More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
“You look like the guy who came to measure for the new windows yesterday.”
“You’re not even giving yourself the chance to fall in love again.” “The truth is, Mom, that’s never going to happen.” “How can you be so sure?” “Because lightning never strikes the same place twice.”
You think I look okay?” “Definitely.” She hesitated. “If the occasion was a PGA tournament.”
Shouldn’t the guy I’m with be the one who gives me butterflies and makes my heart pound? If not, what’s the point?”
“I’m thrilled for them. But sometimes it feels like love is just a numbers game, you know? Some people are lucky while other people aren’t. And I think I’m just destined to be one of the unlucky ones.”
“I’m not saying it’s easy to find. And there are definitely a lot of idiot guys out there who can’t see what’s right in front of them—although most of them wouldn’t deserve you anyway.” His eyes met mine again. “But don’t give up . . . it’s worth waiting for.”
“She was fucking born in the year 2000,” he said, shaking his head. “I was thirteen that year, jerking off to pictures of Britney Spears in that little plaid skirt. I had a filthy mouth and an even filthier mind. And she was, like, a baby.”
“You don’t have a dog yet,” Cole pointed out. “Shelter or otherwise.” “I know.” Mariah closed her eyes. “I’m trying to manifest it by positive thinking.” I laughed. “Those are good choices, Mariah. And there’s nothing wrong with positive thinking.” Maybe I could manifest sex with Cole if I wrote it on my turkey.
“Your body is fucking perfect, Cheyenne.” I swear to God, those words came out of his mouth. My jaw fell open. His face went red. “Fuck. Sorry.” “For what? It was a compliment.” “Men shouldn’t comment on women’s bodies.” “But did you mean it—what you said?” “Yes.” “Then say it again,” I demanded, my pulse racing. He looked me in the eye. “Your body is fucking perfect, Cheyenne.”
“Well, there are all different kinds of love. Love between family members, love between friends, love for our co-workers and neighbors, love for our country, love for our pets.”
“But sometimes that kind of love is really just other things dressed up in a fancy costume.”
“I think real love will keep feeling like real love, even after the costume is off and the novelty wears thin.”
“Real love should last, you know? It should grow even stronger over time, not fade away.”
“Real love doesn’t fade. It only gets stronger.”
“I love my dad the most out of anybody.” Girl, same, I wanted to say. Instead I leaned down and kissed her forehead. “I know.”
“Hey, shoot me a quick text when you get into your house, okay?” I laughed, shaking my head. “You’re such a dad.” He gave me his crooked grin. “Can’t help it.”
love isn’t easy to find, but it’s worth the wait.”
“Jeez, I can’t take you anywhere, Miss Dempsey,”
“I said it was because I’m not married. Then the kid asked why I wasn’t married, and the girl next to him elbowed him and said, ‘You shouldn’t ask her that. It will make her feel old.’ And the kid goes, ‘She is old.’”
“You’re very pretty for an old lady.” She batted her lashes at me and hiccupped. “Why, thank you. And you’re quite attractive for an old man.”
“You’ve always been one of the good guys, Cole. It’s just who you are.”
God, she was beautiful. And warm and sweet and close, and I really just wanted to fucking make out with her right here on the porch. Taste her lips once and for all.
“I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately.” “Well, as you now know, I’ve been thinking about you a lot since I was thirteen.”
back in high school, he made us all promise we’d never touch you.”
“Not a date.” Just dinner, drinks, and phone sex.
“It’s not really a journey, Blair. It was more of a quick and dirty road trip.”
“I’m grateful only one more person has to speak after me,” Griffin announced, “because I’m hungry and the food looks amazing.”
“To love, commitment, and starting a family!”
Mothers, she mouthed. Motherfucker, I mouthed back.
This is exactly why you should not mess around with your best friend’s sister, I reminded myself. Even with permission, it made things awkward.
I made the mistake of telling my mom you bought me dinner last night. In her mind, I believe we are now betrothed.” I laughed. “That’s all it takes, huh?” “Apparently. Tomorrow I’ll be pregnant because we washed dishes together after dark.” “Wow. Guess I should have worn the rubber gloves.”
Why throw fuel on that fire, right?” But the only fire I could feel was the one burning inside me.
If making out with her in the kitchen was the worst idea I’d ever had, I didn’t want to know it.
“Well, accidents happen. But when you have something precious in your hands, you need to hold on tight. Understand?”
It felt so fucking good to hold someone like that—protectively, a little possessively, almost as if she was mine.
“But if he was gay, that would explain why he isn’t interested in you.”
“Depends. I don’t think you should lie to her and tell her you’re in love with her just so she’ll sleep with you, but if you invite her back to your room and she says yes, I’d say that’s a pretty good indication she’s up for a good time tonight.”
“I gotta say, real couple or not, you two are sexy as hell. Do you have a YouTube channel? I’d like to subscribe.”
“Because I can’t stop thinking about you. Because you’re killing me in that dress. Because I don’t want to lie awake tonight wishing I’d had the courage to tell you how much I want you.”
I laughed, feeling better. I might not have romance, but I had love in my life.
I ordered her a holy water martini garnished with garlic on a crucifix, and I still couldn’t exorcise the demon.”
Speak from your heart. If you do that, you can never go wrong.
And if all else fails, think fortune cookie.
“That when you have something precious in your hands, you need to hold on tight.”
That’s when I realized he wasn’t wearing his ring.
“I don’t want to dance with Mariah right now. I want to dance with you.”
“What were you looking for?” He cradled my face with his hands and kissed my forehead. “The girl next door.”
“When you have a second child, you don’t love the first any less. You make more room in your heart.”
“Lightning can strike the same place twice, if you let it,” she went on. “But you can’t be afraid.”
It’s going to take patience, love, and maybe some tough conversations and extra hugs, but I have faith in you.”
