about our old law school classmates.
But Alyssa still doesn't respond.
It's three now. It's getting well into the afternoon, the time she chose for her food challenge. I text her again. How is everything.
I turn my phone over and play another round of rummy with Samantha. The damn phone doesn't buzz. No new calls. No messages.
Samantha looks at me with concern. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah." The screen is still empty. "It should be."
I stare at the phone. Alyssa isn't a huge fan of technology. It's possible she has her phone off, that she broke it and can't be bothered to fix it, that she's out and she just forgot it.
But I sent that first text hours ago.
My shoulders tense. I need to be there for her today, at least on the phone.
Samantha's voice cracks. "It doesn't seem okay."
I shake my head. I need to give Alyssa a little more time. "It should be."
She nods, but she keeps one eye on me as she takes her turn. "Alyssa?"
I nod.
"What is happening with Alyssa?"
I pick up my card and stare at it. "Don't worry about it." This card is not what I want. I don't know what to do with it.
Samantha frowns, but she says nothing until I finish my turn. Then she picks up a card and declares her victory.
She wins again. Truth be told, I let her win.
I ignore my phone for the next two rounds. Until it's nearly five. Until this damn phone is burning a hole in my brain.
This isn't like Alyssa.
But I pick up my card. I stare at it the way I always do, with my best poker face.
Samantha stares at me like I'm an idiot. "Just call her."
"It's fine."
"I'd like to get your attention back. Call her."
I nearly jump out of the chair. I press the phone between my palms and I make my way to the empty study. It's a dark room in warm shades of auburn and brown. The kind of room that radiates wealth and prestige.
I dial Alyssa. The phone rings. It rings again. It rings straight to voice mail.
My shoulders tense. This is no good. But I won't jump to conclusions. I try again.
But again, the phone rings straight to voice mail.
I send a text. Give me a call when you get this. I want to hear your voice.
It's probably okay. It's probably nothing. But, just in case it's not, I call Laurie.
The phone rings straight to voice mail. "You've reached Laurie House. Please leave a message."
Deep breath. "Hey, it's Luke. I can't reach Alyssa. Let me know if you hear from her." I hang up.
It's probably nothing.
It better be nothing.
***
I'm distracted all evening, but I try to give Samantha as much of my attention as I can. She talks about little things--staying with her parents, her wish to return to her job, how sick she is of the only restaurant that delivers to her house.
We order dinner. We drink half a bottle of wine. We watch some show about Lincoln on the history channel. Samantha loves the history channel.
Finally, my phone buzzes. Samantha turns to me, her eyes laser focused on my expression. I nod. This is all going to be fine. And I turn over the phone.
It's a text from Alyssa. Sorry, I was at a movie. Is everything okay?
I reply. Just checking on you.
Her response is quick. I'm fine.
I reply. Did you do the food challenge?
I'm tired. We can talk when you're home on Sunday.
I clench my jaw. She did promise she'd call if she was overwhelmed. I reply. Right. But do me a favor?
No favors.
I reply. Just promise you're okay.
I'm fine. I'll see you Sunday.
There's such a finality to it. I know better than to press her. She's done with this conversation, with any conversation until I'm back in her arms.
My breathing is strained and my back is aching, but I do my best to push it aside. Samantha still needs my help. And I need to repay this debt.
I turn my attention back to Samantha. She's staring at me, as usual, like I'm an idiot.
She nods to the TV. "They're about to get to the good part."
"He's finally executed and the show ends?"
She shakes her head and she holds up her wine glass as if to ask for a refill.
But Alyssa still doesn't respond.
It's three now. It's getting well into the afternoon, the time she chose for her food challenge. I text her again. How is everything.
I turn my phone over and play another round of rummy with Samantha. The damn phone doesn't buzz. No new calls. No messages.
Samantha looks at me with concern. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah." The screen is still empty. "It should be."
I stare at the phone. Alyssa isn't a huge fan of technology. It's possible she has her phone off, that she broke it and can't be bothered to fix it, that she's out and she just forgot it.
But I sent that first text hours ago.
My shoulders tense. I need to be there for her today, at least on the phone.
Samantha's voice cracks. "It doesn't seem okay."
I shake my head. I need to give Alyssa a little more time. "It should be."
She nods, but she keeps one eye on me as she takes her turn. "Alyssa?"
I nod.
"What is happening with Alyssa?"
I pick up my card and stare at it. "Don't worry about it." This card is not what I want. I don't know what to do with it.
Samantha frowns, but she says nothing until I finish my turn. Then she picks up a card and declares her victory.
She wins again. Truth be told, I let her win.
I ignore my phone for the next two rounds. Until it's nearly five. Until this damn phone is burning a hole in my brain.
This isn't like Alyssa.
But I pick up my card. I stare at it the way I always do, with my best poker face.
Samantha stares at me like I'm an idiot. "Just call her."
"It's fine."
"I'd like to get your attention back. Call her."
I nearly jump out of the chair. I press the phone between my palms and I make my way to the empty study. It's a dark room in warm shades of auburn and brown. The kind of room that radiates wealth and prestige.
I dial Alyssa. The phone rings. It rings again. It rings straight to voice mail.
My shoulders tense. This is no good. But I won't jump to conclusions. I try again.
But again, the phone rings straight to voice mail.
I send a text. Give me a call when you get this. I want to hear your voice.
It's probably okay. It's probably nothing. But, just in case it's not, I call Laurie.
The phone rings straight to voice mail. "You've reached Laurie House. Please leave a message."
Deep breath. "Hey, it's Luke. I can't reach Alyssa. Let me know if you hear from her." I hang up.
It's probably nothing.
It better be nothing.
***
I'm distracted all evening, but I try to give Samantha as much of my attention as I can. She talks about little things--staying with her parents, her wish to return to her job, how sick she is of the only restaurant that delivers to her house.
We order dinner. We drink half a bottle of wine. We watch some show about Lincoln on the history channel. Samantha loves the history channel.
Finally, my phone buzzes. Samantha turns to me, her eyes laser focused on my expression. I nod. This is all going to be fine. And I turn over the phone.
It's a text from Alyssa. Sorry, I was at a movie. Is everything okay?
I reply. Just checking on you.
Her response is quick. I'm fine.
I reply. Did you do the food challenge?
I'm tired. We can talk when you're home on Sunday.
I clench my jaw. She did promise she'd call if she was overwhelmed. I reply. Right. But do me a favor?
No favors.
I reply. Just promise you're okay.
I'm fine. I'll see you Sunday.
There's such a finality to it. I know better than to press her. She's done with this conversation, with any conversation until I'm back in her arms.
My breathing is strained and my back is aching, but I do my best to push it aside. Samantha still needs my help. And I need to repay this debt.
I turn my attention back to Samantha. She's staring at me, as usual, like I'm an idiot.
She nods to the TV. "They're about to get to the good part."
"He's finally executed and the show ends?"
She shakes her head and she holds up her wine glass as if to ask for a refill.
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