She didn't seem to 'feel them?' The fuck?, she thought. Who the hell was he to judge what she felt and what she didn't? What was she supposed to do, break down crying every time she saw him and act overjoyed that he was willing to spend time with her, with him putting her down and making her out to be some kind of monster trying to control him? She still hadn't forgotten his claim about her being just as bad as those who'd enslaved his people if she didn't let her baby choose his djinn heritage.
Jesse watched in absolute silence as he challenged her with the gift card. It might have been thoughtful if this had gone another way.
Instead of acknowledging it one way or another, she stared at him. "I'm not Tracey." Her voice barely edged a whisper but it was sharp with pain nonetheless. "I've never tried to control you or use you or 'punish you.' For your sake, I wish you'd never met me. I'm sorry you ever did. Your life would have been better if you hadn't. I can't undo it. But I'm not a monster. I didn't choose any of this. What I am is trying to find a way to make this as right as I can. You don't make it easy. Yes, I invited you next week 'out of courtesy.' You're the father of our child. You have a right to be there, but if you don't believe my words because you think I'm 'not feeling them' then don't come."
Jesse wanted to stand to gather up her things, including the gift card since it was for the baby and not her, and make to stalk out; but she didn't. She sat there, feeling guilty and like she didn't deserve to escape anything he threw back at her.