Page 8 of Come Apart
I call every week or two. Visit her at her parents' place in San Diego every once in a while.
I owe her that much after our shitty history.
"Do you really want to talk about her?" I ask.
Alyssa shakes her head. "No, but it's better than wondering."
She looks at the floor.
"You're not jealous..."
"Cause you're never jealous?" She folds her arms, arching a brow at me.
"Never," I respond, half joking. "I've never been jealous in my life."
"Uh-huh."
I sigh.
"Okay, that's not true. I do get jealous of Jack McCoy from time to time." I move closer to her. "Have you seen his closing?"
"I've seen his eyebrows," she says, softening.
"Oh yeah?"
She looks me in the eyes. "They're amazing. So full and lush. I'd kill for those eyebrows."
"They're huge," I counter.
"They're gorgeous."
"But he's so old," I try.
She shakes her head.
"Age is just a number. He's distinguished. He's got the most beautiful, wrinkled face." She tilts her head thoughtfully. "It's so full of character."
I slide my hands around her waist. "Now I'm getting jealous of him all over again."
"Shock of the century." Her voice is light again.
Good.
She brushes hair out of my eyes and presses her lips to mine.
It's such a sweet diversion.
I almost feel like we could dodge this topic forever.
But that wouldn't be right.
I try not to avoid things so much these days.
"I haven't heard from her in a few weeks," I admit. "I'm sure she's the same. Lonely, but okay."
She rests her head against my chest, sighing. "I'm worried about the loneliness."
I brush my fingers against my chin, tilting her head so our eyes connect. I don't like seeing her so worried. Especially not about something like this. "You know I'd never..."
