The Jack*ss In Class (The Cocky Kingmans, #5)

by Amy Award

sparkly-winged fugitive

“Did you just quote Lemony Snicket to me, Flynn Kingman?”

Ouch. Self-burn. Those were rare.

It was like trying to organize a library where all the books had legs and opinions.

Something that captures his true spirit of chaos and glitter.”

She’s like a freaking wizard or something.”

Enthusiastic consent or I don’t want it.”

That got me a tiny head tilt. Progress.

“Maybe I just want to spend more time discussing literature with a beautiful woman.”

“Oh, yeah. How is Baby Donk doo doo doo doo da doo?”

“The lady doth protest too much, methinks.” I pointed at him. “You’re not allowed to quote Shakespeare at me. That’s not a thing we do.”

‘That girl is a menace to society and my sanity.’”

“You stay away from her, you hear me, little brother?” “We’re twins.”

“Some secrets aren’t about trust. They’re about protection.”

“Enséñales cómo se dice ‘tiene el trasero increíble pero no tiene huevos.’”

Jules could smell relationship drama like a shark smells blood in the water.

“That’s what Kingmans do. We’re ride-or-die, even for criminal donkeys.” I turned to face her. “And definitely for people we care about.”

Holy patron saint of women losing their hearts to sexy, sincere football players. Whoever that saint may be, protect me and my heart from this onslaught.

“She claims they’re feminist literature disguised as smut. Her words, not mine.”

Hell hath no fury like a sister who’s been tattled on.

You up for some dancing till dawn, doll?” “Sure. But maybe not until dawn. My bookish introverted heart really wants to be in bed by nine.”

“Courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s action in the face of it. And you, mi amor, have more courage than you know.”

Romance novels are⁠—” “Joy,” Abuela interrupted firmly. “They are joy and hope and the promise that everyone deserves love. Even girls who look like us, who take up space, who have curves and opinions and don’t fit into little boxes.”

“Love is not about someone rescuing you, mi amor. It’s about having someone who stands beside you when you rescue yourself.”

“Oh ho,” Isak exclaimed, looking delighted at my aggressive move. “Girls, man. They run the world.”

“You’ve got this,” Flynn said, squeezing my hand. “I’ll be right there in the front row, looking inappropriately turned on by my girlfriend talking about her dirty books.”

“To stories,” Flynn said, raising his glass. “The ones we read, the ones we write, and the ones we live.”