Page 35 of Come Apart

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I sigh.

She isn't wrong.

Shit.

"You can come with me," I offer.

She gives me a look.

"You're kidding, right?"

"No. If it would make you feel better, I want you to come. Hell, it would be great to have you with me."

Her expression softens.

"That's okay," she says, her voice gentler.

"I can't stay. Not for something like this."

Even if she wants me to.

"I know." She searches my face. "You wouldn't be the guy I fell for if you didn't want to help so badly. I just don't want to be imagining Samantha throwing herself at you."

"It's really not like that." My smile is a little grim. "She's made it really clear she doesn't want me like that."

"Maybe not," she concedes. "but I'm still going to imagine it." She picks her boxers off the floor and slides them over her legs. "You should go. You'll hate yourself if you don't."

She's right.

But it also feels like I can't win for losing here.

"Alyssa..."

I don't like this tension between us.

"No. You need to help her now." "I get it. She needs you a lot right now." She smiles a little, though it isn't a happy one. "I can relate. I just hope that she isn't going to need you quite so much soon."

I feel like I'm being ripped in two different directions here.

But I also know I have to go, even if Alyssa isn't fully okay with it.

Fuck.

Should this be this hard?

"I'll be back soon."

"How soon?" she asks.

"By the weekend." I reach for her hand, pulling her close. "I love you." "I love you too," she sighs.

I kiss her goodbye.

Knowing I'm going to be thinking about her the entire time I'm trying to help Samantha.

* * *

The freeway isa blur as the sun rises over Southern California.

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