i wo n't stand by and let you do nothing just so everyone can blame me when the council loses . '' i do n't know why in the hell it would bother me to see a pretty blonde slink out of his bedroom . for the first time , a teasing grin curled his lips . `` not since my dad died , '' i said . `` i ca n't talk about this with you . '' she imagined she could feel it closing in around her . his own voice sounded remote to him . 