Page 156 of The Baby Bargain

"You really hate Matt Murdock."

"No." She bites her lip. "He's just… get over yourself, you know?"

I shake my head. I don't know. Not enough.

"Not that you're that—"

"Horrible?"

She clears her throat. "I, uh… I mean, there are parallels between the two of you, but I'm not saying you're… he's totally a dreamboat. Usually. So even if you're like him, uh…"

"I'm not offended."

"Oh." She presses her lips together. "Good."

"Just thinking."

She folds her hands in her lap. Stares at me with a nervous expression. Like she's sure she's hurt me.

"He's Hunter's favorite. Daredevil."

She nodsright. Leans forward like she's expecting insight.

"Maybe… I guess I don't stop to think about how he feels."

"Like he also has that guilt for failing at something that's not his fault?"

"Yeah." I stay away because it's for the best. That's what I tell myself. But maybe that's bullshit. Maybe it's something else.

"But you do want him to be happy?"

I nodof course.

"So… uh… I think, um… should I go?"

"Why?"

"That was a horrible thing to say."

"Is it what you think?" I ask.

"Yeah, but not in a bad way, exactly."

"You never have to apologize for telling me what you think," I say.

She crosses and uncrosses her legs. "Oh… Uh…"

"Let's look." I need more evidence. I want her to be right. I want this to be in my head. Even if that means my head is more fucked than I like to believe.

That's fixable. I've seen people work through their shit. Yeah, they always did it after I bailed. They always proved they were better off without me.

But at least I know it's possible.

If only I could work through my shit without me.

That would be something.

"But I show you first." I need to prove I can leave someone better than when I found them.