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Kindle Notes & Highlights
Needless to say, Ainsley was positive she would never have children but that hadn’t stopped her and she was still super interested in sex.
Guilt.
Rosa was brilliant and she was as observant as a high-strung cat, and the fact I was asking her to translate what she informed me that morning sounded like Puerto Rican had her little ears twitching.
post-traumatic stress syndrome,
“You’re breaking my heart.”
I realized that this was the first moment Rider and I had been alone.
If not, our paths probably never would’ve crossed.
Rider said I was beautiful.
Even after four years, even if he was supposed to be in class and even though he had a girlfriend, he would be there for me if I told him I needed him.
A burning sensation hit the center of my chest, and I told myself it was indigestion, that it had nothing to do with Rider holding my hand, telling me I was beautiful when I knew he had to be telling Paige the same and meaning it in a totally different way.
The way he said Rider’s name raised the tiny hairs along my arms. Not that his tone held any spite, but the word was spoken with heavy meaning.
And I’m the first to admit that I’m grateful to Rider for all he did to protect you back then, especially since he was just a kid himself.
I faced the cafeteria, wishing Rider would show up and cart me away.
Words were not the enemy or the monster under my bed, but they held such power over
me. They were like the ghost of a loved one, forever haunting me.
I was sturdy.
Months shy of turning eighteen, and I didn’t know what it felt like to be kissed or what it was like to be…to be wanted—to be loved in that kind of way.
And though Rider’s presence might be a match to kindling, I honestly didn’t know how they’d react if they came home and found any boy in the house.
“I knew what I was doing then and I know what I’m doing now.”
“I’m touchy with you and that doesn’t mean we’re seeing each other.”
Leaning in, he pressed his lips against my forehead, dropping a kiss that squeezed my heart into slush.
He knew how big that was, and I didn’t feel so idiotic.
the thought of talking in front of a bunch of people made me want to vomit.”