Any Way the Wind Blows (Simon Snow, #3)

by Rainbow Rowell

you can’t just give up without a fight.” “I’m so sorry, Baz.” I push and pull on his jumper. His forehead thunks against mine. I nod. “Okay,” I whisper. “Okay?” he whispers back. “Okay, Snow. We’ll try. We’ll try this with you trying.” “Yeah?” I nod against him. “Yeah.” “Okay.” He exhales roughly against my lips, then takes another shuddering breath. “Christ, I’m so scared.” “Already? Don’t we get a day of clinging to each other before things fall apart again?” Simon laughs over my mouth. He’s been drinking orange juice. He needs a shower. He smells like a locker room and a back alley and something bleachy. “I don’t—” he says, looking down. “I—” His hair is in my eyes. I brush my nose against his. He starts again: “I don’t know how not to be afraid that you’ll leave me.” I scoff. “I won’t leave you. When have I ever left?” “You can’t know how it will be,” he says, head hanging. “Over time. You might not want me once you don’t have to worry about me leaving.” Who even knew Simon was capable of such mental gymnastics? “You have a real genius for catastrophizing, Snow.” “Is that the same as having a genius for catastrophes? Because, obviously. How many times has Penny’s mum said so?” I pull back so he can see me. “I’m not going to get tired of you.” “You can’t know that,” he says, bumping my nose with his forehead. “I can. Look at me.” I catch his chin. I wait for his blue eyes to settle on mine. “This thing between us didn’t start with us dating. It didn’t even start when yo...