“I know what you're saying, but I don't really feel it's going to work for me”, said Alex.
Marie looked frustrated. “It's only for one night,” she responded, “and I can work while I'm there—I won't be a bother to you.”
Alex paused. “You say that but I need you to respect my boundaries, and there are always a lot of extra things that you need me for when you're around, and I'm just tired out at the moment and I need some space.”
Marie glowered. “You are just being high-maintenance,” she said.
Alex felt cornered. “No I'm not, I just feel like you are not considering the line between you and me and how things can work between us.”
“Well how about I get the later flight and arrive at 5pm,” she said.
Alex wanted the conversation to be over. “I guess that would be OK,” he said, “as long as you are quiet working in the kitchen for a few hours, so I can get some sleep, because otherwise I'm going to feel irritable all evening.”
“OK, it's a deal,” said Marie.
But secretly she decided that she would just travel on the earlier plane, since it was booked anyway—she hadn't mentioned that to Alex. He's just being awkward now, but he'll soon get used to me being there, she thought, plus Shamille is free at that time, and I could invite her over for afternoon cocktails.
“It's a plan, I guess,” said Alex.
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