"Well, then that works for me, 'cause I'm so foggy in relationships, I might as well be in Silent Hill, I'm completely not human, and I'm probably an even match for you in a one-on-one." He absolutely refused to take his drink from the bartender until he'd gotten that out and then reached over and plucked it from the man's hands without ever taking his eyes off Max. If her drink looked girly, then Gabe's probably took the left turn into froofy. A man less sure of his masculinity would be ashamed.

He scoffed. "I've been on that boat for a week. Give me two and then we'll talk. A guy's gotta breathe before he gets a foot under the table, but I can promise that if any of my ex-girlfriends show up on the Barge, you'll be the first to know. Their names are Never, Nada, and Zilch."