“Thank you, Co-Pilot Obvious.”

“I'm not asking you to come-""Thanks." Vol studies herself in the cracked mirror and secures the braid with the tie."I'm telling you to come." Kira's mouth hardens. "This is not optional.”

“In her view, there were threeoptions for a woman. If you were beautiful, you got married. If youwere ugly, you became a nun. If you were beautiful and stupid, orugly and dishonorable, you became a whore.”

“You must be a blast on long car rides.”“Oh, I am. You haven't experienced fun until you try to fuck in the front seat of a Civic.”

“That's not cruel. This is. You come here in the middle of the night, expecting me to be awake, and ask—no, demand—me to give you things that belong to me as much as they belong to you. Never mind what it does to me. Never mind that each time I see you, I wonder if I'll ever hold you in my arms again, or be able to touch you without you cringing away like I'm a monster. I think it's fair to ask if there's an 'us,' my dear, because I suspect you're trying to use me just now. Tell me that's not cruel, and I'll let you go.”

“He was everything your mother warned you about when she told you not to walk alone in the dark.”

“Careful,” he said. “If you keep blushing like that I may do more than just draw you.”