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“What did the sun do to piss you off?” “Exist,” he draws out. “Are you a vampire?” I ask. “Also up for debate.”
“Grumpy? That’s the name we’re going with today? Your wittiness is fading, Josephine, which is a shame. You can do so much better.”
“Carbs are the elixir of life,”
One night at a mixer where you drink cheap wine and sweat to death because Florida is the armpit of America?
Jack Lancaster, deceased because a woman breathed.
Josephine goddamn Bowen. She’s the day. Sunshine. Brightness. All-encompassing warmth. Lending a helping hand whenever needed. Someone people look to for solace, for comfort and joy.
“I was contemplating how to get inside.” “Turning the knob usually helps. Might be a good place to start next time.”
Maybe Jack is a little broken, too. Maybe we’re two people who have gone through life wondering if we’re good enough. Maybe we’re not as different as I thought we were.
“There’s good in the pain. It means you’re still here,” I say. “Love in the darkness.
It’s intimidating to offer yourself up to another person. To stand on a platform with your arms outstretched and yell, hey, look at me! Am I doing okay? when you often think you’re floundering through life, caught in a rainstorm without an umbrella.
“When it comes to your well-being, Josephine, I’m going to be as bossy as I want. That is non-negotiable. And if we’re going to a conference together, you better believe I’m going to take care of you while we’re there, too.”
“Because thinking about you not being taken care of makes me want to burn the world down.”
he would burn down the world for me, and I know with a certainty I’ve never experienced before I would welcome the flames with open arms.
Airports are a lawless place. Where else in the world can you find one person drinking a coffee, sitting next to a person eating a cheeseburger, beside a person chugging at Bud Light at nine in the morning on a Wednesday?
When I feel that wave of grief, I let it wash over me. I welcome it, because it used to be a tsunami. Now it’s a forceful tug. One day it’ll be nothing more than a splash on my feet, and that’ll be the day she’s really gone.”
“I’m far happier on the days I get to see you, Josephine, than the days when I don’t get to see you.”
I hate spending time with people, but I want to spend time with you.”
“You are distracting. Positively maddening in the best way, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
trying is half the battle.”
“What if… what if we spend the rest of our trip seeing how things go? Doing what feels right? If you want… if you want to touch me, you can.” His voice drops an octave, and shivers run up my back. “If I want to kiss you, I can.” His eyes drop to my mouth. “Would you let me kiss you, Josephine?” “Yes,” I whisper. “I’d let you do anything.” “Anything?” “Anything,” I repeat.
I wish she cheated on me. That would give me a reason to hate her,
Boy meets girl. Girl makes boy laugh. Boy and girl fall in love. The end. It’s the typical romance formula.” “Predictable?” I ask. “Always,
You know there’s going to be a happily ever after from the moment you start reading, so you get to spend time falling in love with the characters while they fall in love with each other.”
I’m an introvert, and it was a lot. I’m pretty sure I spent thirty minutes on the couch just staring at the ceiling this afternoon, and I was perfectly content.”
“Is there anything you can’t do?” Josephine asks. “I can’t fold a fitted sheet to save my life.” “I’m not sure anyone can.”
“You’re going to be the death of me Josephine.” He cups my cheek, his touch warm and inviting. “And what a happy death it will be. You’re a goddess. Radiant. Exquisite.”
“New beginnings,” he says. “And people that feel like home.”
“If I’m sunshine, what does that make you? Thunderstorm? Doom and gloom? Stick up his ass?” she asks. “Sounds like we’ve got our CIA codenames figured out. For the record, I prefer thunderstorm.
She taught me we should make every day count. Even the bad ones have something good in them. Because a bad day down here is still living. And isn’t that a beautiful gift?”
Good luck, sweetheart. I’m so proud of you. No matter what happens, I’m going to be on the other side waiting for you. -J
If you fail, you’ll try again.
“Thank you for trusting me with your heart. I promise to take care of it.
The can’t eat, can’t sleep, reach for the stars, World Series kind of love.
