Her voice breaks. “Here’s what you don’t seem to understand: I will blame you always for this.”
He shrugs. “That doesn’t even make sense. There is no blame here. There’s only you unable to wrap your head around the fact people made choices you don’t like.”
“I’m still blaming you.”
“Well, then you’re kind of an asshole.”
“Was that an apology? It did not sound like an apology.”
“I’m not going to apologize.”
“Annoying.”
He sighs. “I guess I could apologize for the fact that you are having such a hard time.”
“Those would be ridiculous last words.”
“Want some coffee?”
“I hate everything about you right now.”
“Even the way I pour coffee?”
“Everything.”
“Cream?”
“Do not clink the spoon against the cup, because I will kill you.”
“Look. I’ll stir your coffee with a tiny rubber spatula. Silence!”
He sets the cup on the counter in front of her, very carefully. She swipes at tears. “This is not how this part was supposed to go. None of this is right. I cannot stand it.”
“This isn’t your part.”
“What?”
He stares at her. “This isn’t your part. You don’t get to decide. Your disappointments are only about you.”
“It is stunning to me that you feel you can talk to me like this.”
He rests a hand on her shoulder and she does not kill him.
The coffee tastes of salt.