Page 156 of The Baby Bargain
"You really hate Matt Murdock."
"No." She bites her lip. "He's just… get over yourself, you know?"
I shake my head. I don't know. Not enough.
"Not that you're that—"
"Horrible?"
She clears her throat. "I, uh… I mean, there are parallels between the two of you, but I'm not saying you're… he's totally a dreamboat. Usually. So even if you're like him, uh…"
"I'm not offended."
"Oh." She presses her lips together. "Good."
"Just thinking."
She folds her hands in her lap. Stares at me with a nervous expression. Like she's sure she's hurt me.
"He's Hunter's favorite. Daredevil."
She nodsright. Leans forward like she's expecting insight.
"Maybe… I guess I don't stop to think about how he feels."
"Like he also has that guilt for failing at something that's not his fault?"
"Yeah." I stay away because it's for the best. That's what I tell myself. But maybe that's bullshit. Maybe it's something else.
"But you do want him to be happy?"
I nodof course.
"So… uh… I think, um… should I go?"
"Why?"
"That was a horrible thing to say."
"Is it what you think?" I ask.
"Yeah, but not in a bad way, exactly."
"You never have to apologize for telling me what you think," I say.
She crosses and uncrosses her legs. "Oh… Uh…"
"Let's look." I need more evidence. I want her to be right. I want this to be in my head. Even if that means my head is more fucked than I like to believe.
That's fixable. I've seen people work through their shit. Yeah, they always did it after I bailed. They always proved they were better off without me.
But at least I know it's possible.
If only I could work through my shit without me.
That would be something.
"But I show you first." I need to prove I can leave someone better than when I found them.
