Page 526 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

He’s the most dressed-up I’ve ever seen him—black button-up, black slacks, hair pushed back, diamonds in his ears sparkling from here.

He’s dragging Kate away from the rail as she yells, “Get your ass over here right now. Just run across!”

“Kate, no,” Ty calls, laughing. “Do not run across. Allie, ignore her. She’s drunk.”

“Okay,” Kate claps,

“walk across at a normal pace.”

Ty laughs, head tipping back.

I wave at her.

“Okay.

“Happy birthday to your boyfriend.

“Happy birthday to his twin.

“But I’m gonna stay over on this side.

“Away from the Deck of Death.

“With the cool people.

“Bye-bye, now.”

I turn fast, Andrew stops me,

then they’re all on their feet⁠—

Ty and Linc cupping their mouths.

“Don’t! Be! Scared!” Ty shouts.

“Be! A little! Scurred!” Linc barks back.

Kate’s patting her knees, whistling.

“Come to Kate! Come to Kate!”

Andrew steps onto the catwalk first, then turns back to me, smiling. “Alright. C’mere.”

I’m not smiling. “No thanks.”

Andrew pulls me into his side, then shoves my face into his chest, one hand spread over the back of my head. My cheek hits his shirt, his cologne, his heartbeat.

“Look at me!” I hear Kate yell.

“Nah,” Andrew calls back, mouth in my hair. “She’s busy.” Then he’s walking, dragging me along. “Don’t peek,” he murmurs.

Yes, Andrew.

I’m literally fighting the temptation.

I shove my face harder into his chest.

Then when he stops walking,