Page 125 of Affliction

“Isn’t she, though?” Jackson asked, wrapping his arms around her from behind.

“We’re going to head out now,” Catherine said, her face flushed with embarrassment over me and Jackson making a fuss.

We all said our goodbyes, and I relaxed back on the sofa.

“Do you want your drugs?” Ally asked me.

“Oh, yes, please,” I said, practically giddy at the thought.

Ally handed me water and two small pills. “Take these and relax. Once I have you all doped up, we’ll talk about this Terry mess you’ve made.”

“No, we will not. Not tonight. Tonight, I just want to relax, eat junk, and watch TV with you. How about it?”

“Sound like a plan to me,” Ally said, plopping down onto the love seat to get comfortable.

After several hours of trashy TV where the girl got the guy or the guy made grand gesture after grand gesture, I was fed up with TV and ready to talk.

“Miss him yet?” Ally asked me.

“How did you guess?” I asked her, covering my face with my hands.

“Because I know you. And I heard you sigh about a million times during that last movie. What was all that about?”

“Unrealistic expectations,” I told her dryly.

“Or is it because you were hoping that Terry would show up here like that, guns blazing, ready to claim his woman?”

I shook my head. “No, I just...” My voice trailed off. I wasn’t sure what to say, so I told her that. “I don’t know. I just don’t know.”

Ally nodded in understanding, playing with her blonde hair. “Why don’t you call him or text him? Tell him you’re home safe. Test the waters a bit.”

I bit my lip. I could do that. I would like to do that. But that didn’t seem like a good idea. He was probably angry with me, and I didn’t blame him. “We broke up. He doesn’t care that I’m home safe.”

“Oh, you are such a liar. He does so care, and you know it.”

“Yeah, well, I broke up with him. And I can’t jerk him around like that. It’s not fair to him. Besides, he’s going to leave for photo shoots or other opportunities eventually. I can’t expect him to be tied to me, and I can’t spend half of my life waiting for him. It’s easier this way, trust me.”

“I don’t agree with that at all. If this was truly about your future, do you know who would have had a lot to say about it?” Ally asked me, cocking a perfect eyebrow at me.

“Yes, I know Terry should have a say, but he won’t make the right and smart decisions. One of us had to be the grown-up here, Ally.”

“No, you weren’t being a grown-up, you were acting on fear. Fear that something might happen to him. That fear has passed. Now get that stick out of your ass and call him.”

“Jesus, Ally. Why don’t you tell me how you really feel?”

“That was sugar-coating, sweetheart. If you want it right between the eyes, by all means, tell me.”

I laughed and threw a pillow at her. “You’re such a bitch.”

“But you love me.”

“That, I do,” I agreed with her.

“And you love him,” Ally said, shooting me a daring look.

“Ally,” I said to her. “You’re not going to be welcome here if you keep this shit up.”

She laughed at me. The bitch actually laughed at me. I growled in frustration.

“You’re not going to kick me out. You love me too much to do so.”

“You’re right, and I hate you for it,” I admitted. “Please, no more talk of Terry. Just not tonight and not for a while.”

“Mia.” Her tone held a warning. One that I was sure meant she was far from done talking to me about this. “I can’t stand idly by and watch you be so stupid, you know that.”

“Fine, but I get a pass for tonight.” I hoped she conceded to that much.

“Fine, but come tomorrow morning, we will talk about it. And if we don’t, we’ll talk about it tomorrow morning after your conference call with him and the rest of the Art Department. See how steady your resolve is after hearing that southern drawl on the line.”

I covered my face with a pillow and groaned into it. Ally just laughed at me. But she left me alone about it for the rest of the night. Probably because she knew those brown eyes were haunting my thoughts, even though I couldn’t see him. And the thought of hearing his voice on the phone tomorrow was thrilling me.

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