You can't ace me, Gabriel. Gabe. Gabe. I'm not the princess in the tower, nor a project." She sets down her plate, a slight tremor in her hands. "I'm just another person and I like it best if you make me feel like you view me as such. Ordinary. Knowing that you feel that way doesn't make me more comfortable. I'm not the mother in law."

"And possibly never will be."