"I will come to terms with it. In my own way."
"I wish I could show you--"
"No," he said, his voice harsh as he met my gaze. "If you are thinking you might be able to share a vision, as you did with Ricky, the answer is no. I'd like you to respect my wishes."
"I will. I'm sorry."
He was already on his feet, picking up the dishes with a clatter and headed for the house. "I have work to do. I'll be at the kitchen table."
So please find another place to be.
That was what he was telling me. It did not matter how far we came, the moment my toe crossed his invisible line, he was done with me.
"Fuck you, Gabriel," I said.
He turned. "I beg your pardon?"
"You heard me. Fuck you. I was only trying to help, and as soon as you said no, I backed down. Yet that wasn't enough. It's never enough. I've misbehaved, and so I lose the privilege of your company. You'll walk into that house--my house--and tell me where I can and cannot sit, because God forbid you should have to endure my presence when you're angry with me."
His gaze chilled. "I don't believe I said anything of the sort."
"No? Okay, then. Well, I have work, too. So we'll both sit at the dining room table."
He stood there a moment, and then said, "I think you should call Ricky and see if he can stay here with you tonight. I have things to do--"
"You are such a fucking coward, Gabriel."
Those eyes turned to ice. "Excuse me?"
"You don't even have the guts to say you don't want me around."
He glared at me, his jaw working.
"Come on," I said. "You can do it. You're a pain in the ass, Olivia. You're a nag and you're a bitch, and I don't want to be around you. Go away."
"I never said--"
"Do you know what's worse than being a coward? Being a hypocrite."
"Are you calling me--?"
"You tell me you have my back. You fuss about my safety, make a big deal about protecting me. But the moment that's not convenient, Ricky can take over. You know what, Gabriel? I have an even better idea. Why don't you give me a ride back to Chicago so you can drop me off in a shitty neighborhood."
"You got out of the car--"
"I didn't realize where I was."
"Neither did I."
"I waited for you to come back."
"I didn't know exactly where you got out. Not until Ricky told me the next morning."
"Bullshit."
"I had other things on my mind, Olivia. All I registered was that you got out of the car."
"Which was such a relief that nothing else mattered."