CHAPTER THREE
It's almost nine when I arrive at Alyssa's place.
She puts her finger to her mouth in a shh gesture. "Laurie is sleeping one off, so..." She creeps to her bedroom, opening the door slowly.
There's a sound from Laurie's room. She's up.
Alyssa bites her lip, shaking her head. She motions for me to follow her into the bedroom. Mouths now.
This has got to be good.
Laurie pulls her door open and bounces out of her bedroom. She looks at Alyssa, then at me. "Damn. I didn't hear the mating call." She laughs at her joke, then brings her attention back to me. "Are you coming to the premiere party?"
A guilty look creeps onto Alyssa's face. She knows she's been caught. I try to hold her gaze but she stares at the ground.
"What party?" I ask.
Laurie puts her hands on her hips and raises her voice. "Alyssa Summers! You promised me you informed Luke about this party. You promised he was coming."
Alyssa groans.
"You're not getting out of this," Laurie says.
Alyssa looks at me like she's begging for a lifeline. Her voice is low and soft. "I'm sure Luke has other things to do."
"Like hell I do." There's no way I'm missing a party celebrating the premiere of Alyssa's show. I'd celebrate it every minute if I could.
Alyssa glares at me, but it's a mock glare, an I hate but I really love you glare. "I have other things to do."
Laurie shakes her head. It's Laurie's show too--she's the head writer. It's how she and Alyssa became friends. "What other things?"
"Anything except for watching the premiere." Alyssa looks at the ground.
This is really bothering her.
I offer Laurie a smile. "We'll be there."
"You better, or I'll throw your Kindle in the ocean."
I laugh. "That's not going to convince her." I squeeze Alyssa's hand. "But we will be there."
Laurie nods, satisfied, and she goes back to her room.
I follow Alyssa into Laurie's spare room. I suppose, by now, it really is Alyssa's room. It's been hers for a few months even if it lacks any of Alyssa's touch.
She sits on the bed, pulling her feet towards her crotch. Her eyes are turned down, her lips pressed together. "Are you mad?"
My heart sinks. She's always terrified of disappointing me.
I shake my head. "Of course not. But I wish you'd told me."
She sighs and bites the skin on her thumb. "I was going to ditch it at the last minute. When Laurie was too drunk to notice."
"And where was I in all this?"
"You were going to pick me up and take me far, far away. To somewhere with no TV."
I kneel next to the bed and take her hands. "You worked so hard on that show. Aren't you proud of your accomplishment?"