He rested his elbows on his knees and stared at the carpet.

“Why did you defend her?” I asked.

“Every single time I tried to tell you something was wrong, you took her side.”

“Look, I honestly thought she was just trying to help,” he said.

He picked up a cardboard drink coaster and bent it in half.

“She was always offering to handle the vendors,” he said.

“She made it sound like you were overwhelmed and she was stepping up to protect you.

I wanted the planning to be easy for you.”