The thought of Marcie only dating arseholes was a depressing idea, and it made Cathal want to make sure he did everything he could to not add to that number, however long this new thing between them lasted.
Fortunately, Cathal had always tried to veer clear of arsehole territory, relying on his actions rather than just his words there. He had grown up watching his parents profess deeply poetic and unending love to each other one week, only to watch his mother get kicked out of the house in tears when his father was sure she'd been somehow unfaithful. Cathal's father, for all that perfect paragon of manhood the world saw him as, was a deeply imperfect man.
"I've never been much good at being an arsehole," Cathal assured her, giving her hand a squeeze. "Being mean makes me feel too icky."