It's that last part that sticks in his craw and really works its way in. Kit clenches and unclenches his jaw; he'll leave, but not until he drills one fact home beyond all the others.

"I'm not talking," he says slowly, "about the damn earring. The earring is fine. I'm talking about you--the way you talk at me like I ought to feel special you're taking the time to insult me." He stares at him hard, but also a bit incredulously. "Do you even hear yourself? When you talk to other people?"