My feet move
before my mouth can backpedal.
If I stay another second, I’ll burst into flames.
I need to take cover to come.
But Andrew’s hand catches mine fast,
and his is shaking.
“Nah. Fuck that,” he says, pulling me back
hard enough to make me turn.
“Don’t walk away from me after that.
“You don’t get to make us bleed then take off,
“leavin’ me standin’ here in it.”
I shake my head. He doesn’t get it.
“I need space. I need out.
“I need to fuckin’ disappear for a minute.”
He’s nodding, absorbing it all, taking it.
“Aight, Sonny. I hear you. Okay—I know.”
He steps in slow, one hand rising to my hip.
My body jolts back as soon as his touch lands.
He goes still.
I bite my lip,
closing my eyes,
cursing myself for flinching.
He doesn’t call it out or pull back.
He waits for me to find my way back to him,
and I do.
He exhales, palm dragging up my side,
then down again, settling on my hip.
“You think I don’t know what’s happenin’ right now?”
He’s guiding me into the shadows,
my back hitting the wall,
