Coversations in the night

Now that Emma’s out of school it’s frequent that the only time we have alone to chat is when we go to bed. Last night Paul worked until 11:30 but we still had to chat a bit when he came in. After chatting for about ten minutes and realizing I was falling asleep on him, the following exchange occurred:

P: I’m turning over. Sometimes I just like sleeping on my left side. Don’t worry I’m not mad at you.
J: (Pause) I didn’t think you were.
P: Sometimes you ask if I am when I turn over.
J: I only think that if I already suspect you’re mad at me and aren’t saying anything
P: I’m rarely mad at you. Except when I am but it’s not often. I mean, I’m almost never mad at you. Except occasionally. I mean, I’m never mad at you.
I couldn’t help myself, I had to add:
J: Except when you are.

And then I gently reminded him that it’s okay to tell me when he’s mad at me. It’s hard for me to really know if he doesn’t tell me.