Page 40 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

I’m paralyzed, staring at his number lighting up the screen.

She snatches the phone from my death grip, hits green, and shoves it back.

“You evil fuck,” I hiss under my breath, then reset myself. “Allison Taylor’s phone,” I say, flipping my tone neutral, bored, not at all invested.

“Allison Taylor, huh?” A smile in his voice. “Sounds hot. She available?”

His voice alone breaks open cocoons and lets out all the butterflies.

Ugh. I miss him. I hate him.

“Depends.

“May I ask the reason for your call?”

“Oh word, she takin’ calls now?” He laughs. “Thought she still out here pretendin’ she don’t feel shit.” A horn shrieks in the background of him, long and pissed off. “Tell her I ain’t tryin’ to talk to the version of her that acts like she don’t care.” His voice dips lower. “I want the Allison who said Ti voglio tanto, Andrew into my fuckin’ mouth.”

“I’m not pretending anything. Must’ve been a slip. Meant to say ‘Ti voglio tanto, Zabaglione.’ Whole different context.”

He half-laughs, half-sighs.

“You’re so cute it kills me. Go on, keep talkin’, Sonny. Tell me again how you ain’t pretendin’ nothin’.”

I hear the hum of baggage wheels against pavement in the background.

“Nah. Just been busy.”

“Aight, cool. Then if you’re not avoidin’ me, come through tomorrow. Giants game. Bar in Midtown. I already told my boys I’d go, but I ain’t tryin’ to spend a night off work sittin’ there wishin’ I was with you instead.”

I look at Celie.

She’s nodding, encouraging.

I mouth, No.

She nods harder, eyes big now,

her neck a bobblehead.

I turn away from her. “You want me hangin’ out with you and your friends?”

“I want you in my lap, talkin’ shit about the Eagles, and stealin’ my fries.”

The line goes quiet before he says, softer,

“C’mon. It’s not gonna be Vice again.

“I’m not lettin’ that happen.”

“Text me the address.” I sigh.

“Not making any promises.”

“Already did.”

I glance at my phone. It’s there.

“Aight,” he says. “Gotta get back to work before someone throws an overnight bag at me.”