She was so far from the mark, Hal gasped out an involuntary bark of relieved laughter, then immediately clamped his mouth shut.
He needed to answer that. "No... she hasn't left me." He realized he wished she would. It would be... cleaner. "She won't. Not until... she gets what she wants."
"What—"
"Please, I can't..." Hal gripped the wheel tighter until he felt the stitching begin to cut into his skin. He forced his hands to relax.
"I'm sorry," Sam asked. "I really like you. I don't like to see you in pain, so I want to help. If talking it out can help you. I want you to know I'm willing to listen."
Hal felt the urge to burst into hysterical laughter, but he managed to suppress it. The woman he almost killed didn't want to see him in pain?!
"Th-thank you."
The moment the words left h
