Page 40 of Ignition Rites

Nico likes to say I’d rather set the evidence on fire than explain why it exists, and he’s irritatingly right often enough that I hate giving him the satisfaction.

“Because I’m a coward.”

Ash blinks.

“Well.” He looks almost offended by the ease of that admission. “That really ruins the next five minutes of my argument.”

Despite everything, I laugh.

His mouth almost moves.

Almost.

“I should’ve told you before I made you hear it from somebody else,” I say.

“Yes.”

“I know.”

“And stop acting like this is still about the condition.”

“I’m not.”

“You keep joking about it like you won on a technicality.”

“That’s because I did win on a technicality.”

His stare could peel paint.

“Sorry. Bad timing.”

“Spectacular.”

I lean against the bike.

“The condition was hands off until she knew enough to choose. She knows. She chose. I’m not arguing that part with you anymore.”

Ash’s jaw tightens.

“What I don’t know,” I say, “is what you want me to do with the fact that you couldn’t answer me in the shop when I asked if it was really about wanting her.”

His eyes snap to mine.

“That doesn’t mean I know what I want.”

“No. But it means you know this isn’t only about me.”

His expression changes, small but enough.

“You don’t get to use what happened with her to force this conversation.”

“I’m not forcing anything.”

“You’re standing between me and my bike.”

He glances down, then steps six inches to the side.

“There. Freedom.”