More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
Read between
December 19 - December 22, 2024
‘The one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.’ ” My eyes narrow. “Are you quoting the Bible?” “Yes.” He says this like it’s the most normal thing in the world. “You know what I like about it? I like how it makes doubt seem inevitable. It’s okay to be unsure.”
“Thank you.” “For what?” “For seeing me.”
“And I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m not the kind of girl who walks up to boys and starts talking.” “We have that in common.” “You get nervous talking to boys, too?” “I lose sleep over it.”
“Would it be weird if I asked if you wanted to do this again?” “You mean, meet behind the church to freak out together?”
“Don’t you understand? I have to be one or the other.” “No, you don’t! You moron, there are three people in the story.” “What?” “You’re neither son, Rev. If you’re anyone, you’re the man who watched his kids act like total dicks, only to stand there with open arms and forgive them.”
“Is this okay?” he whispers. This would be so mawkish and unbelievable if I tried to explain this moment later. The rainstorm, the bench, the darkness. But his breath is fractured and his manner is uncertain and this feels as significant for him as it is for me. “Yes,” I say. “Do you want me to let go so you can text?” He inhales—and his breathing steadies. He turns his head, and his breath brushes my neck. “I don’t want you to let go.” “Okay.”
His fingers are wound through mine, his grip firm. Not too tight—just enough that I know he’s not letting go anytime soon. I wonder if he needs the anchor.
“Quick,” Declan says to her. “When’s the last time you had a violent thought about someone?” “Three seconds ago,” she says. “When I saw you stopped for coffee but didn’t bring me one.” He holds out the cup. “Wrong. This is for you.” Her expression lights up, and she kisses him, then takes a sip. He’s such a liar. Probably. But then she hands it to him and says, “We can share,” and I wonder if this was his plan all along. He smiles and takes the coffee, then takes her hand.
“I’m sorry.” My voice breaks. I’m crying. “I’m sorry.” Geoff doesn’t let go of me. “It’s okay.” And then I’m crumpling, falling against him. He catches me. He holds on. Because he’s not my father. He’s my dad.
We all push sometimes, just to make sure someone is on the other side, pushing back.”
You could look at all of life as a test. No one lives in a vacuum. Our actions have an impact on everyone around us. Sometimes without us even realizing it.”
“What are you frowning about?” says Dad. “I’m reading the Bible.” “You’re—what?” “You heard me.”
He says the Internet makes too many people loud, and too many people silent, but the loud people are all we hear. We have to ask questions to hear the silent people.”
“So that’s really how to stop a punch?” I say to him. “I feel like TV has lied to me.” “Technically I should bring you to the ground, but—” “That sounds promising.”
Rev: Do you think you can fix your game? I wish I could help you. Emma: I wish you could jiu-jitsu this Nightmare guy. Rev: You want me to make out with him, too?
“Do you want me to come get you?” His voice is so kind. I sniff and swipe at my eyes. “You don’t even know me.” He gives a short, self-deprecating laugh. “I do know you. Kind of.” He pauses. “We can go for coffee or something. Where are you?” “I’m in the grass beside Saint Patrick’s. In Annapolis.” “Funny.” “Why funny?” “Because that’s where we go to church. I’m fifteen minutes away. Are you going to be okay?”
I see where he’s turning, and stop short. “Why are we getting on the highway?” “Starbucks? Coffee?” Oh. “There’s one by the mall.” “I just know the one on Solomons Island Road. They have a drive-through.” That’s on the other side of Annapolis. But what’s the difference, really? It’s only a few miles down the highway.
‘The revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall.’