Page 450 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

bundled inside my jacket, boots on,

staring through the glass door,

where the world is nothing but darkness

and the silent drift of snow flurries.

Ten minutes later, the headlights slice through the falling snow. I walk out into the cold air, meet him at the driver’s side as he’s climbing out.

He hangs on to the open door, other hand shoved into his pocket, looking down at me as I climb into the heat. “Maybe I should come with you.”

I sink back into the heated leather,

staring up into his worried gaze.

He doesn’t get to worry about me.

He doesn’t get to question everything,

and then worry.

“Andrew, it’s Christmas. This could be your mom’s last one,” I remind him. His head tips back, and he closes his eyes, as if he forgot. “You spend Christmas with your parents, I’ll spend it with mine.”

“Allison—”

“No, Drew⁠—”

“No, goddamn it. Listen to me.”

He bends lower, forearm braced on the roof of the car, eyes locked on mine. “I know you’re probably mad at me right now. But I don’t give a fuck. I don’t. And I don’t know what’s gonna happen with us either after this. But I’m not worried about that right now. I need to know that you’re gonna be okay tonight, alright?

“I need you to be okay.

“I need you alive.

“And breathing.

“And okay.”

His eyes search my face,

scared and pissed

and trying not to show either.

“When you’re mad, you don’t watch where you’re goin’. And it scares the fuck outta me when you do that.”

My face falls deadpan.

He taps the roof of my car.

“I’m serious, Sonny. Promise me.”

My sigh leaves beaten and bruised.

“I promise.”

// DEC 25, 8:47 AM - WOODLAWN CEMETERY - BRONX, NY //