Page 400 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

I don’t like it at all.

Andrew’s expression stays detached,

the grip around the bat tightening.

Gino takes his sweet time,

holding the ball behind his hip,

lingering in the moment,

adjusting his cap over a satanic smirk.

Finally, Gino sets up the pitch,

and the ball leaves his hand too fast⁠—

Andrew swings.

Striiiike one, the ump calls.

Gino catches the return ball.

“Allison, sweetheart.”

He points two cocky fingers at me.

“That one was for you.”

The other team laughs.

Andrew doesn’t break his stance,

but a terrifying, unhinged calm takes over him, his knuckles turning bloodless-white around the grip of his bat.

I can feel him vibrate.

I can’t sit anymore.

I push up from the chair.

C’mon, Drew. Don’t let him get to you.

Gino paces a slow circle around the pitching rubber like a trapped wolf. “Gotta say, she’s real beautiful, man.” He sighs, a theatrical display of appreciation. “Really, like, fuck.” He blows a sharp breath. “When I made that promise to you? Didn’t think it’d come with perks.”

He stops to stare down the line,

rolling the ball between his fingers,

smiling around his gum.

“She must be fire for you to give it all up.”

Andrew’s eyes snap to me, then sweep the field, a hair-trigger away from losing it.

“Hey! Harding! Let it go,” Peter shouts from behind the line, his Boston trying to bring him back. “Don’t let him get into ya head.”

Gino cuts a wicked, trash-talking grin at Peter. “Don’t worry, bro. That’s not the head I’m after.”