More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
Read between
September 27 - September 30, 2025
“The most effective way to avoid a commitment is an ailment—one that meets three C’s.” She ticks off her finger. “Cringe. Contagious. And, above all, quick.”
I mean… she’s not wrong
Then Minami and Sul had Kaede, the most adorable baby girl in the universe.
Hold up… Kaede??? Is Ali a Inuyasha fan?
I never said it aloud, and I hope to bring it to my grave, even more than the time I took a gummy and DMed Malala to tell her that I was sure we’d be best friends, even more than the fact that I cheated on every history exam in eighth grade and know nothing about World War I, even more than the identity of the person I’ve fantasized about while masturbating for the last three years.
“I just…I kinda thought maybe Alfie was the one?” “Based on what?” “He…He’s funny, especially when he’s drunk. And he left me space—I need a lot of space, sometimes. And he held me when I wanted to be snuggled.” “All of these things you listed, a dog could do.”
Literally thought the same
Pride & Prejudice 2005.
BOO WORST EDITION
“He sure did,” Conor drawls slowly, and I know that he wants to make a big deal out of this. A teachable moment. So I flash him my cheekiest smile. “I hope you lied to him and saved those five euros, Daddy.” I step into him, pretending not to notice the thick swallow in his throat, the way his entire body seems to cease to function. Still holding his eyes, I pluck one of the three tickets from his fingers and slowly walk toward the entrance gate.
Oh yeah he is totally for the dom-sub stuff lmao
“If you had to guesstimate, how often would you say Conor Harkness thinks about the Roman Empire?”
OH MY GOD ALI AN INTERNET REFERENCE?? HERE!?
“Goddammit—I’m not sick. Or, I am, but—I was sitting next to him for dinner, and I guarantee you that that man has zero interest in Tamryn or in Avery. He looked at you the whole time.”
Anyway, Hark looked at you and the child the whole time. And he glared at Paul.”
Finally
It’s like it hadn’t occurred to him. That there would be a body inside the swimsuit. My body. His stare is heavy and blatant and profoundly still. It lasts a hiccup of a moment. Then a seagull screeches over our heads, and he rips his eyes away.
“Of course I fucking want you. You are stupidly beautiful, and too fucking smart for your own good, and I refuse to go there, Maya.”
Mhmmm
“There are several complicating factors. You knew me when you were young, and vice versa.” “True. And since we knew each other so well…I dyed my hair the year I turned fourteen. What color?” His lost expression would be funny, if I weren’t busy arguing for my life. “Where did I go to school? What was my favorite book? What was my best friend’s name? Come on, Conor. Tell me something about me as a teenager, or I’ll have to think that you barely ever glanced at me. Which, incidentally, is exactly what happened.” I step closer. “This is not a crush that I never outgrew and you’re exploiting.
...more
This is definitely Ali talking
I continue: “Could you please flirt with me?”
Ha. YEEEEEES. Do it. Give him a taste.
Because one day, Conor Harkness decided that he wanted someone to know him. And he chose me.
“You okay?” I ask, cautious. “Yeah.” A deep inhale. “Yeah. I just wanted to listen to you exist.”
“I can’t think clearly when you are around.” He breaks eye contact. “You’re way too fucking young to—”
“I always want you, Maya. And I’ve never been good at hiding it.”
“Why not? Is she smarter than me? Is she funnier? Is she prettier than—actually, don’t answer, I don’t want to—” “No one is, Maya,” he says, with some anger. Like I just tore the truth from him.
“I love you,” I interrupt him. Calm. Even. I think I hear him die. “Maya.” “I love you.” “No.” “I love you. And you are my best friend.” “No.” “I don’t care that you’re older. I don’t care that you work all the time. I don’t even care if your weird brain wants to pretend that we’re just platonic pen pals until I hit thirty. I will wait for it. I will wait for you.” “No.”
“I have never wanted anything as desperately, as ungovernably, as persistently as I want you. Not a single goddamn thing. Not my dead mother back. Not revenge. Not the well-being of the people I love. Not professional success, not even my own happiness. Absolutely nothing has consumed me as mercilessly as you have.”
“Do you want me to leave?” “It would be best if—” “Not the question I—” “No, Maya. I never want you to be anywhere but with me.”
“I’m doing it wrong all over again.” His throat works. “I should have led with the only thing that matters.” “Which is?” I hear myself ask, surprised at my ability to form words. He brushes his thumb over my lower lip, and says: “I love you, Maya. And no. It’s never going to pass.”
“I’m saying that I already know I’m in love with you, and that I have little interest in being apart from you. I don’t need you in small doses, because…I want it all.”
