More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
Henry had the courtesy to let me know that after six months of living next to Nate and Stassie, he can confirm with absolute certainty that the room is not soundproof.
Lol i miss nate and stassie
People mistake me being quiet for being shy, but I’m not shy. I don’t think I’m even that quiet, it just looks that way because of how loud everyone else is. I prefer to sit and listen than be the focus of everything,
Russ 🤝🏼 me
“I don’t like people who are younger than me.” “Careful, princess.” He smothers a laugh with his hand and my eyes narrow. “Your daddy issues are showing.” “The only issue I have is you.”
“Maybe you should switch out some of those contemporary romance choices for self-help books.”
And maybe you should fuck off
“Listen, this isn’t working. You’re too fucking hot and the presidents aren’t helping, I’ve moved on to Stanley Cup winners, but with you just here”—he gestures to my thighs spread across him—“looking like that,” he says, gesturing up my body, “it’s going to take forever.”
Hes so freaking cute
It’s not that I’ve never been told I’m hot before, I have, but this guy seems tortured by it. Like he’ll never recover from it. Like I’m the tipping point of his sanity, and that is a feeling I could get addicted to.
For all the romance books I’ve read and all the happy endings I’ve enjoyed, I can’t imagine my own. I’d like to hope I’ll have one, but hope can be dangerous.
GIRLLLLLLLLL YOU GET ITTTTT
when you give someone the power to hurt you but trust them not to, but I can’t imagine ever trusting someone that much. If I want my feelings hurt, I am more than capable of doing it to myself. It’s a skill I’ve honed over many years, and arguably my best one.
I’m not good at talking to people I’m interested in.”
“And you have pillows. With covers.” The last one makes him snort, and he stands, strolling over to the desk. “Is the bar really that low? Pillows with covers makes you think I have a girlfriend that I’m cheating on?”
“You’re taking it so well, sweetheart.” I work a little harder, clearly motivated by words and moans. “That’s it, good girl.”
ITS THE GOOD GIRL FOR ME🫠🫠
I spot Trout cradled like a baby, snoozing on Russ’s chest. Oh man, this is not fair.
“Yeah, Xan,” Russ says, grinning. “Why don’t we just walk you like a plank?” “I don’t think I’d like being crushed by a hockey player, funnily enough.” “Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it,” I say quietly without thinking.
when Russ looks at me, I can’t help but wink. His blush reaches his ears this time.
I should have stayed reading my book.
Thats me everytime i have a minor inconvenience in my life
“If it’s a bull shark, we’re both screwed because I’m dragging you with me. You’re bigger, you’ll taste better.” “Trust me, you taste incredible.”
“What’re you doing?” “I’m watching you go in so you don’t have to watch me leave.”
SHUT THE FRONT DOOR THIS MAN IS A KEEPER
“You deserve people in your life who make you feel good, Aurora.” “You make me feel good.”
“Just ask me, sweetheart. I promise I’m not going anywhere.”
“Well, green is my favorite color.” “What type of green? Ogre green?” “Whatever shade your eyes are.”
MOM I NEED HIM
We live in a society that tells us our parents are the greatest thing we will ever have and will ever lose, and you just—I don’t even know.
“I learned a long time ago that if I didn’t put myself first, nobody else was going to. Forgiving people who repeatedly let you down is like sticking your hand in a fire over and over and expecting it to not keep burning you.”
“I’m pissed I had to graduate for people to realize how wise I am,” he grumbles. “Think about how much better everyone’s lives would’ve been if I was listened to.”
“I don’t think I have any red flags…” “Oh, my sweet summer child.” He laughs. “You’re a straight white man. That’s your red flag.”
“I have a habit of leaving a path of destruction in my wake, both literally and metaphorically.” “Like a wildfire.” She nods, bringing her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. “I don’t mean to be.”
You ever feel like you’ve made something your entire personality? So much so you don’t know how to disconnect yourself from it?”
“I know I’m messed up, right? And it’s like, if I’m the first person to say it, then people can’t use it to hurt me. If I’m the first to say how much emotional baggage I have, then people can’t use it to push me away, because I’m the one who knew it was there. Does that make sense?”
“You are wanted, Aurora. You’re incredible and you can be your own person.”
I’m scared that when I go back to Maple Hills, I won’t want to try so hard anymore. That I’ll be surrounded by so much external noise I’ll forget this feeling.” “I won’t let you forget, don’t worry.”
“I know how it feels expecting more from someone who lets you down. You’re not going to scare me with your feelings or your experiences, I promise. I know it’s not going to undo the other stuff, but I’m choosing to be here, and nothing you say to me is going to make me change my mind.”
he makes me laugh. He makes me feel seen
Is it too much for a real man??
Why haven’t you made me go to therapy yet? You’re a bad friend.” “What happened to ‘I don’t need to pay a therapist to tell me I have daddy issues’?”
not even sexy billionaires with a theme park are enough to distract me.
LAUREN ASHER??? DREAMLAND BILLIONAIRES??
As someone who’s perpetually single, I think it’s probably more shocking that I like them to begin with. It’s a bit of a conundrum now that I think about it, how I have such faith in fictional happy endings, but have never considered what my own might look like.
“I went to your cabin,” he says softly. “I thought you might be scared; I wanted to check that you were okay.”
“That’s it, good girl. You feel so fucking good, Aurora. You’re making me lose my mind.”
Russ Callaghan can call me a good girl anytime.
“I think I might be obsessed with you.”
Me too
She laughs, and it’s my second favorite noise in the world. The first being her moaning my name, obviously.
“I’d wait forever for you, Aurora.”
“If you could go back in time and change something, what would you change?”
“Nothing.” “Nothing? You wouldn’t change mistakes you’ve made or even, like, exams you could have done better on or something?” He shakes his head. “Seriously, nothing?” “Have you heard of the butterfly effect?” “I am familiar with butterflies, yes.”
“What effect do they have on my time machine?” “Not butterflies, the butterfly effect. If I change one thing in my past, it’d cause a ripple effect, and I wouldn’t chance not meeting you.”
“You get that way when you know how fucking special someone is. How they have no goddamn idea how much brighter they make everything. You’re like sunlight, Rory. I want to bask in everything you have. And I absolutely don’t want to share that with Clay. Not even for a minute.”
“I don’t want to be sunlight, Russ.” She shakes her head adamantly. “If you stand in the sun for too long, you get burned. I don’t want to be another person who burns you. Let me be moonlight.”
“What if we get caught in the rain? You don’t get rainbows at night.” “You don’t need rainbows when you have the northern lights,” she says softly.
“I don’t have beef with her; I just think Darcy is a dick.”
“You’re laughing, but I’m right. Any man who says, ‘She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me,’ deserves to be thrown from his horse into a pond, not to get the girl.”
“A date?” she says. “Yes. A real date.” “With me?” “With you.” “Even though I gave you origami golden retrievers and an old moth-eaten book on presidents for your birthday?” “Especially because of those things.”
I’m stunned into silence as Russ helps me shuffle back to get comfortable on the makeshift bed, handing me a thermos labeled hot chocolate and a bag of popcorn. He positions the projector on top of the truck, pointing it at the side wall of the creepy house, and that’s when it hits me how much effort he’s put into this.
