" oh , “   his shoulder hits the doorframe with a thud and his arms cross as though they’ll protect him from anymore comments such as that one.   

     all she’s trying to do is make him consider what kindness he might have needed as a younger man that he has the opportunity to extend to harper now,   but the part of his brain that clung to rationale like that had been turned off ages ago.   

     “ weeeeell , “  his breath is hot with tones of honey colored liquor and gentle curls of smoke around his lips as the word is drawn long ,   low ,  sweetly in the back of his throat.   for a moment that appears to be the end of it ,   his satisfaction seems earned in the silence he spends observing her against the light of the moon shining through the glass at her back until he burns down what remains of his cigarette and holds it captive in his chest.   “ appetites evolve ,   babydoll. “