Page 305 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

I slam the drawer shut.

Andrew comes up behind me, mocking when saying, “‘I’ll never wear your hoodie,’ she said with a mouth full’a bullshit.” He leans in, breath warm in my hair as he opens an above cabinet. “Lookin’ real wifed-up in my sweatshirt, just sayin’.”

I glance up at him.

He grins to himself.

I want to punch him.

And lick his throat.

“Where your roommates been hidin’?”

he asks, scanning the floor plan.

“Honor’s been gone,” I say. “He failed Hell Week. Ben? Don’t know, don’t care.”

I’ve successfully avoided Ben for an entire week. The only reason he’s still here after hitting me:

if Andrew leaves me, I’ll be alone.

And if I keep only Andrew,

then I’m in love.

And I’m not.

I’m in control.

People confuse love with control all the time.

I slap the side of the coffee machine. “This isn’t working,” I mutter. “Nothing’s working.”

Andrew opens a drawer,

pulls out a coffee filter.

“Move. I got this.”

I throw my palms up

and step to the side.

He scoops from the coffee jar, tossing a glance over at me. “Aight. What’s wrong with you, huh? You stressin’ or horny? ‘Cause with you it’s fifty-fifty.”

I drop into my chair at the breakfast table, rake both hands through my tangled hair. “Just label stuff. Nothin’ I can’t handle.”

Coffee machine beeps after he presses a few buttons. “You sure there ain’t nothin’ I can help with?”

“No.”

“Aight.” He sighs. “Cool.”

He leans back against the counter,

gripping the edges.

The second hand on the clock ticks by.