Page 133 of Come to Me

"How lucky I am to be here with you." I shift, but I keep my eyes on her.

"That's very sweet."

"I mean it."

She nods. "I feel that too you know. Lucky that you put up with me."

"Ally... it's not like that."

"Never?" Her eyes turn towards the expanse of sky. Like there's an answer somewhere in the clouds.

I choose my words carefully. I don't want to lie.

"Everyone gets frustrated sometimes."

She shakes her head like she accepts the answer, but she's doesn't. There's something off about her posture.

"Are you frustrated I haven't told you about the phone call?"

"Yes. You say it isn't important, but..."

"We don't always agree about what is or isn't important." She looks at me for a second, then her gaze is back on the ground.

Whatever this is, she's afraid to tell me.

"I do trust you." I slide to my feet and kneel in front of her. "I mean it."

She looks down at me and nods. I offer my hand and she takes it. She squeezes it so tightly she nearly cuts off my circulation.

"Tell me, Alyssa."

She nods. "Give me a second." She takes her hands back and runs them through her hair. She adjusts her tank top, her shorts, anything that can serve as an excuse. Then she brings her eyes back to me. "Are you sure you won't get upset?"

I laugh. "I know we've had this conversation before."

She nods and looks away again. I bring my hand to her cheek, turning her back to face me.

"Tell me."

She takes a deep breath. "It was Ryan. I was on the phone with Ryan."

My stomach drops.

Alyssa was on the phone with Ryan. At the ass crack of dawn. My fiancée locked herself in her bathroom to call her ex-boyfriend.

And she insists this conversation wasn't important.

"You look like you're going to throw up."

I stand up, raking a hand through my hair.

"I feel great. Peachy fucking keen."

She winces at my tone.

"It didn't mean anything."

"Would you swear on that?"