I stood in shocked silence for a few seconds as the sound of my hand connecting with her teeth seemed to reverberate in my ears. I hadn’t meant to do that, but now it was too late to take it back. I was too afraid to look at Gabriel, to see the look of disappointment I was sure would be on his face. Now I felt like crying.

I’ve never just hauled off and hit anyone before, not since my wild childhood days when the bullies got under my skin. But it was just too much. I’d reached my ...