Page 82 of Cavern of Silence

We stay silent.

"You almost killed each other. Are you going to let women come between you? After everything you've been through together?"

"It's not the women's fault," Hunter says.

At least we agree on something.

"No? Then what is the reason for you to act like imbeciles?"

More silence.

Tinker finishes his beer and tosses the bottle hard into the trash. Glass shatters. "I'm going to bed. Figure your issues out before I wake up." He storms out of the kitchen.

Minutes pass. Hunter finally says, "I'm sorry I brought Maureen up."

"This isn't about Maureen."

"Still shouldn't have said what I did."

"I shouldn't have mentioned Ava."

"I deserved it."

I lean forward. "What's your problem with Julieta? She's been trying all day, and you just can't stop being a dick."

He tilts his head toward the ceiling. "I'll apologize to her."

"You're going to need to do better than that."

He sighs and nods. "Okay."

"I mean it. If you can't treat her with respect, we're going to have big issues. You have no idea what she's been through, and frankly, I don't know why you've decided it's okay to treat her like garbage."

"Garbage?"

"Yeah. Garbage. Since your first incident, which shouldn't have even happened. She's a target. I've never seen you engage in arguments with anyone we've rescued before. And since when do you disrespect women?"

He inhales deeply then groans. "I'm sorry. You're right. I'm not thinking straight. And I don't dislike Julieta."

"Yeah, right."

"I don't. Maybe I wasn't a big fan yesterday, but she's grown on me today. I'm just..."

"You're just what?"

"I've never felt half of what I feel about Vanessa for any woman. And I'm doing everything wrong. But I don't even know how I'm screwing up. Well, not all of the ways. And it's fucking with my head."

"You aren't doing anything wrong with her."

"I am. And she broke up with me on the deck then Tinker ran his mouth, and she overheard it."

"What did he say?"

"I don't want to rehash it. But it was about Ava, and then he insinuated Vanessa would do the same thing."

I get up and grab two beers out of the fridge and hand one to him. "Tinker doesn't know anything about relationships."

"Tell me about it. But Vanessa heard it, and I'm not sure how much, but it was enough to hurt her. It doesn't excuse me yelling at Julieta though."