"Thanks," I said.
He nodded, missing the sarcasm.
"Liv?" Ricky said as he unlocked his door. "You take the shower first. I'll--" He stopped. "Hey."
I glanced past Ricky to see Don rising from the couch, blinking, as if he'd been dozing there.
"I came over after you took off," Don said. "I tried calling, but you weren't . . ." He noticed me. "Oh, Olivia. I didn't see you--Gabriel?" He rubbed his eyes and double-checked, then frowned. "You're covered in . . ."
"Dust. And cobwebs. It's a long story." I turned to Ricky. "Gabriel and I will go for breakfast at the diner up the road. We'll hold a seat if you can make it, but it's fine if you can't. Just give me two minutes in the bathroom first."
"I'll also need--" Gabriel began.
"You look fine. We cleared the cobwebs for you." I nodded at Don and managed what I hoped was a friendly smile. "Sorry about all this. We'll be gone in two minutes."
"You don't have to--" Ricky began.
I caught his gaze and he nodded, mouthing, "Thanks," then saying, "I'll catch up. Go ahead and order."
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
Gabriel and I didn't get five steps out of the apartment before he started.
"They argued last night, I presume? After Ricky told him about you?"
I nodded.
"And Ricky took off? Didn't answer Don's calls?"
"I guess so. He was pretty shaken up." I turned onto the sidewalk. "He'll work it out."
"I've known the Gallaghers for almost four years, Olivia. I have never seen them argue. They simply don't."
"I'm not trying to cause problems."
"But you obviously are."
I stiffened. "Yes, obviously, because I chased poor innocent Ricky down and seduced him."
"I am well aware of who did the chasing. For whatever reason, he wanted you, and--"
"For whatever reason?"
A pause. I didn't look up, but I swore I could sense him searching for a path out of the quagmire.
"I meant that he found you attractive, for whatever--"
He managed to stop himself. I still scowled at him.
"The point I'm making is that he pursued you," Gabriel said. "I realize that. But he's made a mistake. You both have. It may seem unfair to put the onus on you for recognizing that, but he's young--"
"He's twenty-two, not twelve. There's no mistake here. We're involved in a perfectly functional relationship--"
"Functional?" His brows arched. "That sounds romantic."
"I'm putting it in language you'll understand, because if I did make it sound romantic, you'd mock me. I know your opinion on the subject."
"If you think you're in love, you're suffering the emotional fallout from your breakup with James. I can understand that you'd be looking for that sort of thing again--"