Chapter 4 Baby, Please Don’t Go #3
“But here you are.
“Still standin’ in front of me.”
His head tilts, smiling. Like he admires it.
“You been testin’ me this whole time, and didn’t even know it.”
I'm not moving.
In fact, I'm not moving so hard
I can't feel my toes.
His forehead creases. “Every rejection? Every time you walked away? You were handin’ me an out, seein’ if I’d take it. Waitin’ to see if I’d stop you. Because if I was only in it for the chase? I’d be gone by now. If it was just a game to me? I would’ve given up.”
The next line slides under my skin.
“But I didn’t. That’s why you didn’t either.”
My brain blanks. My lips move. No sound.
His smirk fades as he draws closer.
“But you don’t stick around for bullshit.”
A wrinkle cuts between his eyes again,
like the more he thinks about it,
the more clear it becomes.
“You? You been waiting on somethin’ real.”
A shiver rolls down my spine.
Andrew squints, watching my reaction,
seeing me now.
“That’s what this was, wasn’t it?”
I catch him tracing my mouth.
“Waitin’ to see which would come first—me walkin’ away, or me finally sayin’ somethin' that cut deep enough to count. And the second I confess this is real to me, that I don’t want you walkin’ out that door… you confessed, too.”
My breath snags.
“No I didn’t? What’re you talkin’ about?”
His brows raise
like he can’t believe I don’t see it.
“You’re not stuck. You’re stalling,” he repeats.
“That was you askin’ me to pick.
“‘Cause you want me freed-up, yeah?
“You just couldn’t say it straight.”
Fuck. Why does it sound like a truth when he says it back?
“That’s the first time you told me what you wanted,” he says, more serious, more intimate. His navy eyes coast between mine. “That’s how this works with you, isn’t it? No games. No bullshit.” His jaw tightens. “The longer I’m here, being real… the harder it is for you not to be.”
My next breath clogs in my throat.
I swallow to wake it up.
“You’re reaching,” I mutter. “Hard.”
But my pulse is pounding.
Because I don’t think he is.
A grin slides across his lips.
“Yeah, I don’t think I am.”
He hasn’t moved, but somehow,
his gaze draws closer, holds me tighter.
“I'm right. Ain't I?” he whispers.
The seconds countdown, a standoff,
waiting to see who moves first.
Before I can respond—
“Andrew?” Elle calls again.
His body stiffens,
eyes slam shut,
a muscle jumping in his jaw.
I lean in. “Recurring problem’s calling.”
Then Andrew grabs my hand
and yanks me to the next aisle.
My back meets a shelf,
and dust floats through light,
slow and nosy.
The air whips wild in my lungs as his cologne wraps around me—warm, dark, and a little reckless.
I can’t think straight.
“The fuck is happening right now?” I mutter under my breath.
“Wasn’t even a fuckin’ choice,” he says, eyes burning into mine. “You think I’m lettin’ you walk away?” He smirks with a shake of his head. “Not in this lifetime—you're stayin' right here where I can fuckin' see you, angel. I mean it.”
Oh, shit…
he called me angel.
Fucking hell, Allison—stop smiling.
One pet name and you’re melting like a moron?
You’re so goddamn easy.
A small groan leaves me.
“Now I’m stuck, and you’re still stalling,” I point out.
Andrew peeks around the shelf.
“Ain’t stallin’.
“Just workin’ up the dialogue to end this shit.
“Didn't click the first time.
“I’m tellin' you—girl hears what she wants.”
He looks down at me,
then around the shelf again.
“Didn’t mean to snatch your hand like that, but you gave it to me earlier, and well, now I’m attached. That one’s on you.”
“Andrew?!” Elle calls again—
“Jesus Christ, we're gonna be late!
“Do I gotta come drag you?”
I clear my throat. “You can touch my hand.”
My hand.
My fucking hand.
Like it’s special.
Like it means something.
The sentence leaves me quiet.
But he still catches it.
His gaze slams back into me,
and everything breaks open.
“Yeah?”
I nod. But my breath won’t calm down.
Because I want him.
And I don’t trust wanting anything.
Then his warm fingers find mine at my side,
dragging over my knuckles slow.
His chest rises, taking a deep breath.
Mine follows like it’s tied to him.
My heart?
She’s clawing her way out of the coffin,
coughing up dust
and dirt,
and eight years of darkness.
Blood-stained dress.
Hair matted.
Eyes rimmed in shadows.
She lights a cigarette with shaking hands.
And whispers, you fucking idiot.
“Andrew!” Elle whisper-shouts,
snapping us out of it.
Andrew blinks,
then smirks. “This is all you.”
“Gaslightin’ me now? Please. Walk me through how any of this shit’s my fault.”
He points at me with his album-holding hand.
“Outta everyone in this city,
“you had to be here.
“This store. This night. This fuckin’ second.
“Giving me that look.
“Talkin’ Aerosmith.
“With that mouth.
“That laugh…
“That smile…
“Those eyes…
“The way you say my name…”
His gaze slides into mine,
like it’s sliding under warm covers,
and his shoulders fall, all fight gone.
