Page 460 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

She points at me.

Ben’s gaze follows her finger,

and his lips tilt on a slant.

He lifts his shoulder.

“Guess I ain’t your Boy no more.”

Black spots frame my vision.

Cotton stuffs my ears.

I’m snatched away.

My spine hits the wall.

Andrew’s hands come over my face.

His eyes stare into mine.

“Allison, hey—eyes right here.”

He tries to snap me out of it.

I can’t.

I can’t even blink.

I should cry, curse, scream.

Burn the whole building down.

But my mouth is dead.

My heart’s still standing in that doorway, watching itself get fucked.

“Stay right here.”

Soon as his hands leave me,

my back’s sliding down the wall,

‘til the marble catches me.

Then chaos breaks.

Andrew’s threats echo through the penthouse. “You got two seconds to get dressed and get the fuck out of here before I call the cops⁠—”

The girl argues⁠—

Andrew cuts her off. “Nah. How about you shut your mouth and leave. You disgust me. You both fuckin’ disgust me. Cover that shit up and go.”

“Jersey, you better chill, man,” Ben shouts. “Better mind your own business. This got nothin’ to do with you.”

“You’re fuckin’ another girl. In her bed,” Andrew snaps. “In her goddamn bed,” he shouts louder. “In her FUCKIN’ BED!”

A person blurs past.