" Tess?" "Why not?" "Why not?" Jonna repeated. "Because the notion's absurd." "Because Tess is black?" "Because I don't love Grant Sheridan!" Except for the crackle and hiss of the fire there was no other sound in the room. It was as if the larger silence held substance and grounded them separately, holding them still. Their eyes locked, but the exchange was without meaning, their expressions quickly and skillfully guarded. She did not take back the words she had spoken. He did not ask if they were true. Jonna could never say how long she stood there. She only knew that she was "

― Jo Goodman , My Reckless Heart (Thorne Brothers, #2)