Page 59 of Tito

“But you wouldn’t intentionally do something to hurt me?”

“Heck no.

“You burned Jared’s things. Do you think that hurt him?”

“I gave him an opportunity to keep that from happening. He could have taken his things. He chose not to.”

“Do you like ice cream?” he asked.

“Where the hell did that come from?” I asked.

“Just a simple question.”

Food was my friend. I ate when I was angry, when I was sad, when I was happy, and when I was tired. Sweets were the pinnacle, and always would be.

“Heck yes, I like ice cream. Who doesn’t?”

“Do you want to go get some ice cream?”

I stood. “What part of I like ice cream didn’t you understand?”

“I’m dreading tonight.” He rose from his seat. “I need ice cream to put me in a good mood.”

“What happens tonight?” I asked.

“We have our weekly meeting,” he responded.

“Oh.” I winced. “Is Mister Happy going to be there?”

“He sure is.”’

“That sucks.”

“Life is a mirror,” he said. “When we’re happy, happiness is our reflection. I need to eat some ice cream before I go to the meeting. That way, I’ll walk in happy. He’ll see me happy, and he’ll be happy in return.”

“I disagree,” I said. “Not about the ice cream. About the mirror thing. I think sometimes people do like what I was talking about a minute ago. They do and say things to evoke emotion in someone, thinking the outcome will be in their favor. They may not necessarily mean to harm the recipient; they just think the emotion they cause will bring the result they want. Personally, I think you should tell him how you feel, and why. Let him know his actions and words piss you off, and that the end result is you’re pissed off. He’s hoping your anger will bring the result he’s after. Let him know it won’t.”

He lifted my chin with his index finger and gave me a stern look. “You may not agree with my mirror analogy, but we’re getting the ice cream.”

“No argument here,” I said with a smile.

He kissed me. “Let’s hope it leads to no arguments in the meeting, either.”