Page 206 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

“You should walk away. Right now.”

Hunter tilts his head, looking at me as if I’m in denial, as if I don’t know what I’m doing. “Nah. That was a mistake. You didn’t mean that. And you—” He gives Andrew a quick scan. “You just her new toy. You ain’t nothin’.” He leans in a step. “C’mon, tell me. She still do it? Still lift her hips when she’s comin'?” His grin crawls across his mouth. “Or do you even get her there?”

A cold smile rips into Andrew’s face, born out of blood and rage.“Yeah, keep wonderin’. That’s all you’ll ever get, you sick fuck.”

Hushed giggles surround me.

My face burns as I clock the crowd,

people frozen, girls watching.

Seconds stagger past.

My pulse counts each one.

“Andrew Harding, don't think I don't know about you,” Hunter taunts. “But does she know the truth about you? How much you fuckin’ hate women?” He cocks his head toward me. “Baby, you bother pullin’ this dickhead’s arrest record before lettin’ him this close?”

My stomach churns.

A cold sweat breaks out across my neck.

Andrew slams Hunter into the wall. “You don't know what you're fuckin' talkin' about.”

Hunter's brows raise with half of a laugh. “You sayin' you didn't break a girl's nose? After clockin' her in the face?”

Andrew's fists knot in his shirt, muscles tense, knuckles white, whole body shuddering. “Go ahead, tell her. Say what you want about me,” he seethes, veins popping in his neck. “Say I'm crazy, say I'm bad news, violent. But touch her again? I'll prove you right and drive myself straight to fuckin’ Rahway with all your teeth hangin' from my rearview.”

Terror crawls up my throat, my hands on his bicep, tugging hard. “Andrew, no—he’s not worth it. He’s fuckin’ nothin’.”

“You think you scare me? Go ahead,” Hunter spits. “Show her what kinda man you really are.” He leans into it, chest puffed. “Lying, abusive, sonofabitch, go on.” He holds out his arms. “Hit me.”

Andrew’s fist snaps up and closes around Hunter’s throat, veins ripping up his forearm, shaking with rage.

Hunter starts choking and clawing at Andrew’s hand.

But Andrew isn’t moving. His eyes are black, empty, inhuman, as if he’s imagining what it’d be like to crush bone and collapse windpipe, to feel the fight go slack under his palm.

For one beat,

I swear he’s gonna snap his neck.

Seconds crawl by as I try tearing him away. “Drew, please,” I beg. “This is what he wants. Let him go. Please, let him go. I want to leave.”

Andrew finally rips himself back,

hand shaking.

Hunter gasps, hunched over to find air.

“Allison…” Andrew’s voice is hoarse, trying to keep himself from splitting open. “Grab the bag? Laptop too.”

I’m torn in two.

I don’t want to let go of his arm,

but I need us out, need this over.

My fingers squeeze his bicep once.