may have a better taste for poutine than I did a few days ago. Everything's on the up-and-up over here. He's going to double down on his humble game and claim he isn't hot, too. I try to restructure his ego but even that fails. Colt and Jody need their second act, I'd love to know more about Metalstorm's sequel because I know that Jody's got one cooking. They're going to put me in every single hat they could find. If you see me in a hat, take a shot.

Everything's fine like the dog in the house that's burning down around him? I am unconvinced, and a little hurt that I don't get to know more, but I'll back off and not nag for more, too much. I don't want to be that gal. Poutine is pretty incredible, how did you not love it already? I think he was deprived mirrors as a child and has no concept what he looks like, or something. Or maybe it's just the humble Canadian in him. Props to you for trying to set him straight, though. Metalstorm 2 needs to happen as much as The Fall Guy 2, honestly, there's so much room for growth there. Jody is a genius. Are you trying to kill me with alcohol poisoning?

The last voice Elizabeth was expecting to be directed her way was Billie's, but it properly snapped the brunette out of her own head. Glass of red wine hugged to her chest, the actress looked at her ex with an awkwardly polite smile. "Very," Lizzie agreed, looking Billie up and down for a moment and biting her tongue for the compliment that threatened to follow. That part she failed at. "You look nice. I like your hair."

"I like your dress," Billie offered back, almost too quickly, like she was trying to make up for not handling things so well just weeks prior. And probably still now. Swallowing hard, she glanced between Lizzie, the couple at the table on the other side of the dance floor and then back at her, offering a shadow of a smile when endless laughter once used to be shared between them. "It's a good color on you." A pause, then: "I didn't, you know, know if you'd be here today."

It's precisely my job to worry, so I'll keep at it until I know you're content and safe in your own head. That is the Gosling I'm referring to, yeah. The stress on interesting is interesting in itself, but I am going to avoid the questioning look for the time being. I'll be sure to let him know that you said all that, he'll act all modest and I'll have to remind him that he does make fans out of all of us. We're holding out hopes for a sequel, so you can expect more Jody in hats. They're more her thing than mine.

Only if I can worry in turn. I don't know why I asked, like there's any other Gosling that anybody cares about. As long as it's for the time being and you're willing to indulge later, this is a mutually beneficial relationship, after all, right? Ugh, how can someone that hot be that humble? Doesn't he realize that it only increases the hotness? A sequel would be incredible, the world needs to know 1) what happens to Colt and Jody, talk about an OTP and 2) what kinda hats Emily gets to wear this time around. My vote is for #allthehats!!!

I'm just saying, I know you've been going through a hard time. One of those 'no news is good news' situations. Will always love you anyway, you know it, and will always tell you if you're acting abnormal. Right now's not one of those times. Um, not filming, exactly. Agreed to a quick weekend in Toronto with Gosling. He thinks he can change my mind about poutine, I think he's mad, should be interesting.

It's been a solid shitty seven years, though, and I'm used to it. Don't worry too much about me – even if it's your job as auntie Em. Ryan Gosling? That's... okay, yes, interesting. I don't have feelings either way about poutine but remind him that I'm a fan of his general existence, okay? You two were amazing in The Fall Guy, by the way, I don't now whether I ever had a chance to say. Girl can rock a baseball cap like nobody's business.

My favorite (you should know), it's a relief to hear about the simmering down. I hate to hear when things get too exciting for you, and then it's overwhelming and no fun for anyone. Nah, nothing new on my end. Packing for Canada, trying to get my summer schedule in order, both things going a little poorly with my attention span being somewhat all over the place.

You act like things get too exciting and overwhelming and no fun all the time – oh wait, they often do for me. I'm nothing if not a dramatic, but I appreciate you loving me anyway. Definitely simmered down and just, you know, a little wistful. That's normal, right? What's in Canada? Are you filming something? Are all of these questions hurting your attention span? 'cause they're hurting mine.

Nice Freudian slip. I'll text before I come over, if that's okay. Just tying up some loose ends.

Tie away, I'll see you soon.

Weekly check-in time, @goodlourd! Give me your life updates since last week, spare no details, your auntie Em is eager to hear them. Look at me, rhyming and everything.

Your favorite (I hope?) Billie has simmered a little since we last spoke so things are going better than they were way back then. Please never, ever stop rhyming, it's my favorite and so are you. It's truly like having Mary Poppins as my cool aunt who I can talk to about all my problems. Has anything changed with you, though? I want all the deets, Em.

Maybe no flinging, it's a Balmain and I have butterfingers, but we can just do a quick exchange on your doorstep and be done with it. Make sure if there's anything else of mine, you just have it all ready, k?

I'm confident it's the last thing I have left of you – of yours.

...Look, if you want me to come get it, I can. We can make it a drive-by thing.

A drive-by jacketing? I fling it out my window and you catch it mid-air? Sure, sounds fun.

Just want to avoid any unnecessary time in the same room, you know? It's awkward enough as-is.

Yeah, I know. Because I made it awkward.

Or you can mail it.

Sure, I'll overnight it.