Stay With Me (Stay with Me, #1)

by Nicole Fiorina

My only problem was having to live in his aftermath.

Defending actions with words could only get one so far because mouths weren’t created to be used as weapons, and not all battles were meant to be fought.

He’d kissed me, and before leaving, he’d somehow managed to pick up my scattered pieces, stuff them in his pocket, and take them with him. Before Ollie, I didn’t have pieces. He’d built them, broken them, and stolen them.

I didn't have the tools to destroy a wall, let alone carve out a door. The barriers had endured ten years. Tough and sturdy and placed for a reason. Each one had a purpose, and even though I'd forgotten why they stood there in the first place, I was scared what would happen if I started carving out holes. The walls became my friends—they were safe. But I nodded, anyway, because the small glimmer of hope in his eyes spread like

“She’s a monster and masterpiece, worthy of someone to both quiet her dark side and light the colors of her soul on fire.” —Oliver Masters

Ollie was everything I wasn't. He was light in the darkest moments, he was belief when no one else could see, and he was the indication of hope as walls etched with doubt caved around him.

You have to break through, and it's going to hurt, and it's going to be painful, but you have to because I'm fucking selfish and I want you." He shook his head. "No, I need you."

Ollie brought his hands to my face. His nose grazed mine as he breathed me in. "I need you to feel for me, and once you do, I need you to stay."

“Some search their entire lives for this single moment. Don’t blink, my love. We’re finally here.” —Oliver Masters

Life consists of tiny moments. Moments that define you, moments that shape you, moments that lead you down a path of reflection, self-discovery, and purpose. These heartbeats of moments are collections of who you are and who you

are meant to be—little moments. And we only remember the ones that have impacted our souls.

"I'll continue to fight for as long as it takes."

I only want you … I want to be found by you across the room,

I’m not going to save you, Mia. I don’t want to be the one. I’m going to show you how to save yourself."

"Mia, listen to me. You have to stay with me even when I’m gone, you hear me?

“And If one day I don’t recognize you, I’ll love you anyway.” —Oliver Masters

"Stay with me, even when I'm gone."

“We were meant to be together, but this lifetime wasn’t meant for us.” —Oliver Masters

“Even the darkest parts of us become beautiful when seen through a different set of eyes.” —Oliver Masters

"I'm no longer the girl you fell in love with, Ollie. I'm broken now. I'm not strong anymore.

"How is the light supposed to shine through your walls,