Page 72 of Come Apart
"Maybe."
"Ally..."
She takes a deep breath. "Do you have to stay?"
I rack my brain for reasons to leave. I'd so much rather be with Alyssa, but I need to stay.
I need to make sure Samantha is okay.
I run my fingers over the edge of the phone. "It will be over before you know it. We'll be back together. And we can do your food challenge next week."
"No, I think I'll do it on my own."
A new anxiety runs through me.
No way. Fuck that.
"Ally... I really want to be with you when you do it."
She swallows. "I don't want to wait anymore."
I bite my lip. I can't let her do it all alone. "Just a couple more days. We can do it as soon as I get back. Okay?"
A small pause.
This is too important, too dangerous for her to move forward alone.
I start to sweat when she doesn't answer right away.
But she finally agrees. "Okay."
"Perfect."
Relief flows through me, but the anxiety doesn't fully go away.
It's not perfect.
But I really hope it's enough.
