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“In large enough quantities, everyone’s a dog,”
Maggie started doing Party Math in her head. If she hid for thirty minutes, then waved at three more people on her way to the elevator, maybe no one would notice if she spent the rest of the party hiding in an empty room, reading her Purse Book and eating her Napkin Cheese. It was a genius plan, really. She should have thought of it from the start.
“I could always pick you out of a lineup.”
She needed to know if it was okay to hope because Maggie had learned a long time ago that hope was the most dangerous emotion.
“Why do you hate me so much?” he called. She hated him because he was handsome and charming and they lived in a world where a man didn’t have to be anything else.
Playful Ethan, Cocky Ethan, Life-of-the-Party Ethan . . . They were all gone, and the man who was left radiated efficiency and competency. And fear. He was afraid but a million miles from panicked as he cupped her cheek and breathed out the words, “I have you.”
“Because I’m the guy who takes the bullet.”
the human equivalent of sweet tea on a hot day,
“You’re Margaret Elizabeth Chase. Born January fifteenth, which does make you a Capricorn. I don’t know your rising sign, but I could look it up for you if you want. You’ve written twenty-eight novels under four different names—three of which you just started using in the last year. I don’t know why, but I’m gonna find out.”
“I’ve been paying attention.” Gulp. “To the competition?” He took a step closer. “To you.” Double gulp. “Because I’m the competition?” “Because you’re the best.”
“Because even though I’m a sucker for an only-one-bed romance, I don’t know if it counts if there’s a second bed on the other side of the wall.” “But I like your bed being on that side of the wall. I like it even better when you’re in that bed. And— Wait. You read romance?” “Sweetheart”—Ethan lowered his voice and his eyes—“I absolutely read romance.”
“You’re not no one. And I’m telling you I’m not going to let anything happen to you. Not tonight.” He took a slow step closer. “Not tomorrow.” Another step—another heartbeat, way too hard inside her chest. “Not ever.”
“There’s no way, no universe, no reality in which you aren’t the brightest star in the whole damn sky,
She looked like an angel when she smiled.
“What if I act like that’s always been your name?”
He wanted to hear her smile.
Her voice was soft and low and somehow he knew he’d never forget it—knew he’d be able to recognize it in the dark for the rest of his life.
They don’t take me seriously for some reason,” said the man who had strawberry jam on his chin.
Someday he was going to crush the people who had crushed her spirit. He was going to grind them into dust and not give it a second thought.
Ethan thought he might spend the rest of his life chasing the rush of making Maggie smile
Ethan simply said, “I’ll protect you.” She laughed softly. “From a ghost?” “From everything.”
If you were missing, I’d find you. I’d tear the house down stone by stone. I’d rip apart every room and scour every field and I wouldn’t stop. I would never stop.”
“It’s about every time I’ve ever seen you. It’s about the fact that you’re nice to everyone but me. It’s because you’re the only person on the planet who’s willing to call me on my bullshit. It’s because you’re the most amazing person I’ve ever met and yet you’re the only person who doesn’t get that. It’s because I love you, Margaret Elizabeth Chase.” He almost sounded angry. “Don’t tell me I don’t, and don’t tell me to stop because, believe me, I’ve tried. I know you don’t feel the same. But I love you. And so I’m going to get you out of here.”
“I know the world hasn’t given you a lot of reasons to believe this, but just so you know, if you were mine, I’d never make you park the car because my shoes are suede. If you were mine, I’d carry you through the storm. If you were mine, I’d fight the sky.”
“You said you looked like a Victorian street urchin.” She let out a silent laugh. “How did I really look?” But Ethan grew serious, thinking . . . remembering . . . deciding. “I thought you looked like forever.”
if mankind has one universal superpower, it’s gaslighting women into thinking they’re the problem.”
