The excuse sounded lame even to his ears. And for just the briefest of moments, he thought about confiding in her. That he’d met his father yesterday afternoon, that Chris gave him all this shit—his bank accounts, his checks, his estate papers, his passport—and he had forgotten to take them out of his briefcase because he was an idiot. And because he had been an idiot, he would have had to go back to Chris and admit that some lowlife mugged him. And he wouldn’t ever be able to look his father in the eyes again. It was better to die than to face contempt. He wanted to tell her that. But he couldn’t confess without betraying his father.

He’d simply have to wait another couple of days.

In his book, a fucking promise was a fucking promise.

“You didn’t want to?” Hannah yelled. “And that’s worth dying over?”

“It’s mine. Why should I give it to him?”

“What was it there that’s so valuable that you risked your life for it?”

“Nothing much. Just my sheet music.”

“You’re absolutely insane!” she said with disgust in her voice.

“You’re screaming at the wrong person!” Her yelling was beginning to piss him off. “I didn’t mug anyone, he did. And if I want to take a chance and get myself blown away, that’s my business!”

“Hah!” She breathed out. “You are sincerely crazy!”

“Stop calling me crazy! I’m not the one you should be mad at!”

“On the contrary, you’re the perfect person to be mad at. You nearly got yourself killed over a stupid briefcase filled with sheet music. What if he tried to shoot me?”

“That’s why I stopped him—”

“And on top of that, you look like you wrecked your hands. How stupid is that!”

“You know, I have enough shit in my life without your telling me I’m stupid, okay?” He waved her off. “Fuck all of this! I’m outta here!”

He charged down the street in the darkness without knowing where he was or where he was going. He heard her running after him. She grabbed his arm.

“Let’s just go home.”

“You go home, Hannah.” He was still walking. “See, you have a home. At present, I’m homeless, remember?”

“Gabe, stop. Stop!” She yanked at his arm. “Stop walking!”

Now she was sobbing.

He stopped walking and groaned.

Another ridiculous, sobbing female who couldn’t keep it together. His mom, whenever she was desperate, turned on the water-works. His aunt was absolutely a nutcase, always weeping about something real or imaginary. Sometimes it was easier to deal with his dad’s fury than his mom’s hysteria.