Redsand Canyon My heart has teeth.

He told her he would never leave her. Towhee wanted to believe that—and she could tell he meant what he said—but she lived in the real world. Something or other would happen in the end. Even if they somehow managed not to split up, one of them would eventually die. Probably her.

Probably me, Towhee thought with sudden glee. Man, wouldn’t that be great, if Maxim really didn’t ever leave her and then she died on him? Then she would never have to deal with him dying or leaving or whatever…

She looked at him, face pensive, and decided not to spew either her pessimistic crap or her morbid optimism on him. “…and my love.” For some reason, Towhee hadn’t really given any thought to whether Maxim might reciprocate.

You love me, Towhee said flatly, reaching up like she might cup his face and instead shoving it. How fuckin’ dumb are you! she laugh-yelled, eyes sparkling as she quite likely woke up everyone living in the surrounding housing.