Page 56 of Come Apart
"Admit you were amazing."
"I was okay."
"Admit it."
"Good even." She takes a long breath, like she's waiting for me to respond. "Maybe even really good."
I lower my voice. "You were amazing. Anyone who says otherwise is an idiot. If you tell me of anyone, I'll kill them."
"Kill him." It's a smug correction.
God, how I'd like to wipe that smug look off her face with my lips, to press her against the wall, fuck her until there's nothing on her face but ecstasy.
But this isn't the time. I shake my head, bringing my focus back to my brain.
"Also... I've had a few questions about my boyfriend... people trying to figure out if the gossip blogs are right—if I really left my fiancé for a mysterious hottie."
I chuckle.
"I saw that blog."
"Hmm. So who did you tip off?"
"Oh, you know, just Perez Hilton and Harvey Levin. No big deal."
"You wish." She giggles. "More like Joe of Joe's Blog."
"Hey! You can say what you want about me, but don't speak ill of Joe."
"Never."
She laughs. It's so pure and warm that it fills the room with color. "What about you? It can't be easy trying to comfort your suicidal ex."
"She says it was just an accident. New medication."
"Hmm." She doesn't argue, but I can hear the skepticism even in that sound. "What do you two do?"
"We talk and we play rummy."
"What do you talk about?" She asks like she's curious, like she really wants to know.
I smirk. "How much I love fucking you."
Alyssa laughs, but it's awkward. Tense.
She wants me to reassure her of something, but I'm not sure what.
"We don't talk about anything important," I say.
"No? The woman's back in the hospital and you don't talk about anything important?"
"Nothing worth rehashing."
She sighs and takes a long, slow breath. "I won't get upset. I understand that you loved her once."
There's a pounding in the back of my head. I shift the phone, lowering my voice to a whisper. "She was there for me when nobody else was."
"I'm glad she was there when you needed her," she murmurs, her tone softer.
