Variation

by Rebecca Yarros

The second her gaze lifted to lock with mine, I forgot how to fucking breathe, let alone think. I’d never been hit by lightning, but I bet this was what it felt like.

I wanted to know what kind of music she listened to, what books she liked, which movies were her favorite. I wanted to know if she minded the way she was kept sequestered, and what made her smile.

This is already cute and they don't even know each other

By the end of that summer, she was my best friend. By the end of the next, she hated me. And I didn’t blame her.

Sooooo...what happened?

variation

That's, that's the name of the MOVIE *book

“Because”—she straightened her shoulders—“you’re my biological mother.”

What!?! Pretty sure women know when they have kids

“What? I can simultaneously ignore that you destroyed me as a teenager while having manners. It’s called adulthood.”

I needed to play the besotted girlfriend, not actually get besotted.

I highly doubt that will work for you

“I promised I wouldn’t lie to you. You’re not allergic to fun, Alessandra.”

She's Close to it

Okay, that was kind of hot. Really hot . . . if we weren’t faking this whole thing.

Of course it is

I couldn’t imagine a lifetime when I would ever tire of looking into his eyes.

And yet you deny yourself him!?!!

wanted him. I needed him. He was heat and warmth, and I’d been so damned cold for too long.

“She was taking class with Quinn Hawkins,”

I don't really see the problem here

First means nothing. Last means everything.”

Wanting you is all I know.”

He drowned out the noise of the outside world by becoming the center of mine.

“I mean . . . on the bright side, we won’t have to push the beds together,” Hudson noted. “Kind of impossible when there’s only one of them.”

Only one bed!!!!! The tropes ;)

I fell in love with her all over again. Not the quiet, observant girl she’d been, or the friend I’d let down, but the woman she’d grown into, beautiful and strong, scarred and still laughing.

Awwwwww. SO CUTE

It’s okay if you fall apart. I promise I will be right here to put you back together if you just let me.”

“Oh, and as for Hudson, he’s built like a Greek god and fucks like one, too, so I’m all taken care of.”

Unexpected, but okay...

We filed out as nonchalantly as four grown women could when exiting a broom closet.

God, this was life. This was the meaning of breath, and the purpose of existence. Just Hudson.

God, Allie, you were essential to existence. Of course I was going to save you.”