“I can’t watch you do this to yourself, Michael. I can’t watch you do it to Ray.” I shrugged, my movements wooden. “So don’t.” Nunzio drew back as though I had hit him, and I realized the implication of my words. I opened my mouth to reword the statement, to fix things, but I was struck silent by the flush that stole over his face, and the sudden dampness of his eyes. “I wish I didn’t love your stupid ass so much.”