“Go on,” he says, rough and raspy,
“say my name for me.”
We hover there.
Stuck in the silence, the hush.
“Andrew,” I whisper.
His eyes fall heavy,
and I swear I can hear his pulse.
Then he swallows,
his voice fading as the words slip out of him…
“…And even the way you just… talk…
“and stand…
“and walk and… ”
His lips press shut,
trying to bite the words back.
“Fuck…” He white-knuckles the shelf, holding himself back with his stare locked on me.
My breath’s gone all wrong.
Not out, but not in either.
His eyes drop down to my mouth.
He wets his lip.
“But nah—you had to be you.”
Yeah. I think I’m having a fucking heart attack.
Andrew’s whisper-yelling now,
like he’s officially losing his mind.
“Coulda been anybody. With trash music taste. Dry-ass jokes. Sayin’ literally every two fuckin’ seconds, comin’ on to me, usin’ me, needin’ somethin’.
But nah.” He laughs, wild and a little broken.
“Nah. You had to be you. La ragazza dei miei sogni.” He spits it out, as if it burns his mouth. “My fuckin’ dream girl—fuckin’ hell.”
I blink.
His eyes widen,
like the words mugged him on the way out.
Like he can’t believe he said that out loud.
Like he’s irreversibly fucked.
“Okay… that sounded a little psychotic.”
I blink again. It’s all I can do. Blink.
Maybe I’m seizing too.
Andrew holds up a finger.
“Lets get one thing straight—
“I ain’t ever been a stalker.”
“Oh, good,” I breathe out.
“I’ll sleep real fuckin’ easy tonight.”
“Andrew!”
Elle.
Again.
She walks past the aisle,
heading for the front of the store.
We both peek around the shelf
like two idiots in a bad spy movie.
Then she’s at the window, scanning the street.
Andrew steps out from behind the shelf.
Confident. Calm. Insane.
My stomach caves in.
My hand shoots out to grab his.
“Andrew—”
Then I immediately flinch,
side-eyeing my own hand like—ma’am?
What the fuck do you think you’re doing?
This is new. You don’t reach for people.
You push them. Or slap them. Or sign contracts.
“There you are,” Elle says.
Andrew holds up a hand, stopping her.
“Yeah, I’m callin’ it. I’m done.”
He lifts a shoulder—
“Not that I was ever undone.”
He laughs under his breath.
Not at her. At himself.
Then his smile dies.
“And no more showin' up at my house unannounced. That shit ain't cool.”
My eyes go wide.
Okay. This is happening. Right now.
I slide a book off the shelf.
Open it. Hum. Pretend I’m reading.
Page is upside down. Doesn’t matter.
I can’t see Elle’s face, but I don’t need to.
I can hear it—
the blink, the processing, the shock.
“What?” she snaps. “We were literally—”
“I DON’T WANT TO FUCK YOU ANYMORE.”
It falls right out of his mouth, stone cold.
And mid-sentence, the music dies.
A perfectly timed silence.
Andrew’s eyes slowly close.
Like he just heard himself in surround sound.
He turns to me, whispering,
“I don’t usually talk to women like this.”
His hand slashes the air.
“Swear on my Nonna—I don't.”
I open my mouth about to speak—
His eyes snap back to me.
"Nah. That's a lie. I do. I'm an asshole."
Elle gapes. “You’re done fucking me?
“Tell me why I’m the only one you keep runnin’ back to.
“For round two. And three...“
He slides a hand down his face.
“Jesus—I told you outside. You were goin’ through your shit. I was just bein’ what you needed. That’s it. I wasn’t in it. Never was.”
Elle’s eyes widen. “You fuckin’ serious right now?”
“Dead serious,” Andrew says.
“Like a rock—no pulse, nothing movin’.”
Elle’s nostrils flare. “And let me guess—
“this has nothing to do with her?”
I glance up, brows raised in innocent surprise.
“Who? Me?”
“Nah…” Andrew shrugs.
Then tilts his head.
“Okay. Alright, truth? Yeah.
“Happenin’ now ‘cause of her, but—”
She laughs. “Seriously? Her?”
And not gonna lie, I’m standing right here,
slightly offended.
Andrew steps in. “It’s in your best interest to leave her outta this. And that’s the only fuckin’ time I’m sayin’ it.”
Elle’s brows launch halfway to heaven.
I’ve seen this look before.
He keeps siding with the new girl,
and Elle doesn’t do second place.
This could get ugly for him, fast.
“That’s sweet, Andrew.” I laugh, nervously. “But we both know I don’t have break-up mind control powers.” I wave a hand between him and her. “This was in the works before I came along—you said so yourself. I don’t think this has anything to do with me.”
Andrew agrees, pointing at me.
“No, no. She’s right. That’s what I’m sayin’.
“This was already happenin’.
“Allison just… expedited the process.”
Elle stares at him. “Expedited?”
Andrew gestures, searching for words.
“Like… like Prime.”
I press my lips together,
but my laugh breaks through anyway.
When Andrew sees it, his own sputters out.
He can’t control it either.
Elle throws her hands up.
