[He had been mostly joking when he'd taken the food back, but now any good mood he had deflated as well. His fingers clenched around the dishes in his hand tighter and basically started crumbling them into a ball as she started in. He opened his mouth to say something and it shut quickly.]

[Did she really think?]

I wasn't trying to make some damned claim on you! [Except he sort of was. In a round about way. And it hit home, but impulsiveness was something in his blood. So moistening the corner of his lip he tossed his plates in the nearest trashcan for a chance to take a breath. He didn't even think before he spoke the next part.] I didn't want them to have a chance cause I couldn't stand it if they did, all right? I wanted to be the one here with you--

[There he said it. And he rubbed his hand through his hair as he tried focusing on the matter at hand but everything rushed through his head and he mumbled.] So if you'd rather not then--yeah.