The Quit List

by Katie Bailey

“I can honestly say that I’d never seen a truly terrible date until tonight.” Jax lifts his gray eyes to meet mine. “At that point, it wasn’t so much ‘job description’ as much as it was ‘humanitarian obligation.’”

I assess Wolf Man with objective eyes for the first time.

I’m the temporary distraction, not the happily ever after.

“No” is my favorite complete sentence, and in my opinion, people don’t utilize it enough.

“Find a man who wrecks your lipstick, not your mascara, am I right?” Jax smirks. “I always heard ‘break her bed, not her heart.’”

“I think that, up until now, you’ve only ever dated boys. And that right now, you’re wondering what it would feel like to actually be kissed by a man.”

“You want to find a man who kisses you like he’s going to move heaven and earth for you. Bring down the sun, moon and stars. You deserve to be kissed like that, and you shouldn't settle for less.”

“I think I want another lesson,” I manage to choke out. “And who do you want that lesson from?” “You,” I practically whimper. “Good girl,” he says with a smile, and then, his lips meet mine.

She’s perfect. Everything I never knew I wanted. Everything I never knew I needed.

can’t bear even the hint of a thought of another man with Holly. Another man holding her, kissing her, touching her… It makes me want to lose my damned mind. I want to be the real deal for her. Everything else comes second.

“I spent all this time helping you tackle your quit list, but it turns out, I can’t quit you, Holly. And what’s more, I don’t think I want to. I know I don’t want to. I want to be here for you, through everything.”

Find someone to complement you, not complete you.

“I told you once to find a man who kisses you like he’s going to move heaven and earth for you.