Page 366 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

reality comes crashing back down.

More than twenty feet away,

through the forest of clink and chatter,

champagne flutes, and expensive suits,

Raymond’s dark silhouette lurks in the corner, the shadow of him flickering against candlelight. Even while holding a conversation, his stalking eyes are locked on Andrew and me.

His thoughts flood his cold expression.

He knows the absolute power he has over me is slipping through his fingers, and he’s staring right at the man responsible.

Andrew’s forehead melts warm into mine, the pulse in his neck hammering frantic under my thumb.

I return my attention to him, drag my fingers down the nape of his neck, and his hooded gaze crawls up and up my body, until it hits mine.

For a second,

the whole world stops behind his eyes⁠—

gaze gone,

eyes ravenous,

lids falling heavy.

“What?” I hum.

“Nothin’,” he murmurs,

brushing his nose across mine once,

then, “I miss you.”

I glance down at our feet.

“C’mon, Andrew.”

He closes his eyes tight.

But only for a second,

then he opens them again,

his hips resting against mine.

“You know what it’s like?

“Bein’ with you. Like this?”

He glances away,

trying to bite back the words,

but he can’t help himself.

“Bein’ with you, it’s like—it’s like