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“You’re either really good at manipulation or terrible at it because I can see right through your act, but I still want to do it.”
“Please.” He lifts his, and holy forking fucknuggets. He has abs on top of his abs. Super abs. They could be their own superhero and wear their own cape.
“You actually look normal. Like, a nonlethal, regular man instead of a badass.” Brix opens his jacket to show off a gun in a shoulder holster. “Still a badass.” Damn, why is that so hot?
“You have every right to feel the way you do. And I brought you here so you could understand that you don’t need to be that guy with me. You don’t need to pretend to be in love with Evah. You don’t need to put on your fake smile that makes your gorgeous face light up even though your eyes remain dead. I want you to give me your real smile. The one that makes you look older and less perfect. Less manufactured.”
There’s a pause. A shift. For a moment, I could swear the world stops turning. The warmth coming off him is insane. My entire body screams to be touched, to be even closer. We press against each other. I risk glancing up into his eyes. They’re dark and hypnotizing. “You’re valid, Harley.”
“Don’t go and fuck this up with logic and rational thought, because after that kiss, I don’t know if they even exist in this universe anymore.”
“Am I gonna have to bitch slap you upside the head for you to get it? Other people’s experiences don’t diminish your own.
“Soul mates is a bullshit notion. There are over seven billion people on the planet, and you only get one? Only one of them is your perfect match? That’s a one in seven point five billion chance of finding the love of your life.”
“Relationships break down. People change. Those who are truly in love can work at it for years and still end up apart. It doesn’t mean they weren’t in love or that they were supposed to love someone else more. It just … is what it is. Heartbreak sucks, but it’s a part of life. Putting it down to destiny or fate or any other higher deity is lazy and dismissive of the effort needed to truly make a relationship work.”
If destiny isn’t in control of our love lives, does that mean we only have ourselves to blame?
“I promise to always try to bring you a dose of normal.” It’s sad that’s the most romantic thing anyone has ever offered me.
“It’s not codependent. And what we have is not fucked-up. We’re two guys from completely different upbringings, completely different lives, yet we see something in each other that no one else does. You think you’re shallow and that there’s nothing behind the pop star and the manufactured persona the label gave you, but when I look at you, I see someone who wants to be appreciated. Who wants validation and respect. I see someone who’s begging to be loved.”
“I’m not with you because you’re Harley-fucking-Valentine. I’m with you because I crave the real you. Your real smiles.” Damn him. He’s basically saying he likes me for me, and how am I supposed to stay mad at that?
“Are you going to give me an education on rimming?” “Education? Nah. Religion? Hell yes.” “Confident much—” Brix dives right in, and my body lights up like a damn Christmas tree. “Holy fuck!”
“I’m just going to say it. It’s a good thing you like bottoming because I think I can only handle your weapon of ass destruction every once in a while.”
“You can bring me up here anytime you want to see your dad. Even if I stay in the car and write.” My heart fills with more affection for Harley. “You’d do that for me?” “I’d do a whole lot more if you’d let me, but I get the feeling that would be too much.” Our dynamic is flipped when Harley reaches for me. He cups my face. “I will do anything for you. Just like you want to protect me, I want to give you everything you need.”
As for Brix, I want to give him everything because he deserves it. He gives me the best thing of all: something to look forward to outside of being famous. I made him believe in fate. He makes me believe in love.
