Jeremy stomped off in disgust. Yes, we were going to have THAT same old argument again.

“I don’t understand why you have to work tonight of all nights!” he signed rapidly with his fingers.

I rubbed the heels of my hands against my eyes, no doubt smearing my makeup. I’d have to fix it…again. “It’s my job, Jeremy. It’s what I do for a living. It’s what I’ve always done for a living.” I pushed past him to re-enter the bathroom. My back to him, so he’d not be able to read my lips, I added, “Shut up, shut up, shut up!”

“I make more than enough to support the both of us. You don’t need to work anymore.” His speaking voice gave away his agitation. He sat with a loud thud on the edge of the bathtub and watched me dab makeup remover on the raccoon circles I’d made.

“It’s not that simple and you know it.” I spoke to his reflection in the mirror.

He signed, “We spend more on voice lessons than you earn. Don’t you see the insanity of it, the futility? Roxanne…I mean…really?”

I whirled on him, my mascara wand brandished for round two of our battle. Between gritted teeth I snarled, “I can’t help it if my voice needs extra training. And you’re a real dick for bringing it up again!”

He stood, moved closer and slid his arms around me. “Baby, you don’t need any more lessons. And if you’d just quit, you definitely wouldn’t need any more, even by your guild’s standards.”

I smiled at us in the mirror. I loved him like crazy and he was the only guy I’d ever met who’d loved me for me and not for…superficial reasons.

I spun and faced him. I signed, “I love you,” and he signed it back.

“I’m sorry,” he drawled. “Go then. Be safe. Come home as soon as you can.” He leaned in and kissed me.

I checked my watch. “Oh shit. Odysseus and his posse are due to arrive in thirty minutes. Gotta fly!” I blew a kiss to Jeremy and zoomed off. Boss man would have a cow if I missed this one. We hadn’t hit our quota of shipwrecks yet. The year was almost over, and I’d be damned if I’d work New Years.