More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
“Hello?” she answers, sounding worried. “Something, something excuse.” She gasps, and I grin wider at the back of her head. “Oh my god. What? Are you okay?”
And Hayden?” “Yeah, Darce?” “Don’t cry. It’s going to be okay.”
“I lied and said I had a cold sore, and that it was a form of herpes, so we shouldn’t.”
“Really?” Hazel asks like it’s the best thing she’s ever heard. “He won’t let you pay rent? Interesting. Because he’s such a good friend?” Pippa elbows her. “Stop it.”
“Nice to see you again, Daniel. What’s that?” I bend down and cup my hand to my ear, pretending to listen. “You want to sleep in Hayden’s bed?”
She makes her eyes go as wide as possible, unblinking gaze boring into me, irises sparkling with suppressed laughter. “Am I seducing you, Hayden?” she whispers in a creepy voice.
“Owens said you looked like the love child of a fairy sprite and a cupcake,
“That’s enough male energy for today.” She makes a shooing motion at the guys before looping her arm through mine. “We’re going to go spend money now.”
“Darcy, don’t be ridiculous.” His expression turns serious. “I already checked, and they don’t have Jell-O shots here.”
and I thought, now that’s a man. Then you roared and tore your shirt open, and I fainted.”
They look like Darcy and me. I pretend they’re us.
“If I smell good, does this mean we’re probably not distantly related?”
Good luck! I’ll be watching your games (and sleeping in your bed). - Daniel
“I’m hungry for blood… your blood!” I pull the string I attached to the base of the gnome so Daniel slides toward Hayden.
Alexei stares straight ahead. “I didn’t see anything. My contacts fell out.” Our eyes meet before he looks away. “And I didn’t hear anything, either.”
“And Daniel, of course.” “Sure, I’ll find a bag of rocks and we can take him for a swim in the ocean.”
“You said we’re dressing up as Darcy.”
“I guess you think it’s your turn now or something.” “No.” I swallow. “It’s Darcy’s turn.
Daniel the Gnome is in the bathtub, surrounded by bubbles, staring at me with his beady, soulless eyes.
I’m going to marry this girl. The thought struck me eight years ago, during a conversation before class our first week of school.
“Upon first impression,” Miller says into the microphone, “my surly, serious best friend appears to be an asshole.” He glances at Pippa for confirmation, who nods hard in agreement.
“I knew Jamie liked you,” Donna says to Pippa with a smile during her turn, “when I asked if you were pretty and he wouldn’t look me in the eye.”
“I won’t last.” “Do you need me to bring up Daniel?”
“Neither of you are going anywhere.” He folds his arms over his chest. “And if you would have let me get a word in edgewise when you barged into my office, I would have told you that.”
She is a valued member of the Storm family, and any comments to discredit her based on her relationship with Hayden Owens are sexist and degrading, a problem women in STEM face every day.
“The team has posted on their social media in support of you. Your old colleagues from Eckhart-Foster have spoken out about your professionalism and talent as an analyst. The Women in STEM group obviously are supporting you, and Jesus, even your old university profs are weighing in.”
“When you’re ready to give me a ring and take the next step, I’m ready to say yes.”
“You want to get a dog?” “Ask me to marry you!” I burst out. “I’ve been waiting all summer!”
“Can I have it now?” “No.” He snorts. “You can wait.” “But I just said I’m ready.” I make a hurry up motion. “Let’s go.”
At least a dozen times over the next two weeks, Hayden stops to tie his shoe—in the middle of the street, beside our table when we’re out for dinner, on a little bridge over a creek, even in the shower. “Those don’t even have shoelaces,”
“Of course. Everyone helped. Even the grumpy Russian.”