“You’re both absolutely fucking unhinged.”
Andrew fully faces me, grinning. “Wait, wait—could you imagine if Apple came out with an app that helped people break up? Offered minimal talking points, then erased all data, blocked numbers, social media...” He clicks his tongue. “Could really fuckin' use it right now.”
I nod. “Like a subscription service… FuckNDump.”
Andrew’s sold. “First month free. Then lowest plan? Thirty bucks a month.”
I go on to add, “Tier one: ‘It’s not you, it’s me.’
“Tier two: ‘I’m not ready for a relationship.’
“Tier three—”
Andrew snaps his fingers—
“I don’t want to fuck you anymore.”
That does it.
A laugh explodes out of me, and I double over.
Andrew turns,
trying to outrun his own laugh,
his hand flying to his eyes.
Elle growls.
“WHAT the actual fuck is going on?”
Then her smile hardens,
empty, over it.
“You think you’re the first girl to fall for him?”
Her eyes cut to me,
then right back to him.
“You’re talkin’ to Andrew Harding, you do know that, right? Gives you the fantasy. Says and does just enough to make it real. Whatever you want, he’ll give it to you. Doesn’t mean he wants you, just your pussy.” Her smile turns cruel. “So don’t think you’re special.”
The sudden silence might as well be a scream.
My laughter dies.
So does Andrew’s.
He’s standing frozen,
chest emptied out in front of everyone.
He doesn’t deny it,
doesn’t defend himself,
or leave.
His gaze is on the floor, posture rigid.
Elle’s eyes fly to me, sizing me up. “So good luck, sweetheart,” she says. “This one? He looks good, eats even better—obviously. It’s Andrew. But don’t mistake his sad-boy-savage stare for substance.” Her laugh leaves sideways. “Decent dick, zero depth. Just make sure to wipe him down first.”
Fuck.
That one cut deep,
hurt even me,
right in my chest, and I have no idea why.
I stand straighter.
Everything else fades.
Except Andrew,
and the fire burning a hole in me.
He’s not moving.
The vein in his neck is popping from clenching so hard,
his gaze reaching for the floor.
Like he doesn’t want anyone to see the truth in his eyes.
I don't know if he's innocent,
but he didn't object, lie, retaliate.
She gut him, and he just stood there and bled.
And that’s what makes me speak up.
“Yeah, you don’t sound broken up. You sound cut off, and it’s fuckin’ gross.” I drag my stare across her. “If you ever gave a shit about him, you wouldn’t be out here tryin’ to humiliate him.”
Andrew's stunned still, confused, brows twisted, lips parted,
not expecting me to defend him.
“And for the record?” My gaze swings to him. “He’s substantial.”
The vein in his neck relaxes.
His mouth closes, and he swallows.
“Substantial,” he repeats,
as if the word tastes like a lie.
I shrug, fighting a smile.
“And compelling… steady… perceptive.”
He stands taller, chin lifted,
that crooked grin rebuilding. “Honest?”
“Sincere,” I counter, dropping my head to the side. “Persistent, too.”
“Only when desperate,” he says, stepping closer.
“And passionate…” I hum.
Elle glares. “You two make me sick. What a waste of breath.”
But I’m wrapped up in Andrew,
caught up in the way he’s looking at me.
His next word comes with a grin snuck into every syllable.
“Dangerous.”
I bite my lip. “Thoughtful… ”
“Stimulating,” he murmurs,
edging closer. “And so unapologetic.”
I raise a brow. “Unshakable.”
“Insightful.”
“Tempting.”
“Irresistible,” he breathes.
It catches my next inhale. “Disarming.”
“Sexy,” he murmurs.
Heat grazes my skin.
“We’re still talking about you, right?”
He's smirking.
“I think we’re talking about us now.”
Elle scoffs.
I hear her. But I don’t see her.
I can’t look away from Andrew.
“Forget it,” she says—
“You guys deserve each other.”
The door slams. The bell jingles.
Andrew’s still watching me,
albums clutched to his side,
narrow waist leaned into one hip,
palm dragging across his jaw.
The stupid guy who I realize has the power to make my body do foreign things. Like shake. And stutter. And stumble.
“How you feeling?” I ask him. “You good?”
His eyes don’t leave mine,
and a disbelieving grin takes over his face.
“You’re still here, so yeah. I’m good…
“You good?”
We breathe in at the same time.
Exhale at the same time.
It makes me smile, and I turn to hide it.
“Yeah,” I say, glancing back at him.
“I’m good.”
The mood dips then.
He swallows.
“Good,” he breathes out.
His eyes don’t move.
They hold me in place.
Pin me.
No escape.
Like I’m not going anywhere.
Like he’s not done with me.
“You hungry?” he asks.
I freeze.
“What.”
His grin turns wicked. “I wanna feed you.”
And the way he says feed,
it’s like fuck all over again.
All I can do is stare. Don’t know what to say.
All the words are snowballing up my throat.
An avalanche on my tongue.
Tacos. Thank you. Take me away…
Nothing makes it out.
I can inhale though.
Then, on exhale—
“Kiss me.”