Page 204 of Dangerous Encore
"I…"
"Yeah."
"My mom slipped so manytimes."
Joel's eyes flare with understanding. "You thinkyouwill?"
"Everyonedoes."
"NotMiles."
"Yeah. Iguess."
"Not you. Not in threeyears."
"Yeah."
"He's got what? Six? Fuck, a lot. I don't know. You should talk to him. He might have more patience for this moody, introspective,I need your help but I won't talk to youbullshit."
"Will he?" I archabrow.
Joel shrugs. "Anything ispossible."
"True."
"Is this 'cause your mom relapsedlastyear?"
"Maybe." Thatdoesn'thelp.
"You're not your parents." Joel presses his ass against the kitchen counter. "But I get it. Your DNA is half philanderer, half junkie. It's hard to think you're husband materiallikethat."
Inod.
"Hard to think you can ask someone as sweet as Piper to stickaround."
"Yeah."
"But get over yourself. Figure out what it will take. Therapy. A fucking intervention. I don't know. Piper deserves better than your pityparty."
"I fuckingknowthat."
"Then why aren't you talkingtoher?"
The man has apoint.
"You're a good guy, Kit. A good friend. A good boyfriend, as far as I can tell. You'll be a goodhusband."
"Thanks."
"If you get over thiswoe is me bullshit. How the fuck do you think she feels, you lockingherout?"
Like shit,probably.
"You hurt, yeah. You've been through a lot of shit. You deserve a little leeway. But you're not the only person in the universe with problems. Shehurtstoo."
"When did you get allinsightful?"
He flashes his wedding ring. "I told you. I fucking acethisshit."
