Page 419 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

“Twelve?”

AI Brooke: “Better.”

“Twenty-four?”

AI Brooke: “Reasonable.”

“Seventy-two?”

AI Brooke: “Potentially respectful.”

“So I should wait seventy-two hours, then send him a text.”

AI Brooke: “I do not recommend.”

I hang my head.

“Then what do you recommend?”

AI Brooke: “I recommend waiting for him to contact you.”

“So…

“Andrew will come back to me, right?”

AI Brooke: “I am not saying Andrew will come back to you.”

“Say ‘Andrew will come back to you.’”

AI Brooke: “Andrew will come back to you.”

“Again.”

AI Brooke: “Demanding I say something does not make it true.”

“Can this be true: can my body literally get addicted to Andrew?”

AI Brooke: “Addiction is not described as being addicted to a person.”

“Okay. So listen to what happened to me just now—Ben offered to make me come. My body jumped at the idea, until it realized wait—no. Andrew’s not here. Then it shut down real fast. And I was able to say no. For like the first time ever, Brooke.”

AI Brooke: “That is significant.”

“Significant,” I scoff. “Be more relatable. I could really use a friend right now.”

AI Brooke: “That is like a big fucking deal, Allison.”

I drag a hand down my face. “Yeah… so this is what I’m dealing with.”

AI Brooke: “Your body wanted relief, but rejected Ben. That suggests the urge is no longer general. If only Andrew provided consistent relief before, he has become a cue for safety, reward, and emotional regulation.”

My body drops a few degrees more,

my teeth almost chattering. “Cue?”

AI Brooke: “Yes.”

“Cute little word for a man who can make my addiction sit the fuck down,” I grumble. “Does this mean I’m not addicted to orgasms anymore? Only a Jersey boy?” Then I sit up fast. “Wait—is this recovery?”