"Uhmm… Gabe," Alex began hesitantly, swallowing hard as he rubbed the back of his neck. "There's no way I can take care of you personally. I mean...." he exhaled softly, "...I have work to attend to, sessions to run, patients to meet. So I'll have to assign someone else to help you with your needs."
He paused, watching Gabe's tear-streaked face. Something about those eyes ... wide, pleading, and fragile made his chest tighten again, and that frustrated him more than he wanted to admit.
Besides, Alex thought inwardly, sighing deeply as he leaned back a little, I just know he's up to something. He's too clever for his own good. A master manipulator in the making. His lips twitched faintly. Yeah, I know it hurts seeing him cry like this but my gut tells me it's planned. He's doing it on purpose, using those tears to gain my pity.
