“I had to. Don’t tell me you didn’t see the look on her face. She didn’t think we could be together.”

“You think everyone feels that way,” Zack says.

“Because they do!” Suhani shakes her head. “We could have this conversation a million times and you still don’t get it.”

“I do get it. I really do.” Zack lets out a loud sigh. “You just get so worked up.”

They’re interrupted by Meg, who puts down a mimosa, a large mug of coffee, a Bloody Mary, and two glasses of ice water. Zack keeps his hands over Suhani’s and smiles as if to say, See? I’m showing her!

Of course it’s easy for Zack to not notice how people look at them. He’s a cute white guy. He’s never had to feel like an outsider or wonder whether he belongs somewhere. And then when he’s conscious about his privilege, he gets to be the considerate, cute white guy!

“So, are we going to talk about Thursday night?” Zack asks, referring to his work event at Canoe, where Zack’s company reserved a table with a stunning view of the water.

“I think we have to,” Suhani says. “I’m so sorry . . . again.”

“I know you are, honey. And I’m really sorry for overreacting,” Zack says as he cuts a cinnamon roll down the middle.

“You never overreact.” Suhani scoffs. “That’s really more my area of expertise.”

Zack hates yelling because of how much his dad used to do it. Sometimes, when he and Suhani get into their most heated arguments, Zack shuts down, while she can keep going and going. Her mind drifts to a couples’ therapy point she highlighted in one of her textbooks: “The person who marries you really sees the worst of you in a way nobody else does.”

Confusion passes over Zack’s clean-shaven face. “I still just don’t understand how you could fall asleep while my boss was talking to us.”

“I didn’t want to!” Suhani says. “I was on call the night before and got to the hospital at six that morning so I could prepare for my presentation. And I didn’t have time for a power nap, so I even chugged an espresso before having a cocktail. All I remember is that one second, I was laughing about everyone calling you the ‘office dad’ and the next, you were nudging me to wake up.”

“I’m sorry you were so tired.” Even though Zack’s words are innocuous, his clenched jaw gives away that he’s not over this.

Sure enough, he adds, “You’re always exhausted and this is the only work event of mine you’ve made it to in months. I guess I was just surprised you couldn’t be a little less tired for those few hours.”