Page 50 of Quiver

“I believe you,” Ava said, her sweet smile making Fletcher feel a little guilty for glossing over the moments that hadn’t been entirely about the task at hand, but how could she explain to Ava something she hadn’t even let herself examine?

“What about you?” She shifted subjects. “How was the city?”

“Bustling, but not as bad as other times of the year. Folks hibernate there a little. It’s easier to get tickets to shows or restaurant reservations.”

“I wouldn’t think Bex ever had any trouble with such things.”

“No, but she’s got a lot of catching up to do after taking time off for the holidays. She’s still there covering a few extra shifts, but next weekend she’s working with a doctor doing some top surgeries in Burlington.”

“She seems to be in demand wherever she goes.”

Ava’s smile spread. “She’s a keeper. Hey, maybe when she’s in town next week we could all go out to dinner.”

Fletcher was already racking her brain for an excuse, but before she could even open her mouth, Kylie came into the barn with a satisfied smile, bow in hand.

“I’m crushing it in there and you—” She stopped short as she noticed Ava. Then, adjusting quickly, she shifted both her expression and her position into a more practiced sort of poise. “I hadn’t realized you were one of Fletcher’s beginner students. I would’ve thought with all your ample opportunity to practice together, you’d be much further along by now.”

“I’m not part of the class. I never took to shooting, or anything that emulated war games,” Ava explained without a hint of apology. “But I always try to show up for Fletcher and help out when she has something going on out here.”

“How considerate of you to be present for a friend even when you don’t have any personal attachment.” Kylie paused for a purposeful beat. “To the sport, I mean. Obviously, you have a personal connection to Fletcher. Speaking of which, where’s your handsome doctor hiding today?”

“Bex is back in the city, but Fletcher and I were making plans for when she arrives next weekend.”

“You were?” Kylie shot a pointed look between them. “Don’t let me interrupt. I’ll saddle up Winston, because if you’re going to try to convince Fletcher to play third wheel with you and your new love, I’d love being a fly on the wall.”

Fletcher’s jaw tightened.

“No third wheel,” Ava said quickly. “I only meant we haven’t gone out, all of us together, since the fall. I know you were busy with the festival season and carriage rides and competitions. Then we were gone over the holidays, but if you don’t enjoy—”

“No, I’d love to plan something. You’re right, we’ve been too busy.”

Ava eyed her more seriously, as if searching for something. “I know you’re not into big social events, but you usually like a good meal you don’t have to cook.”

“Who doesn’t?” Fletcher injected a hint of cheerfulness that sounded forced even to her own ears.

Ava’s smile didn’t quite reach her eyes as she glanced nervously from Fletcher to Kylie and back again. Fletcher could’ve throttled Kylie for putting those doubts in her eyes. Even if she were right and Fletcher actually hated driving to Burlington to eat in an upscale, experimental fusion joint Bex always seemed to find, she’d never tell Ava.

“You know, the place we went last time was pretty good,” she added, trying to sound convincing enough to smooth over any more awkwardness, which wasn’t easy to do with Kylie throwing a saddle on Winston in the next stall. “The one with all those seasonal cider dishes.”

Ava brightened slightly. “I agree. And you know, if you didn’t want to drive the half hour into the city, you could come to our place, and”—Ava glanced over her shoulder with a tight smile—“you’re always welcome to bring a plus one.”

“I wouldn’t have anyone to bring,” Fletcher said flatly. “At least no one I’d care to inflict on some of my favorite people.”

Kylie slipped the bit into Winston’s mouth and smiled. “Might be a chance to try something new, Fletch. I haven’t noticed many women banging on your barn door, but perhaps if you told them your ex-lover and her new girlfriend invited you over to their place, you might encourage a whole new kind of interest.”

Ava chuckled, but it sounded a bit strangled. “I guess when you put it that way, maybe you should come on your own.”

“Yeah.” Fletcher glowered at Kylie as she led Winston out of his stall and back toward the arena. “None of the women I associate with right now are classy enough to appreciate the gesture, but I do. Let’s plan something when Bex comes up.”

Ava nodded, then waited until Kylie left the barn entirely. “You know I care about you, so maybe I butt in more often than I should, but if you don’t want me to—”

“Ava,” she cut her off. “I’m not shy. If I didn’t want you around, I’d make that abundantly clear.”

“I thought so, but sometimes you do grumble, and maybe you’ve been trying to tell me—”

“I grumble to everyone. You know me as well as anyone.”

Ava’s eyes darted toward the arena. “I used to think so.”