“Damn it, Glory—”
“Oh!” Utilizing theatrical drama, she put a hand to her ribs.
“What?” Galvanized, he came around the table, his arguments disappearing with light speed. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, I keep telling you I am.” Despite a few real twinges of pain, she rose from her seat. “I just wanted your attention.” Getting out of a hardback chair was trickier than rising from the couch.
He stood there, fuming. “Did you fake that just to shut me up?”
“It’s possible.” She picked up her mostly empty plate and shuffled her way toward the kitchen.
Angry footsteps followed her. “I won’t be manipulated.”
She refrained from pointing out the obvious. “All right, but I have to be fair. If I can’t do for you, I can’t allow you to continue doing for me.”
A string of curses singed her ears. He couldn’t see her face, so she gave in to a smile. He was so stubborn, and so proud—but then, so was she. “My independence is as important as yours. You might want to keep that in mind.”
“Fine.” With his concession out there, he took the plate from her. “I insist on limits.”
“I don’t know that I can agree with that. After all, our ideas of limits are different.”
Shoulders rigid and neck stiff, he scraped the plate into the garbage with more energy than was necessary. “Because I’m blue collar and you’re part of Hoker’s most upscale family? Believe me, I know you have deep pockets. It’s not something I’ll ever forget.”
So they’d always have that issue between them? Not a good start. “I wouldn’t have put it quite like that.”
“No? Let’s hear your take on it.” He got to work on his own plate.
The churlish attitude was stealing all her fun. She wanted to get him gifts... and she wanted him to like them. “I work for a living, the same as you. Yes, my aunt and uncle are generous. I would never deny that. In many ways, they’ve treated me the same as Callie.”
Exasperation brought him around to face her. “Not where it matters most.”
“We’re talking about financials right now.” Yes, her aunt’s expectations were high, but she’d taken care of Glory. “They covered my expenses for college.”
“And expected you to be top of the class?”
Well... yes, they had.“I expected that of myself.”The absolute truth.“They gave me a great job in the company—”
“And ran you ragged.”
Not quite ragged, but yes, her aunt had definitely twisted Glory’s schedule to her advantage. “I love—loved—my job and was good at it, but when I said I wanted to cut back on travel, they didn’t complain.”Too much.“They gave me the new position I have now, and it’s perfect for me.” Especially since she could stay close to Callie. “They’ve always included good health insurance with employment. It’s why I can afford to be off work now.” Saying it all out loud really drove home the advantages she’d been given.
Advantages Kam had done without.
For a few silent seconds, they simply stared at each other until Glory admitted, “I forgot the point I was making.”
“Don’t expect me to remind you.”
No, in his soured mood, he wouldn’t want to be agreeable. “I make my own way, Kam.”Mostly.Hadn’t she just detailed all the ways she’d been helped? “I’ve been working on being better. Less pampered.”More like Callie.“I won’t backslide just because of a few injuries.”
He snorted. “Broken ribs are a big deal.”
Yes, but so was her future—especially because the future would no longer be hers alone. She’d have a big responsibility, and she was determined to do her best. “It’s been a week, and I’m feeling better. I can’t just stay parked on the couch. I’m already restless.” When she inhaled slowly, keeping it shallow, the discomfort was minimal. “I’m going to help in the kitchen.”
“No way.”
“I need to move. My butt goes numb from sitting so much.”
Slowly, his antagonism converted to humor. “Want me to rub it?”
