Page 99 of Come to Me

"Ryan cared for you." She's so fucking stubborn.

"Ryan is a fucking asshole."

She gasps, deliberately exaggerating the gesture.

"How can you say that, Alyssa? He was always so sweet to you!"

"When we were both teenagers," I point out, beyond exasperated. The acid churns in my throat. Fucking recovered bulimia acid reflux bullshit. "And sometimes even when he was in law school. But he wasn't like that later. Not after my..." I bite my tongue. I've never told her about my eating disorder, and I'm not about to start now. "Not after he started working. It was all about him, his career, what he wanted."

Mom shakes her head like there's no way this could be true. "He would have taken care of you."

"Yeah, well, I don't need that kind of taking care of."

"Do you really think you can be an actress forever?"

I bite my tongue to keep from screaming. This isn't surprising. She's been checked out for a long time.

"Yes, well. Luke has a lot more money than Ryan does."

That shuts her up. I look over at Luke.

He grins, that shark grin I'm sure he wears while winning in court.

He's clearly not worried whether or not Mom likes him.

"A lot more," I add. "Probably ten times as much."

I look at Luke to confirm my hypothesis. I've seen his bank statement before, but we never really talk numbers.

He shrugs…

"Ryan thinks he's a good businessman. But he doesn't know shit about investing."

I turn towards my mother. She's just sitting there, barely taking all this in.

Hell, if I'm in, I might as well go all in.

"Since you're so comfortable telling me about my absent father's sexual prowess, I may as well return the favor," I say. "Luke is much better than Ryan was."

My mother shakes her head. She's already made herself clear--sex is really no motivation for a relationship in her eyes.

She's already convinced I should still be with Ryan. Nothing will change her mind, but...

I turn towards her. "Ryan wasn't exactly... giving. Luke, on the other hand..."

"I aim to please," Luke murmurs with a smirk.

I fold my arms. I'm done doing what other people want.

"And he's bigger too," I say.

It barely registers with my mother, but Luke laughs his ass off. God, I'm not going to live that one down.

"You've made your point." Mom taps the table. Her only move after she's finished her drink.

I suck the last drop of tequila from my drink then move on to Luke's. It's sweet and salty and it tastes like his lips.

"If you want to talk about something besides what a mess my life is, we can continue this conversation. Otherwise-" I fish my wallet out of my purse and take out three, hundred-dollar bills. "Here's cab fare back to Massachusetts."