Page 55 of Quiver

“She’s not wrong, you know?”

Fletcher startled and turned to see Kylie leaning against the doorframe, casually blocking her exit. “What?”

“Your ex. She’s right. You’re rather impressive when doing something you’re passionate about.”

Fletcher refused to examine her expression too closely, not wanting to search for the tells as to whether she was being baited, or worse, if Kylie were wearing the dreamy sort of look she’d had when she’d talked about watching her ride as a teenager. It was the same one she’d directed at her all those years ago, the one that had made her believe in things that weren’t real no matter how much she wanted them to be.

She shook her head.

“No?” Kylie arched an eyebrow and stepped forward, making the room feel painfully small. “As in you don’t agree with Ava?”

“No, as in you don’t get to do this again.”

“Do what?”

“You can’t jerk me around.”

Kylie laughed. “Obviously I can, but I swear I’m not trying to. I thought you’d appreciate me agreeing with the woman who you firmly told me I needed to be nicer to.”

“I don’t believe you’re actually trying to be nicer, and even if you were, that’s just yanking my chain, because you’re only nice when you want something.”

The muscles in Kylie’s jaw tightened. “Wow.”

“Don’t act offended. You can’t play with people and not expect them to get agitated. You dropped a bomb right before class, then rode away. Then the next thing you say is some heartfelt nostalgia you decide to share, not with me directly, but with my students and my neighbors? How can you act like we haven’t fought an entire war since the time you’re publicly reminiscing about? And how in the name of all things holy do you expect me to chat about our day like nothing happened?”

Kylie nodded thoughtfully. “Okay, fair.”

“Nothing about this is fair, Kylie!” she yelled as the control she’d clung to slipped a little further from her grasp. “You buzz back into my life, make your demands, swing up and down emotionally. You push and push and push, but you won’t give in return unless it suits you.”

“Hey.” Kylie held up her hands. “I thought we’d settled in and were doing better lately.”

“Me too, until you blew up on me about Ava, like you have some right or claim you won’t fully explain.”

“I may’ve taken things too far.”

“That’s not an apology,” she snapped, and tried to sidestep Kylie, but she shifted to block her path.

“Is that what you want? For me to say I’m sorry?”

She rolled her eyes.

“No, really. Do you want me to say I’m sorry? For what? Telling you the truth you asked for today? Or maybe for telling you the truth twelve years ago? Do I need to go all the way back? Is there anything I can say to satisfy you, or do you want to see me punished, too?”

She snorted. “Here we go with the dramatics again.”

“No, it’s a serious question.” Kylie’s voice was calm. Her eyes bore into her, a direct contrast to the roiling emotions tearing at Fletcher’s insides. “Have you given any thought to the fact that you seem to like me only when I’m suffering? You tell me I have to be nicer, but haven’t you noticed the only time you’re nice to me is when I’m getting kicked around?”

“It’s time for you to go.”

“Because I hit a little too close to home? Think about it. You were rude when I arrived until you saw me get sad about Tally’s death on Christmas. You refused to teach me archery until I admitted my career was almost over, and even then, you stayed totally cold and stonewalled me in lessons until I had a mental breakdown in the diner. Maybe you like to see me wrecked.”

Her brain threatened to short circuit. She didn’t want to see Kylie struggle. She didn’t feel animosity toward her. She didn’t want to feel anything, but even if she did, she would’ve suspected it was fear. Fear of the power she still held over her, fear of how easily she could fall, fear of getting hurt … again. She couldn’t say that though, and Kylie would likely turn it around on her somehow if she did. They were both too worked up now, and way too close. She could smell the undercurrent of her perfume even amid the dirt and leather around them. “I’m not in the mood for games.”

“I’m not playing them.”

“You were earlier, and you have at several other points, so forgive me if I’m not eager to get tied in knots again. Maybe you’re right. Maybe I am nicer when you’re down, but honestly, Kylie, that’s the only time I trust you’re not angling for something.”

Kylie took a step back. “Even after what I admitted earlier?”