He half laughs out the words, “Girl, you always do this to me, makin’ me make bad decisions,” he takes a drag from his just-lit cigarette. Exhales. “Like the Queen of Hearts, you’re always taking my head, shaking it up, mixing-up my mind. Making me wonder.”

She smiles. Waits a breath, and watches, as it is casually released back into the glacial air.
Lies, “I’m sorry.”