Page 17 of Quiver

“Yeah, the entire three blocks you have left. If we couldn’t hold it together at a Christmas party, there’s no reason to start pretending we like each other now. Feel free to keep being frigid as fuck.”

She managed a twisted little smile as she opened the door and hauled herself up into the seat. “Glad to know you’ve still got a way with words.”

Fletcher didn’t respond as she started to drive. Kylie watched her face under the soft glow of passing streetlights. She hadn’t let herself see her on this trip, not really, but now she wanted nothing more than to trace the gentle curve of her smooth cheek, or revel in the way her long, dark lashes brushed against her skin every time she blinked. And then there were those curls, lush and coal black. She wanted to twist one of the perfect coils around her index finger.

“Don’t,” Fletcher finally said.

“Don’t what?”

“Look at me like that.”

She laughed. “You sound like a little kid. Do you also want me to draw a line down the middle of the seat so I don’t cross onto your side?”

Fletcher turned onto the street where Kylie’s parents lived. “It wouldn’t hurt.”

“Isn’t it nice to think so? That we could draw imaginary borders between where you end and I begin, and then no one would get hurt?”

“We could.”

“How’s the avoidance strategy worked out for you?”

“Fine.”

“That good, huh?” She didn’t know why she couldn’t stop picking at the wound. She didn’t want to draw blood. Or maybe a part of her did. Misery loved company, or so they said, but she didn’t feel any more or less miserable than usual. “I’m sorry about Tally.”

“I know.” Fletcher pulled into the driveway and jammed the truck into park.

“You do?”

“I wish you were sorry about a lot of things, but I could see on your face that you cared about the horse.”

“I care about more than Tally,” she said.

“I won’t concede that point tonight, so settle for what you can get.”

“You could’ve called me.”

Fletcher laughed outright. “So we’re back to lying, are we?”

“I would’ve been here if I’d known it was happening.”

“It happened quickly. She didn’t suffer.”

“But you did.” She reached for her on pure instinct, but Fletcher ducked away from her touch.

“We both made our choices, Kylie. Why dig up the grave one more time after all these years?”

“I told you, I need you. Honestly, I’m a little surprised you don’t find the fact more amusing than you seem to.”

“You don’t need me. You need something I have.”

“Isn’t that close enough?”

“No. And the fact you think I’d be willing to deal in ‘close enough’ with you shows how little things have changed.”

“You’re such an absolutist when it suits you. Doesn’t it ever get tiring?”

“Not as tiring as continuing to have this conversation with you.”