Even When I'm Gone (Stay with Me, #2)

by Nicole Fiorina

“I’m not so sure what’s more terrifying, the violent storm inside my head or the silence.” —Oliver Masters

“The two slowest deaths are absence and time.” —Oliver Masters

“If reality becomes unbearable, close your eyes. We were made with an imagination.”

“You’re desperate, I know, but his touch is never going to fix it. You’re empty, I know, but he can never fill the place I once did. I warned you, my love, but you’re stubborn and never listen.” —Oliver Masters

“What’s keeping me up at night is the haunting memory of that last breath you took right in front of me.” —Oliver Masters

“I’m scared to close my eyes because every damn time, all I see is you, and when I open them, you’re not there! You were gone!”

“I love you, Mia,” I grabbed her face and waited for her eyes to open to see this is real, “I’ll always love you.”

“I’ll wake up when the nightmare is over.” —Oliver Masters

“Because love is constant. When you love someone, you can be angry with them, you can hate them, you can be upset or disappointed in them, but you never stop loving them because love endures all other emotions.”

“I’m stuck between I’ll never be enough and no one else will ever love you more.” —Oliver Masters

“Look at her, Masters. She’s not the same person you left seven months ago. She’s already learned how to live without you.”

Either make me feel nothing or everything!”

“The cruel irony is you are my forever but not my right now.” —Oliver Masters

This used to be my safe haven. But I created this space for you to run away to, to feel safe because that’s what you are to me. You’re my safe place.”

“I want you to love me anyway,”

“Let me get this straight. So, you’re up here,” Ollie said with a finger pointing up in the air, “and you forgot to take me with you,” another tear fell down his face as his chin trembled, “You lost your bloody grip on me.”

“No matter what, as long as you stay away from me until we leave here, I’ll still belong to you.”

“You just broke my fucking heart, and yet you’re still standing there. The least you can do is grant me the favor of finishing me off by walking away because you know I can’t so much as breathe without you. So, fucking leave!”

“I’m not going to make you remember me, Mia. I’m going to make it where you can’t remember anything else.”

“The number of people who love you doesn’t determine your worth. Remember that.”

“You think any of these will scar?” “Probably,” he exhaled in concentration. “But it’s up to you on how deep you let the scars in.”

“If I open my eyes, it means you have to leave, and I’m not ready for you to go. When my eyes are closed, I get to pretend it’s a Sunday morning and we have no place to be.”

“I smiled, temptation could try to find a way in, but no hand can touch the places I’ve been.” —Oliver Masters

There are cracks, but now the light can shine through.

But love never leaves you. It only hides behind every temporary emotion until you deserve to be embraced by it again.

“If you don’t walk out of here with Mia, know there are other fish in the sea.” In an instant, my smile faded. “You don’t get it. Mia is the sea.”

“You’re not broken, only bent to perfection.” —Oliver Masters

“I suffer from the heart of a saint with the hands of a sinner.” —Oliver Masters

Ten-ten-twenty-twenty.

“Kiss her crazy and love her insane.” —Oliver Masters

“It would be the three of us,” I clarified, putting things into perspective. “It would always be you and I, love, but Zeke would finally have a life. A chance at something he deserves.”

“Make love to her like you mean it.” —Oliver Masters

“Fall apart so we can fall in place, together,” I reassured him.

“Consuming, timeless, unselfish, love. I’d loved you in my darkest hour when I wasn’t myself, and I’ll love you in every lifetime after this.”

“Fuck. I can’t imagine anyone as happy as you just made me right now.” He let out a heavy and shaky exhale.

“Perhaps the most dangerous man, is a man in love.” —Oliver Masters

“Sometimes all we need is someone who will sit in the dark with us.” —Oliver Masters

“Mia, and Ollie, forever,” Zeke finally whispered with a hoarse throat. His eyes blinked closed as blood spread through his shirt.

“I hadn’t touched her, yet she drifted to me as if her body recognized mine was near. We are on the same wavelength. Same rhythm. This,” Ollie danced a finger across the nape of my neck, “This is the meaning of poetic.”

“We’re not out of the woods yet, but let’s kiss in the leaves while we’re here.” —Oliver Masters