"We wouldn't have minded having you around, South. Don't .." He sighed, knowing that he'd already messed this up by saying the wrong thing, and it was only going to go downhill until he got his words where he wanted them, and got them out in the right order.

It was just a shame that it didn't seem that was going to happen, just because when she was this angry with him, he always found it difficult to find the right thing to say.

"You already know, don't you?" he heard himself asking, and as soon as it was out of his mouth, he wished he could take it back. Because it sounded just the slightest bit accusatory, and that wasn't going to make things any better.