Page 363 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

then looks up at me through his lashes, like—That’s my dream girl? God help me.

I prop my elbow on the bar,

jab a thumb at Teddy next to me.

“Andrew, this is Teddy,” I say with only slight caution. “Fifties-era crooner. Very anti-label for a man currently standing at a label party.”

Teddy’s arousing laugh lands in my hair.

Andrew reaches across the bar to shake his hand, hardened gaze moving from me to Teddy.

“Teddy, this is my boyfriend Andrew,” I say, staring at their palms meeting because I’m a sick, sick girl.

They both go still at the boyfriend title drop, which I didn’t expect. And it makes me want to slam my forehead into the bar.

With my hands behind my back.

Repeatedly.

Andrew’s stare crashes into me, his face shattering up in the smallest, most devastating way. And he lets out a tiny breathy laugh, not knowing how badly he needed to hear that.

Celie, I think you were right.

I drop my chin into my palm, smiling to myself as Andrew pulls away, watching the way he looks almost embarrassed by how much it means to him.

“Damn,” Teddy laughs with a story-of-my-life nod, disappointment in his face, “lucky bastard.”

He stands taller,

clapping the edge of the bar once.

“Well, good meeting you.

“And Allison, thank you for the duet.

“Very nice meeting you.”

His eyes flick from Andrew,

then back to me.

“I get it—bad timing,” he says with a little smirk. “But if you’re ever interested in getting together on a song, my schedule’s always clear for you.”

“Okay,” Andrew cuts in, waving him off. “Merry Christmas, man.”

Soon as Teddy’s far enough away, Andrew’s eyes fall to me, and he shakes his head with a rising smile.

“What?” I ask nonchalant,

leaning across the bar,

snatching a cherry from behind it.

He laughs, still staring at me.

I pop the cherry into my mouth.

“What?” I ask again around the stem.