Zack. "Is that good enough?"
"Perfect." Zack turns to me. "You want to watch with us? We're marathoning Battlestar Galactica. "
"That's okay."
"You'd like it," she says. "It's way better than Law and Order ."
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that."
"But it's a scientific fact," she says. "All the lawyers on it are greasy jerks."
"Thanks," I say.
Laurie smirks, very proud of herself. "You should see President Roslin. She's--"
"As much of a head bitch in charge as you are," Zack says.
"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. Then 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 of Zack, 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 say and I roll out of bed.
I drag my heels 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," she says. And she jumps, yes, jumps into my arms. Like a puppy. "Girl, I missed you. It feels like it's been a century."
"I'd figure 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?"
"The theater isn't technically on Broadway," I say.
"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 takeout 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 or we'll turn off the dudebros who don't like these kinds of movies anyway."
"You sound bitter."
"More like annoyed. I'm crazy lucky. I've been working as a TV writer since a few years after college," she says. 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."
"But your coffee-making skills leave something to be desired..."
"Do not even!" She folds her arms. "Fine. Then we'll get it out."
"You want to go out?" I ask.
"Yes."
"You know the TV is here."
"I do more than watch TV. I go to the Paley Center."
Crickets.
"It's a museum about TV... never mind. It was supposed to be a joke." She shakes her head. "I want to show you around the village. With plenty of stops for coffee and food." She puts particular emphasis on the food, like she's also worried I'm not eating.
Great, another person who thinks my business is her business.
That's not fair to her or to Luke, but, right now, I don't care. I'm tired of being on the defensive.
"You sound like Luke," I say.
"Don't get too hot and bothered over it."
She pours herself a glass of water while I get dressed. I check my phone carefully for any contact from Luke. There's nothing new. Why would
"Perfect." Zack turns to me. "You want to watch with us? We're marathoning Battlestar Galactica. "
"That's okay."
"You'd like it," she says. "It's way better than Law and Order ."
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that."
"But it's a scientific fact," she says. "All the lawyers on it are greasy jerks."
"Thanks," I say.
Laurie smirks, very proud of herself. "You should see President Roslin. She's--"
"As much of a head bitch in charge as you are," Zack says.
"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. Then 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 of Zack, 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 say and I roll out of bed.
I drag my heels 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," she says. And she jumps, yes, jumps into my arms. Like a puppy. "Girl, I missed you. It feels like it's been a century."
"I'd figure 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?"
"The theater isn't technically on Broadway," I say.
"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 takeout 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 or we'll turn off the dudebros who don't like these kinds of movies anyway."
"You sound bitter."
"More like annoyed. I'm crazy lucky. I've been working as a TV writer since a few years after college," she says. 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."
"But your coffee-making skills leave something to be desired..."
"Do not even!" She folds her arms. "Fine. Then we'll get it out."
"You want to go out?" I ask.
"Yes."
"You know the TV is here."
"I do more than watch TV. I go to the Paley Center."
Crickets.
"It's a museum about TV... never mind. It was supposed to be a joke." She shakes her head. "I want to show you around the village. With plenty of stops for coffee and food." She puts particular emphasis on the food, like she's also worried I'm not eating.
Great, another person who thinks my business is her business.
That's not fair to her or to Luke, but, right now, I don't care. I'm tired of being on the defensive.
"You sound like Luke," I say.
"Don't get too hot and bothered over it."
She pours herself a glass of water while I get dressed. I check my phone carefully for any contact from Luke. There's nothing new. Why would
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