Between Then and Now (Magnolia Heights #1)

by Kyra Ysabel

It’s amazing what a haircut can do for a woman, especially when she hasn’t had one in years.

I’m convinced that good coffee is an actual drug that can change the way a person thinks or feels, especially in the morning when the brain doesn’t want to work yet.

I saw their efforts. And I’ve since forgiven my parents for acting the way they did all those years ago. Sure, they were flawed. But they were also human.

You might find yourself wondering how life managed to mix business with pleasure.”

I’m not a fan of confrontation or anything that resembles discomfort.

I always thought sunflowers exude warmth and happiness—something I’ve always tried to maintain for myself. It’s a reminder for me to always seek the light, no matter how dark things might get.

a sense of excitement replaces it as we prepare to change lives and have our lives changed in return.

You’re like... quite literally, sunshine on a cloudy day,”

“It’s exhilarating to not have to pretend to be someone you’re not in order for your best qualities to shine.

And her laugh—oh, her laugh. It’s like music to my ears, effortless and melodious.

her eyes filled with a mix of determination and vulnerability. “I don’t want to be ruled by fear.

“You deserve to be happy. Completely happy. And if there’s someone who can give you that, take it, especially if it comes from someone who accepts all of you.”

Maybe it’s common for people to express their affection in different ways that aren’t immediately obvious—that’s what love languages are for, right?

The tears keep coming, and I bury my face in my hands, feeling the weight of all the times I've tried to fit into someone else's mold.

I love deeply, I care intensely, and I live passionately.

“I braved angry ocean waves for you, what’s a few kilometers on land?”

Someone I feel so deeply for. Someone I can’t stop thinking about. Someone I want to spend every single day with.

You don’t always have to be the ray of sunshine for everyone.

You can let other people shine for you when you can’t do it.”

it’s as if I’m staring into a vast expanse of the ocean again. This ocean, though, is one I’d happily dive into.

“But losing you was more terrifying.” His words hang in the air,

“You say you’re not enough. You say you’re too much. But you’ve always been just perfect for me, Bon.

Every touch, every movement is filled with an intensity that makes my knees weak and my mind foggy with desire.

I cling to Ryan like he’s my last hope and I’m dying tomorrow.

The way she looked at me, with such trust and vulnerability, made me feel like I could conquer anything. She made me–makes me–want to be a better person, to fight for something real and lasting.

love like this comes with no guarantees, no safety nets.

life is too short for hesitation, too fleeting to let love pass by unspoken.

I’ve seen your fears, your doubts, your insecurities. And I love you more because of them.

I wouldn’t want you any other way.”