Thrive (Addicted #4)

by Krista Ritchie

It’s terrifying how the both of us can ride highs and lows so quickly. She slumps down on the chair and opens a comic, her lips slightly downturned. But I’d take a Lily at a low over no Lily at all. That’s the truth.

I hold up my hands. “I know nothing.” I wait for someone to mention Jon Snow and Game of Thrones, but I realize that Lo’s the only one who’d understand the reference. Wrong audience. And he’s in the den with Connor and Sam.

I think, sometimes, we have more faith in each other than we do in ourselves.

I’m going to love Lily how I want to love her. Overwhelmingly, uncompromisingly. Look away if you have to.

We’re going to have our happy ending. It just may take us awhile to get there.”

People make mistakes every day, some small and some big, but I just wonder when I’ll stop making them. Or is this a lifelong thing? Do we all just wander through life, fucking up and trying to put ourselves back together only to continue on again?

Does that make you feel good, Rose? You’ve waited twenty-three goddamn years to lose it, and you’re going to give it to a guy who can’t even fucking admit that he loves you.”

Maybe one day he’ll realize how far we’re all willing to go. For the people we love most.

“Revenge isn’t a benefit, Lo. It’s self-gratification, an emotional response with very little logic and even less reward.”

I’ve always been a machine gun, another bullet ready after I press the trigger. Most of the time, I’m just waiting for it to ricochet. And finally hit me.

I’d like something very, very hard still. Don’t think about it. Right. Unattractive things. Ryke Meadows. Ryke Meadows.

“We’re going to have our happy ending. It’s just going to take us a little while to get there.”

We aren’t connected by our addictions. But by our childhood. Souls fused together from the very, very start.

“That’s never stopped you from wanting a ship to sail.” He’s a not-so-closeted Sterek shipper from Teen Wolf.

Our love is rare. It’s one I can’t abandon, even if I tried. When she screams, an identical one rips through me. When she cries, my world rains with grief. When she loves, I truly, truly fly.

The perseverance to do anything, to be anything. To thrive. Someday, that word will belong to us too. After years of coming up short, it’s all I’ve ever wanted.

“Life moves too quickly,” he says. “I don’t want to speed through a single moment. Not anymore.”