Page 571 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

He silences it. “Allison, I’m not goin’ anywhere. I’m not.” He pinches between his eyes, blinking hard. Then looks back up at me. “I’m never fuckin’ leavin’ you.”

“That’s too bad,” I say. “‘Cause you can either tell me what this is then, or you can get the fuck out.”

His phone buzzes again.

He silences it again, his hand shaking.

“You know. You fuckin' know,” he bites out. “And that's why this hurts so goddamn much. So don't do this. Don't stand there and act like you don't know what you are to me.”

Buzzzz.

His jaw tightens.

My eyes go wide. “Answer it.”

“No.”

“Just answer the phone, Andrew.”

“No. This is more important right now.”

“It’s ringing like somebody died.”

The words land in his eyes.

His expression changes.

The phone stops.

Then starts again.

Buzz.

He swipes it off the counter.

Looks at the screen,

then he answers fast.

I watch as he suddenly goes tense.

“Yeah, this is Andrew Harding.”

My stomach churns sick.

He listens, gripping the back of his neck.

“Yeah. I’m her proxy.”

I round the counter,

my heart in my throat.

“When?” he says,

eyes finding mine,

like he needs me.