Page 79 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

where my lip cracked back open.

He lifts his hand to my face, catching the blood sliding warm down my chin,

wipes it up with his thumb,

brings it to his mouth,

and sucks it off the pad,

keeping a piece of me inside him.

Then his hand moves to my throat, and he cradles it gentle as he pulls me closer, until his nose is brushing mine.

His hot breath hits my broken lip, making it sting. “Was it him?”

I shake my head.

He shifts, shoulder falling against the wall, taking me with him. “Then who?” he asks softer.

He hates himself for even asking.

I can tell by the way he’s looking down at me, eyes heavy, half-lidded, and slow-burning.

I grip the railing tight and tilt my chin.

“This jealousy talkin’?”

His eyes narrow.

“You fuckin’ serious?”

A bitter half-laugh tumbles out of him, no humor behind it. “Jealous?” he repeats. “Yeah. That’s one way to put it.”

His hand slips behind my neck,

thumb under my ear, hot, possessive.

“You don’t fuck, Allison. You don’t fuck.

“The second it feels like we’re gettin’ somewhere—” His jaw snaps shut as his eyes flick between mine. “You slipped right outta my arms that morning, then go and erase me. And now this mystery motherfucker was the last one inside you—Jesus.”

His teeth grit.

“Yeah, I’m fuckin’ jealous.

“I’m hurt.

“I’m pissed.

“I’m outta my fuckin’ head.

“Christ—I either need to know everything or pretend none of it happened.

“So tell me,

“do I even got the right to ask?”

His words land heavy,