“I’m serious. It’s a bad situation that you can’t improve and the more you stay there, the worse it’s going to get.”
“That’s not a practical suggestion.”
“Staying there, in potential danger, is not practical. You need to get out. Staying there will only make things worse for you.”
She clenched her jaw. “You know, there comes a point where you’re not giving advice anymore. There comes a point where you’re just moralizing, demonstrating your hypothetical superiority when it comes to doing the right thing. That’s not very fucking helpful, you know. I’m holding my shit together right now, and rather than telling me that it’s not enough, you could try to help me with the stuff I’m capable of.”
Alan digested this. She’d said it loudly, and a few of the other morning patrons at the Greek’s were staring at them. He looked away, across the street, and spied Billy standing in a doorway, watching. Billy met his eyes, then looked away.
“I’m sorry, Natalie,” he said. “You’re right.”
She blew air out her nostrils.
“What about this. You can knock on my door any time. I’ll make up the sofa for you.” He thought of Mimi and cringed inwardly. She’d have to stay upstairs and be quiet if there were strangers in the house. Then he remembered his promise about her wings. He bit his lip.
She let out a harsh chuckle. “Will I be any safer there?”
“What does that mean?”