“Uh-huh,” I said, gently getting him to his feet and holding the barstool still.
“Oh, I can sit down,” he snapped, waving me off.
“I don’t know. You seem gravity-challenged at the moment.”
“So funny.” He sulked, sitting down.
Moving back around the island, I went to the refrigerator and bent to get something out of the freezer. His fork clattered against his plate.
Straightening up, I turned to look at him. He had his head down and was leaning into his hands. “Are you okay? Are you having a panic attack or—”
“I just can’t today.”
I walked back to my side of the island, carrying the frozen gelato I was planning to thaw a bit so it would be ready for dessert. “You can’t what today?”
He shook his head.
“Cel?”
“I—I’m too needy at the moment to hide everything I normally do.”
“What does that mean?”
When he lifted his head, I saw the tears welling up in his eyes.
“What the hell?”
He shook his head again. “I should probably call Maven and see if—”
“No,” I nearly shouted, moving to walk around the end of the island so I could reach him.
“Just stay over there,” he barked at me. “I can’t think if you’re—stick to your side.”
“Stick to my side?” I repeated, surprised.
“And don’t look at me like that.”
“How am I looking at you?”
“Like I’m broken.”
“I don’t think you’re broken,” I replied, grinning at him. “I think you’ve had a hell of a day and you’re overwrought and need to eat and go to bed.”
“I’m not a child,” he rasped.
“When did I call you a child?” I teased him.
He was glaring at me and then turned to his wine, picked up the glass, and gulped it all down. Once he was finished, he slid it over near me for a refill. “I’m not overwrought.”
“No?”
“Don’t you have any sweats you could put on?”
I was so confused. “Why?”
“Maybe a hoodie too?”
I exhaled sharply. “Tell me what’s the matter with you.”