The problem here was that he didn't really know Ryland that well yet. If things had been sort of reversed, and Ryland was now strewing rose petals all over Gabe's room (by proxy - he hoped) he could just ask and it'd be fine. But whatever.
"Feel free to tell me to fuck off," Gabe opened easily, "but, ah... specifics might help us figure out precisely what we're dealing with here."
And make Gabe feel even fucking worse about this, but it might help.