Page 358 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

Ace points at his chest. “Alcoholic.”

Teddy tips his head. “Same thing.”

Everyone laughs.

Clyde points between Teddy and me. “So how long’ve you two been workin’ together?”

Me and Teddy answer at the same time:

“We haven’t⁠—”

“—Just tonight.”

Teddy glances sideways at me.

“…this is literally the longest conversation we’ve ever had.” He flicks a humorous grin at me. “Or lack thereof—is she always this quiet?”

The she you're speaking of

currently can’t form words.

A chorus of absolutely-nots bounce around, and Ace’s crafty glare slide between me and Teddy.

I know that look.

I shake my head fast, subtle.

“On my life?” Ace nods toward me. “You should write with Allie at least once before you die. That’s an experience.” He points to me with his drink. “No joke, the two of you in a room together? That’d be epic shit.”

“C’mon, now,” Teddy laughs,

“you write too?”

My lips part,

but my word bank’s still empty.

Ace’s laugh saves me.

“Bruh, you’re so fulla shit.”

Teddy's brows bunch,

and he turns to me fully,

gaze falling over my face, my dress,

guiding a bead of sweat

down the center of my chest.

That’s when it clicks in him who I am.

“Oh, hell…” he mutters.

“That Allison Taylor?”

He steps an inch closer when someone passes behind him, and it lights up every one of my nerve-endings.