Page 220 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

“She’s testin’ you, man.” Ben slides a jar into the slot with a clink. “Get past week one. She’ll get curious about that Philly mouth. Can’t help herself.” He glances over his shoulder at Honor. “Word of advice? Play dumb. Act trainable. She’ll eat that shit up—likes her Boys submissive.”

Andrew glances down at the table, bites into his lip, and I want to slap the memory of last night off his brain.

“Play dumb?” Honor squints. “Bro, I’m from Philly. We don’t do dumb. We do direct,” he says. “You want fake smiles? Go to Jersey.”

Andrew lets out a provoked laugh, head shaking, coffee cup rising to kill it with another sip.

Ben’s eyes float between the back of Andrew’s head and Honor, and he takes it up a notch. “Listen, bro. Hell Week’s a mind game. She ain’t talkin’ to you. Won’t let you touch her. All of it’s to remind you she don’t need you. She gon’ fuck with your head, annoy the shit outta you, every trick to make you wanna throw in the towel. Real immature shit—don't fall for it. And this clown?” He nudges a chin at Andrew. “He wants you gone, so you can’t believe a fuckin’ word he says. His ass’s on the line too, so forget him. Jersey boy’s a phase, you get me? I been knowin’ Baby. I know how she operates, and he ain’t lastin’...”

The vein at Andrew’s temple throbs with every word Ben spits, the look in his eyes boiling over as they swing back to me.

Welcome to the penthouse, Andrew Harding. I rip my eyes off him and stand, taking my coffee with me to the terrace. Alone.

Ben’s voice follows me out:

“You wanna stay? Lock in. Wait it out. Trust me, man. It’s smooth sailin’ after. You’ll wanna be here when he’s gone.”

I slide open the terrace door, step out into the winter bite, and their noise dies the second the glass seals shut behind me.

// 11:18 PM //

Today 11:18 PM

Celie

BITCH

DJ. CRUSH

IN

FUCKING

BUSHWICK

TONIGHT

No.

Honor's moved in.

The Fuckening's here.

I'm climax-sober for the next 5 days. Been doing kegels for 12 hours straight.

I'm in literal Hell.

I will drag you by your fucking period underwear.

I tsk, tossing the phone onto the counter.

My cell continues to buzz back to back.

Wanted it to be a surprise but

Heard Teddy Vale's gonna be there too

Secret set.