Page 84 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

He flicks the paper.

“This one? Five-an’-a-half?

“Ain’t no fuckin’ way.”

I don’t bother looking at him.

“Already fucked a six-an’-a-half.” I shrug. “Figured I could make one more exception.”

His head snaps to me,

stare molten and mad.

“This the guy you fucked?”

“No.” I hug the wine bottle against my chest. “But I did hire him. Moves in the following Monday.”

Andrew’s brows jump with his smile. He’s so blindsided that his frown looped all the way around, full circle to a grin. “Get the fuck outta here.”

“Swear to God.”

My eyes nudge the bag of blueberries.

“And those are Ben’s.”

He steps closer. “One—that ain’t fuckin’ happenin’.” He flips the blueberries up once, catches them. “Two—don’t give a shit. Look at your face.”

I snatch the bag out of his hand.

“It’s already done.”

He grips the edge of the marble.

“So that’s how this goes? You fuck me, then you go fuck some other guy, then you go hirin’ a new roomie? Right before you disappear across the country?”

He yanks off his hat,

rakes a hand through his hair,

frustration in his fingers,

before it’s back on.

“We just⁠—”

He stops,

blows out a breath,

trying to calm himself.

“That night? With me? That made you happy. I know it did,” he says, then smacks the back of his hand against his palm. “So why you doin’ this to you? To us? The fuck are we even doin’, huh? ‘Cause I swear you got me losin’ my damn mind.”

Losing your mind?

I talk to my heart like she’s my cellmate bitch. I don’t sleep. I overthink. I haven’t had a rational thought since my eyes landed on your hips at Type.

Before you,