And I won't have this evening ruined by—

[He bites off his words before he can say the name. It isn't Gale's name that's on his lips, he reminds himself. Gale doesn't deserve this anger, this hurt. He swallows again, some of the tension bleeding from his body as he looks down to the angry red crescents he's dug into the palm of his hand.]

I want this to go well, Gale. I don't want what she'll think of me if I steal you away from her right now.