"Do it because you want to get in my pants."
"I've been in your pants already." She laughs.
"My recollection is that you enjoyed it."
"Maybe."
"Fuck, Ally, if those sounds you like are the maybe, I can't wait to hear the hell yes."
"I, uh, I, uh..." she stammers, nervous. "I hate you. But fine, I promise I'll call you if I get overwhelmed."
"Thank you." My body floods with warmth. Alyssa is mine and she knows I'm hers. That's what matters.
She takes a deep breath, like she's working up her nerve. "Do you have any idea how long you'll be visiting?"
"At least a few days. Maybe longer."
"Oh." It's like all the energy falls right out of her voice.
My heart sinks. I need to make this up to her. "I'll call after your show."
"That's okay. I'm going to have to make sure Laurie doesn't try to sleep with Danny... not that I can blame her. He's fine as fuck."
"Excuse me?"
"Not as hot as you, but still not bad."
I mime her favorite Law and Order quote. "I'll allow, but you better watch yourself, Summers."
She laughs, a big belly laugh. "Make me."
"I will, when I'm back."
"Well, until then, I guess you're shit out of luck."
I laugh and squeeze the phone. She's happy and that's everything.
"Are you sure you don't want to talk about the premiere?" I ask.
"Not right now," she says. "I'm exhausted. I need five iced coffees before I can ever consider discussing it."
"You might feel better."
"I'll feel better when you're home."
She says it like she's done with this conversation, like there is nothing else I can say to sway her to open up.
***
I spend the day poring over work and spend the night racking my brain for ways to make this up to Alyssa. It has to be something big. Something besides making her come every time I see her. Besides spending the day wrapped up in each other.
Something better than flowers, candy, or stuffed animals. She'd recede into herself and lock me out if I even dreamed of buying her candy, and she'd toss a stuffed animal the minute I turned my back. Hell, the only two things she wants are coffee and books for her Kindle.
I push the idea to the back of my mind. It's five minutes to showtime, and I want to soak in every second she's on screen. I'm so proud of her. She's accomplished so much and she's so fucking humble about it.
And the show starts, and I think I could scream. She's amazing. I knew she'd be amazing--she was amazing in all sorts of tiny films, and even in the terrible teen soap she was on for years--but she never got the chance to be so fucking hilarious. She's a force of nature. She's selfish, and rude, and completely awful, but lovable all the same. She's never been more on fire, more bright, more brilliant.
This brilliant, talented woman wants me.