Page 86 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

“Bull-fuckin’-shit.”

He tilts his chin with a heavy side-eye.

“So here’s what we’re gonna do.

“We get drunk and strip it all down.

“Naked in every way.

“Lay everything on the table.

“Just you and me—Allison and Andrew.

“Nothin’ to hide behind tonight.”

Pop. He crouches and hands me the bottle with a cocked brow.

“You in or out?”

I look up at him, knowing I shouldn’t.

But I already fucked him,

so what’s the worst that could happen?

“I’m in,” I say, a sigh leaving me.

“But we’re gonna need more wine.”

Not even a minute later, he’s back, double-fisting two more bottles of Pinot with bottled water tucked under his arm.

I sink deeper into the water,

neck submerged,

chest stinging from the cold,

then warm,

then cold again.

I take a swig straight from the bottle,

take a drag of my cigarette—the only thing that makes my mouth stop wanting his.

Clove and menthol.

Sweet on inhale, frostbite on exhale.

Exactly how I want to be remembered.

I watch him collect my clothes off the deck and lay them out across the chair, conditioned to clean up after people. Then he sits and pulls off his sneakers.

“You should see yourself right now,” he says, his eyes traveling over me.

He removes his hat and glasses.

“Steam all around you.