Page 462 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

“Yeah. Tomorrow she’ll sort it out.

“Tonight, don’t let him up without Allison’s approval. That’s it.

“Thanks, Mick. I appreciate it.

“Yeah. Merry Christmas to you, too.”

“Allison…

“He’s gone.

“She’s gone,” he said.

You’re leaving, I thought,

and still am thinking.

“Mickey’s not lettin’ him back up tonight,” he said, sitting across from me, against the opposite wall.

“That’s my bed,” I whispered.

“I know.”

“I sleep there.”

“I know.”

“You sleep there.”

His eyes closed for half a second.

“Yeah,” he said. “I know.”

“I can’t sleep in there.”

“You’re not sleeping in there.”

“You’re leaving.”

Then silence.

He didn’t answer after that.

We sat in it for what felt like forever.

Until I couldn’t look at him anymore.

Until I felt the urge to puke.

Then I got up on wobbly legs.

“I’m taking a shower.”

“Allison—”

“What?”

He looked up at me,