Page 134 of Come Apart

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After you, silly.

She replies.Sorry, but you're third at the very best. A distant third after coffee and tequila.

Please. You would absolutely rate your Kindle above me. That puts me in fourth at best.

Yeah, I forgot about my Kindle. You're right. Fourth. But you know, tea has been growing on me. I might have to push you back to fifth place.

What about acting? Shouldn't that go before me?

Yeah, I guess it should. But we better stop before you're out of the top 10.

I love you.

I love you too.

Tell me what you need, Ally, and I'll do it. I want to make this right.

You will. I just need more time.

Do you think you want to look for apartments with me? No pressure. I just need a feminine opinion.

Maybe in a little while. Not yet.

Okay. Well, you're welcome in the condo anytime. Even if it's to look through my things without my permission.

Hey, I thought we were over that.

I am. I just... if you need to talk, call. I'll shut my pretty mouth and listen.

God, it is a pretty mouth.

I miss you.

I miss you too.

And our conversation bleeds into my week. Every beep of a new message immediately draws my attention.

Alyssa may not be all mine yet. But she will be soon.

* * *

It'sthe middle of the afternoon when Alyssa calls.

"Hey," I answer.

"Can I come over?" Her voice is low, breathy.

Damn. There's no way I'm getting out of my meeting. I'll never hear the end of it from Ryan.

But I can duck out early.

Hell, I don't have much of a choice when she asks like that.

"Of course," I say. "But I packed up most of the house. I'm staying at the condo."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No."

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