Page 367 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

“standin’ on the boardwalk in July,

“starin’ at a cold glass of water,

“dyin’ of fuckin’ thirst.”

He rolls his forehead slow across mine.

“I’m allowed t’hold the water,

“trace the rim…” he says,

fingertips trailing the line of my spine.

“Feel the cool condensation.”

His lips slip to my ear.

“Lick the sweat right off the glass,

“taste the wet on my tongue,” he murmurs, feeling the quivering vibrato in our bones.

“But I can’t ever drink from it.”

His temple grazes my hairline

until I’m looking into his eyes again.

“I’m so parched, Allison,” he says, exhausted. “And you’re right here. In my arms.” He squints. “So when I say I miss you? I’m sayin’ I’m near death an’ fadin’ fast.”

His hand slides down again.

“I need you closer than this.”

His fingers dig into my waist.

“I need more…” He scoffs, shaking his head once. “Not some title to make up for feelin’ guilty about tonight, so you can feel better.”

I tense, then pull back to look at him.

“Yeah,” he says.

“Hearin’ you say that felt real good.

“For all of five seconds.

“Til I realized how empty it was.”

His eyes bounce between mine.

“Don’t get it twisted. The things I’d do for your name written all over me, Allison. Your fingerprints all over my fuckin’ life. But, nah. Not like this. This? This is a fuckin’ joke.”

He licks the truth off his bottom lip.

“Callin’ me your boyfriend?

“Baby, I can’t even fuckin’ kiss you.”

His next breath leaves exasperated.