Page 165 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

“Allison, I’m not signin’ your contract.”

…Uh.

I beg your fucking pardon?

My breath quits in my throat.

Don’t flinch, Allison.

I pinch my skin on the inside of my arm,

dig my nails in until it bites.

All tough for someone

with a heart that’s about to cry.

“Okay,” I say, stone-faced, nodding.

“Thank you for your time.

“Guess this concludes our meeting.”

Coulda told me over text.

My eyes find the exit first.

He slides in front of me,

catching me at my hip.

“Allison. Whoa. Hey—” His brows lift. “Can you gimme a sec? Can you hear me out?” I don’t say yes or no, but I don’t walk away either. “I get it, alright? I know what it’s for. But that contract? That’s built for the past.”

He dips into a murmur,

“And I ain’t the past, Sonny.”

I try to brush him off.

“I don’t need your reasoning, Drew.

“No was all I needed to hear.”

I step left.

He steers me back to him.

“Stop, stop. Listen to me.

“I ain’t done with you.”

I don’t stop. ‘Cause I’m afraid what will happen if I do.

“Allison, please—” he says until my eyes meet his, until he has me. “Lemme make you an offer.” He nudges his chin past me. “See that bag? That’s mine. Laptop’s in there.”

I turn, spotting a backpack by the wall.

“We build a new contract. Together. From scratch. Right now.” He steers my eyes back to his. “Somethin’ that fits what we already got and what we both actually want outta this.”