Page 439 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

His eyes jump to mine.

The corner of his mouth pulls.

“The whole box?”

“Yeah. Replaced them with the least-toxic ones I could find. In case you need them after me.” I shrug. “Now your dick’s safe.”

He strokes my forehead slow with his thumb. “You tryna tell me somethin’? Want me movin’ on without you?”

My eyes slide between his,

not knowing what to say,

or how to say anything, really.

So then we’re staring at each other, fingers tracing each other’s exposed skin, separate, but still somehow together.

“Andrew,” I whisper. “I’m missing you.” I drop my head to the couch, nudge the crown of my head into his chest, a little woozy still, can’t yet lift it without the room spinning. “Not in a cheesy quick I-miss-you text way… I’m missing you like… like… There’s a you-shaped hole in me.”

He smoothes my hair back with his fingers, and I feel the heat of his exhale brush my cheek.

“A draft blowin’ through it,” I whisper.

“Lettin’ in the cold.

“Lettin’ in this ache.

“Lettin’ in everything.”

Then I roll my head to look up at him.

“I think I’m addicted to you.”

His jaw clenches,

and he tucks hair behind my ear.

“I think you had too much wine.”

“I think I need you to fill me up again…”

His fingers along my hairline stutter.

But then he doesn’t move.

“Andrew,” I whisper.

“I need you right now. Bad.”

His lashes flutter,

his face breaking with the same ache,

then with hunger as I cup his jaw.

He lets me.

I pull him closer.