Page 50 of Changed By You
My temper flares, but it’s not really due to this conversation. It’s because of how she treats Alice. It was all I could do to keep quiet this morning when Farrah told Alice she didn’t need to go home to be with her family.
“I did, and it’s the nicest of the things I’d like to call you. You want to know why you can’t figure out who it is I really want, Farrah? It’s because you’re so fucking wrapped up in yourself. You make everything about you. You don’t deserve Alice.”
“What does my assistant have to do with any of this?”
I lose my shit. “Alice! Her name is Alice! She’s a thousand fucking times more than just your assistant. She’s a person, and you take advantage of her. Do you think she wants to work for you every hour of every day, seven days a week? She does it for her family. And then she hardly ever gets to see them because you won’t get your own bottles of water out of the fridge for one fucking weekend.”
The color drains from her face. “Oh my God. It’sAlice?”
“Goddamn right it’s Alice.” I work to keep my voice down so no one can hear us outside this room. “She’s beautiful and smartand funny. So fucking generous and selfless. I’d walk through fire for her, and you don’t evenseeher. How fucking dare you sayis he dying or somethingto her in that bitchy tone earlier? You don’t know anything about him. You don’t know becauseyou don’t care.”
She leans back, her expression as stricken as if I just slapped her even though we’re several feet apart.
“Get out of my way.” I glare at her until she turns away and leaves the room, not saying another word.
I close my eyes and blow out a breath as I walk to the stairway. I didn’t mean to tell her about me and Alice, but I did, and now I’ll have to face the consequences.
If Farrah fires Alice, I’ll pay her parents’ bills. Hell, I’ll pay them anyway. If she’ll let me.
That evening,I’m sitting in a waiting area of Detroit Memorial, a silver-haired woman in the seat across from mine snoring as she sleeps sitting up. I’ve been here for more than an hour, guilt and nervousness swirling in my gut.
I should’ve asked Alice if she was okay with this. I came because I wanted to be there for her. But she might not want that. She’s going to get a lot of bombshells dropped on her all at once--I left the show and followed her here, and I told Farrah about us.
It’s a shit time to drop all that on her when she’s so worried about her dad. I’m considering my options, wondering if I should leave when the choice is made for me.
Alice is walking toward a vending machine, and she stops when she sees me, her eyes round with surprise.
I stand up and walk over to her, smiling sheepishly. She’s wearing the necklace, which seems like a good sign.
“Surprise,” I say, doing weak-ass jazz hands.
She looks around the waiting area, then up and down the hallway. “What’s happening? Please tell me there aren’t any cameras here.”
“No, it’s just me. I, uh...left the show.” I clear my throat. “But most importantly, how’s your dad?”
“He’s stable. The doctors think he had a seizure.” Her expression softens. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“I should’ve asked. I j--”
She cuts me off, throwing herself against me in a hug.
“You’rehere,” she says tearfully.
I close my eyes and hold her, relieved. “I meant it when I said I want to be where you are. I know it’s soon and you may not believe this, but...I’m pretty sure I love you.”
She stands back and cups my face, tears wetting her cheeks. “I think...I might love you, too.”
I just look at her for a couple of seconds, so euphoric I want to pick her up and spin her around the room, announcing to the world that the most incredible woman I’ve ever known loves me.
Not here, though. Not now, with her dad hospitalized. The most important thing right now is that I support her.
“I’m just gonna sit here and you can come out for hugs whenever,” I say.
She smiles and shakes her head. “That might get boring.”
“No, I’m good.”
Her expression turns serious. “How long is Alex letting you be gone?”
