Page 66 of Suncatcher

Pearl extracted herself from the embrace and Driz reluctantly let her go, sensing she had just said something wrong but not certain what it was.

As if in a hurry to be covered, Pearl yanked on her trousers and threw her partially buttoned shirt over her head, her movements jerky. Driz didn’t think Pearl should ever wear clothes.

“What is wrong?” Driz asked.

“Nothing. Just late.”

Driz climbed to her feet too, pulling on her own damp clothes. Her body felt different. Lighter and almost not her own. She had never had so much pleasure. Ever.

She tied Pearl’s old scarf around her neck and thought of the necklace she’d given to Pearl. She had hoped Pearl would wear it, as Driz wore Pearl’s scarf, but Pearl’s throat was bare. Driz tried not to be disappointed by that.

“Will you help me?” Driz asked, gesturing to her shirt and presenting her back.

Pearl’s fingers were quick and efficient. Driz turned to draw her in for a kiss, hungry to rekindle the tender passion of earlier. But Pearl stepped away, busy fastening her holster.

“Are you unwell?” Driz asked, concerned.

“Fine. Ready?”

“Almost.” Driz removed the grass from the bottle so the trapped lightning bugs inside could be free.

Pearl wrapped around Driz as before, and some of the tension in Driz’s chest eased. They were both quiet on the short flight back to the ravine.

When they landed, Driz didn’t let her arms fall. She leaned down once more for a kiss, but her lips met air as Pearl slipped from her grasp.

The rejection of it tore through Driz’s fresh, fragile happiness. “Please tell me what I did wrong.” She needed to understand.

“You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“But you are upset.”

“I’m not upset. I’m tired.”

“Will I see you tomorrow night?”

“I’ll be busy tomorrow.”

“Then the night after?”

Pearl shrugged as if it didn’t matter. “I’ll have to see.”

“No.” Driz reached out to catch Pearl’s arm. “You cannot leave like this.”

Pearl shook off her hand. “I can do whatever I want,” she said, the harsh edge to her words slashing across Driz’s open chest.

Panic swelled, like cracks fracturing her skin. “I can fix it. Or I can do better,” Driz promised without knowing what was broken or what she’d messed up, but knowing she would make it right. “Tell me how. Let me show you—”

Pearl kissed her so fiercely Driz stumbled. Her mind spun but her heart leapt. Pearl was kissing her, and that was enough for now.

“I’m sorry,” Pearl breathed against her lips. “None of this is your fault. It’s all me. I’m just…I’m fucked up in a lot of ways, and it’s not something that can just be fixed. I’m not worth your effort.”

“You are worth everything.”

“Don’t say things like that,” Pearl muttered.

“Why not?”

Instead of answering, Pearl kissed her again. “I really can’t promise tomorrow. But I’ll do my best for the night after.”