Page 48 of Come to Me
"Shut the fuck up! It's rude to call your friend a bitch, especially when she's kindly letting you stay in her spare room." She sticks her tongue out at Zack. She looks back to me with a hint of concern. It must be bad if Laurie is concerned. "I'll walk you out."
When we're out of earshot, she whispers to me. "I really do want her to be okay, and I will hold it against you if you fuck that up."
"Right back at you."
Chapter Eleven
Alyssa
The high-pitched ring of my doorbell wakes me.
Laurie.
What is she doing here so early? She's supposed to come over after her big, important New York meeting.
The doorbell rings again. And again. Yep, there's no mistaking it. That's definitely Laurie.
"I'm coming," I yell, rolling out of bed.
I drag myself to the door, squinting to block out the brightness. It's too early to be this bright.
Laurie greets me with a smirk. "I know you normally reserve that line for your boyfriend." And then she jumps—yes, jumps—into my arms. Like a damn puppy. "Girl, I missed you! It feels like it's been a century."
"I figured you and Luke would be happy to be rid of me, since you both colluded to get me here."
Laurie shrugs, sheepish. "You're not glad you're performing on Broadway?"
I have to grin at the reminder.
"The theater isn't technically on Broadway," I correct.
She's waves that away.
"Broadway means neighborhood. It doesn't necessitate a Broadway address." She enters, shutting the door behind her. She's not carrying any luggage, just a purse and a truly beautiful take out cup of coffee.
"What happened to your meeting?" I ask.
"Had it early. The producer had to be on location today. We met at six A.M.," she shakes her head. "Horrifying, right?"
I nod. "What's the verdict?"
"I don't think it's happening. He wants to take the feature in a different direction, more 'four quadrant.' You know, code for we can't have a romantic comedy with a female protagonist as we'll turn off the dudebros who don't like these kinds of movies anyway."
"Hmm. You sound kind of bitter."
She sighs.
"More like annoyed. I'm crazy lucky. I've been working as a TV writer since a few years after college." She takes a long look at me. "Alyssa, I can't lie. You look terrible."
"I didn't get to bed until three."
"I'll make you coffee." She moves to the kitchen, searching in vain for the coffee maker and beans. Laurie makes terrible coffee, even when she uses great beans.
Too many years of forcing underlings to get it for her.
"That's okay."
"Girl, I can tell I'm not getting more than a peep out of you until I get some caffeine into you."
