More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
“I dare you to seduce Conor Edwards.”
Because whoever is torturing this poor girl is certainly watching us right now and they can eat shit. “Lead the way, babe.”
Which is even more reason to get the hell out of here before I catch feelings. Because Conor Edwards is absolutely the guy you fall for before you learn that girls like me don’t get guys like him.
Don’t worry, they’ll assume you got bored of me.”
do get bored easily,” he agrees, “but you’re in luck, T. Boredom is the last thing I’m feeling right now. You’re the most interesting person I’ve spoken to in ages.”
“Elementary education. I want to be a teacher.”
“Babe, you’ve got the kind of body that boys build in their heads under the sheets after dark.”
“I mean it.” His voice thickens. “I’ve been sitting here having filthy thoughts about you all night. Don’t mistake my manners for indifference.”
“You’re ridiculously attractive, Taylor.” This time when he speaks, I don’t doubt his sincerity, if perhaps his sanity. I suppose someone like him doesn’t get around so much by being picky. “Don’t spend any more time believing otherwise.”
talking as if we’ve been friends for years. There’s surprisingly no shortage of things to say, no lag in the conversation.
don’t hear the rest of his sentence, because we’ve both fallen asleep.
truly believe that all body types are beautiful. It’s only when I look in the mirror that I forget.
From the first whistle, Coach has been on a rampage like he just found out Jake Connelly knocked up his daughter or something.
But this entire conversation is pissing me off.
crosses my mind to go over there, confront them. Taylor didn’t do anything to deserve this shit. She’s a cool chick. Smart, funny. It’s been a long time since I’ve actually wanted to spend a whole night talking to a total stranger. And not because she was a pity case or I needed an alibi. I had a legit good time with her. These assholes aren’t allowed to talk smack about—
I remember the way she’d lamented about her curves, and I honestly don’t get it. Taylor’s body is a thousand times more appealing to me than most.
My mouth goes a bit dry as Taylor approaches. She looks really fucking good tonight. Sexy. Elegant.
My heart melts a little. The world doesn’t deserve Conor Edwards.
“But T’s friend doesn’t believe we’re all hanging out. Hold on, let’s show receipts. Smile, boys.” Then he has the gall to snap a picture. My jaw drops when all four roommates flex their biceps for the camera.
“Taylor Marsh, will you do me the incredible honor of updating your relationship status and becoming my fake girlfriend?”
Abigail speaks up,
Show of hands—who here has slept with Conor Edwards?”
Sasha mimics, “who here has slept with one of Abigail’s douchey ex-boyfriends?”
I turn around to see what’s got them in such a fit. Conor Fucking Edwards.
Just to fuck with him, I place my hand on his thigh and tell the group, “He’s already trying to convince me to let him move in with me.”
Taylor Marsh has no idea how cool she is, and that’s a fucking shame.
“I’ll keep saying this until it sinks in, but there’s nothing wrong with you, Taylor. There isn’t some arbitrary hierarchy between us. I want you. I’ve wanted you since the moment I watched you cross the room at that party.”
“Take my Jeep.”
“Yeah, come to my game,” he says, his eyes lighting up. “You drive down to Buffalo in my Jeep and I’ll ask Coach for permission to skip out on the bus ride back. We can stay an extra night and go shopping, hang out, whatever.”
Taylor. I’ve known her less than a month, yet I count her among the short list of people I trust. She makes me want to be a better person. With her, I feel like I can finally get something right, like maybe I can actually have a real relationship based on friendship rather than lust.
kiss her forehead
With Taylor, I don’t want to miss anything. I want to learn every inch of her body, give her every experience. I’m her first, and I want to make damn sure I do it right.
“What’s his name?” “Chad.”
“As long as I can bring a date.”
Conor makes me feel safe, beautiful, desired. And right now, here in this moment, I don’t want to be the thing standing between us.
“You’re gorgeous, Taylor.”
“When you’re ready, I hope it’s with me. If not, I’m content right here with the way things are. I mean that.”
Assuming I’ve done something wrong, that I’m not good enough, is the first place my head always goes. That’s just what happens after you’re bullied and fat-shamed in your formative years.
On the other hand, I don’t know how to be as chill as Sasha. I don’t know how to not let shit get under my skin. How to just turn off the part of my brain that is clawing at the walls.
For the first time in my life, I find the courage to respect myself.
“I was halfway to Boston and I couldn’t get your face out of my head. So I turned around. Couldn’t go through with it knowing what I was doing to us.” His voice cracks. “Because the worst thing about all of this, the worst thing I could have possibly done, was lose your respect. Nothing else matters if you hate me.”
“If that were actually true—” “Damn it, T, I’m trying to say I’m in love with you.”
mean it—I’m stupidly in love with you. I should have said it sooner. I’d blame repeated head trauma, but I was just an idiot. I’m sorry.”
The only thing I’m worried about now is giving her a perfect birthday.
If someone had asked me to describe my perfect match, I wouldn’t have been able to do it. I probably would have spit out a bunch of clichés that would have amounted to every one-night stand I’ve ever had. Yet somehow, life put Taylor right in front of me anyway. She’s made me a better person. Taught me to be true to myself. Helped me see the value in me as a person. Hell, she put my family back together.
