Page 51 of Quiver

“Then don’t stop,” Fletcher said forcefully, even though they were likely thinking the same thing. Kylie did know her better. She’d seen parts of her Ava couldn’t even imagine, much less comprehend, and no amount of denying the fact would change it, which pissed her right off.

She didn’t want Kylie to be right. She didn’t want her to give voice to the things she only thought but never said. Sure, Fletcher had done her fair share of dodging invitations or making excuses, but that was not a choice for Kylie to make for her. The more she dwelled on the idea, the angrier she got, and before she could tone herself down, she skirted around the door to Gabrielle’s stall.

“Would you mind giving us a few minutes?”

“Fletcher, please don’t get riled up on my account.”

“I’m not. Would you mind counting out five quivers of five arrows each, and an arm guard to accompany each set?”

Ava pursed her lips, clearly realizing she’d been given a mundane task the way one might distract a child, but Fletcher didn’t expect her to put up an actual fight, so she added a “thank you” before she strode into the arena.

Only her respect for Ava’s listening distance kept her from shouting the second she saw Kylie starting to kick up onto Winston.

“Feet on the ground,” she commanded.

Kylie turned, “Did you get bored with your guest all ready?”

“Stop it,” she snapped.

“Stop what?” Her smile twisted tightly. “I only said what you were thinking.”

“Then stop doing that, too.”

“Why? Because you’re dying to go out to dinner with her and her sexy doctor friend?”

“No, but I don’t want to hurt her feelings.”

Something akin to lightning flashed in Kylie’s eyes. “How noble to put her comfort over your own.”

Fletcher took a step back at the razor in her voice.

“Is that how you did your penance?”

“What the hell, Kylie?”

“Tell me.” She leaned closer. “How long did it last?”

“How long did what last?”

“How long did you punish yourself?”

Her stomach turned. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You can’t tell me you fell head over heels for Little Miss Sunshine and Snowflakes in there. Were you settling for something softer? Or were you trying to prove to yourself you could’ve showed up for someone a little less demanding? Or perhaps you thought that if you played pretend long enough, you might actually become the person you’re still pretending to be around her. Either way, I want to know how long you strung her along, or are you still doing it with the amicable-ex routine, because there’s no way you ever actually wanted—”

“Shut up!” Fletcher snapped as the pressure building in her chest throughout Kylie’s tirade exploded out of her mouth. “You don’t have any idea what you’re talking about. It’s making you sound petty and mean. This is beneath even your lowest bar. Ava is literally one of the nicest people in the world.”

“What did you say recently about not needing nice girls?”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Because you still haven’t answered my question,” Kylie shouted, then shaking her head, lowered her voice to an eerie sort of softness. “After everything we went through together and everything we lost in the aftermath, you won’t even tell me how long my replacement lasted?”

Fletcher pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to stem the pressure building against her skull. “I’ll answer your question if you answer one of mine.”

“Anything.”

“Why do you hate her so much?”