Page 74 of Quiver

She gritted her teeth and nodded, not so much because she wanted to argue, but because she didn’t. The idea of going home with Kylie certainly presented the best option logistically, but after everything that had happened, a part of her even preferred it to the prospect of going home alone.

Chapter Seventeen

“There.” Kylie set a glass of water on the table next to Fletcher’s bed. “You can have more painkillers in two hours, so I’ll be back in then, but if you need anything else, you can call me.”

“I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

Kylie’s eyes ran over her body, still finding it hard to believe there was so little sign of the trauma they’d all suffered twenty-four hours earlier. “I think you might actually be.”

“Disappointed?”

“No,” she said quickly. “I’m not even surprised now that I’ve had time to think about it. You’ve always been a marvel in so many ways. I guess now we can add ‘death-defying’ to your resume.”

“Also, human pin cushion.”

“It’s a handy party trick to add to your repertoire. I wouldn’t have expected you to be such a bleeder, though.” She fought the visual memory of blood seeping between her fingers.

“I ruined your shirt, huh?”

“Two of them, and the prognosis isn’t great for my bra, either.”

Fletcher’s eyes dropped to her chest for a second, and the corner of her mouth twitched before she caught herself. “Sorry. I could buy you another one.”

She laughed. “I’m not sure we share the same fashion sense, so I’ll do my own shopping, but I’m sure you can find another way to make it up to me when you’re healed and we resume my lessons.”

“We’re not pausing your lessons.”

“Your doctor said—”

“I have to take it easy for a week. He said nothing about you. Today’s Sunday, right?”

Kylie nodded, even if yesterday had felt two weeks long.

“We’ll rest today. Tomorrow, it’s back to the arena. I’ll set up a lawn chair or something. You can ride circles around me in both the literal and figurative sense.”

“While the last part appeals to me on many levels, I don’t want you to overexert yourself.”

“All you’ve ever wanted is for me to overexert myself, Kylie, but in this case, you letting me spend my day nitpicking your form is actually the safest option. If I try to do nothing for a week, I’ll go stir-crazy in two days and start doing farm chores.”

“I’ll do the farm chores. You can boss me around. I know how much you enjoy that.”

“I’ve never been successful in the role of your director, but there’s a first time for everything.”

Kylie pondered the comment and the wistful tone in which it was delivered, wondering how far the sentiment might extend, but now wasn’t the time to push. “We’ll figure it out tomorrow. I’ll make sure the horses are all set. You get some rest.”

“Sounds good.” Fletcher allowed her eyes to drift closed.

The lack of argument or instructions served as further evidence of her waning energy, and Kylie slipped out of the room. She closed the door softly and took a few deep breaths for the first time in she couldn’t remember when. Everything had seemed so precarious for so long, and Fletcher’s accident had amped up her fight-or-flight impulses. Only she hadn’t felt anything akin to flight, only fight. She’d been fighting for as long as she could remember, but none of the battles ever consumed her as much as those moments when she’d seen the color drain from Fletcher’s face. Nothing else mattered. She would’ve sold out Mimi, Talia Stamos, and Sophia LeBlanc, even her own drive, to keep Fletcher safe and stable, but now that she was, Kylie wasn’t sure how to handle the adrenaline and the emotions left in the wake of it all.

She slid her fingers along the smooth banister of the stairs on her way toward the kitchen, not sure she totally trusted her legs. Something had shifted inside her, and possibly between her and Fletcher, too, even though she didn’t seem to remember the conversation in the hospital where she’d professed her love.

Her head swam at the echo of Fletcher’s words rattling through her chest. I’ve always loved you. I never stopped loving you.

She reached the bottom stairs and closed her eyes just to savor the feeling for a second, but the sound of tires on the driveway interrupted even the shortest solace she may’ve taken from something she couldn’t fully process.

She pulled on her boots and grabbed one of Fletcher’s sweatshirts from a hook near the door and stepped out into the cold courtyard as Ava hopped out of her truck.

“Good afternoon.”