Not in Love (Not in Love, #1)

by Ali Hazelwood

I didn’t mind if they wanted to use my body, not if I got to use theirs back.

but she was the kind of friend who gave me not only unconditional love, but also the space I needed.

But don’t worry, Rue. They’re still making money out of money and all that gross shit.” She grinned. “You are allowed to hate them, if that’s what sparks joy.”

He assessed her. Tried to solve her.

He wasn’t going to connect dots until she asked him to,

People can have all sorts of desires and avoid imposing them on others without their consent. I trust you.”

We don’t make small talk. We cut through the flesh and show the stories that live in our skeletons.

I wasn’t softhearted, but the least hardened spot in my heart belonged to my brother.

Food was collagen, the connective tissue of our society,

and if I hadn’t grown up with enough of it, well. Clearly, it had to mean that I wasn’t tethered enough to anyone, and never could be.

And I care about you, whether you believe it or not.” “I believe it. You just care about yourself more, and that’s your right. I’d rather not surround myself with someone who’ll hurt me just to get ahead, and that’s mine.” Her eyes hardened. “Then there will be no one left to surround yourself with, Rue.”

inchoately,

Rudimentarily

Maybe people can be happy and sad. Maybe stories are messy and complicated. Maybe endings don’t always include solutions that tie everything together in a bow. But that doesn’t mean that they have to be tragedies.”