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“One day, some girl is gonna walk into your life and flip your whole world upside down and you’re not gonna know what the fuck to do with yourself except drop to your knees and beg her to never leave.”
“Oooh, gimme-gimme!” “Ah-ah,” I tsk, holding the bag away from her. “Where are your manners?” Her blue eyes roll as she pops a hip. “Gimme my fucking present, please.”
i love Cara
“I’m serious, Carter. Cara will feed you your balls if you touch her.” “I can handle Cara.” Emmett snorts, Garrett chuckles, and Adam hammers a fist into his chest as he chokes out a cough. Nobody can handle Cara. Not even Emmett. Cara can’t even handle Cara half the time.
I’ve been told I lack a filter, something most ordinary people have. But I’m not ordinary; I’m Carter Beckett.
“Captain of the Vancouver Vipers. And you can take that ‘sweetheart’ and stuff it up your ass.”
“Why stop at just one night? I’ve got a feeling you’re the type of song I’d play on repeat.”
“Who’s Jeremy? Your boyfriend?” I hesitate. Then lie. “Yes.” “You goin’ to your brother’s?” Emmett shouts down the hall. “Tell Jer I’ll be online at ten tonight if he wants to play!” Ah, crap.
i love this group's dynamics
There’s an irrational part of me that wants to lick him like a freaking ice cream cone.
“I swear, sometimes I feel like I have children.”
the fact that i am re-reading this in prep for Cara and Emmett's story, i've been picking up on these and its killing me.
His stick lifts in slow motion, pointing. At me. Carter Beckett points his damn stick right at me. And he winks. He fucking winks. For you, his perfect lips mouth to me.
“What I lack in height I make up for in attitude.”
“If I find something like you and Dad had, the last thing I’ll do is let it get away from me.”
“You can’t kiss my not-a-real-date-but-actually-is-a-real-date at midnight!”
Garrett leans into me, mouth at my ear. “Full disclosure, I’ve got five hundred bucks riding on you kissing him at midnight.”
“What would you like?” I’d love a foot rub and to be politely railed into the new year if I’m being honest, but the request that comes out of my mouth is so much tamer.
Drunk me realizes whatever I’m feeling for Carter is much more than an attraction to all his sexy bits, and I don’t really know what to do with that. Logic tells me to run, to shut it down before it becomes more, because this man will break me. Illogic says Eh, fuck it, let’s give it a shot.
“I don’t want to say something mean.” “Just say it, Care. I’m a big boy.” She heaves a sigh. “If manwhore were a word in the dictionary, you’d proudly pose for the photo.
iconic
“What if the only thing I’m sure about wanting is you?” She sweeps her thumb over the indent in my chin. “Sometimes wanting something isn’t enough.”
I can do better, be better, and I can do it for Olivia. I want to do it for Olivia.
I’ve never had a woman here who I wanted something from. Never allowed a woman to be vulnerable enough in my space to fall asleep. Never had to work so hard to push down the longing that makes me itch to climb in behind her, pull her into my chest, and just fucking … be. Until Olivia.
“I’m too drunk to yell at you. If you hurt her, be prepared to eat your own dick. I’ve heard it’s huge, so it’s a good thing you have a big appetite.” Scary eyes move between mine. “Got it, Beckett?”
“It’s like I have kids sometimes.” She stalks over, dragging Emmett off the bed and kissing Olivia’s cheek. “Have fun, be safe, and don’t make any ill-advised decisions.” Olivia salutes her. “Yes, Mom.”
*cries*
“I’m not made of glass, Carter. You don’t have to be gentle with me. In fact, I’d prefer if you weren’t.”
I may be slightly intoxicated, but I’m 100 percent positive Carter Beckett is a man I could fall in love with.
“I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. Never, Ollie. I just want you to consider … consider giving me a shot. Consider me. That’s all I want, Ol. A chance with you.”
🥹
“You leaving right now doesn’t change how I feel about you, and it won’t change your feelings for me either. I know you’re hoping they’ll disappear so you don’t have to deal with the way I’ve been living my life, but they won’t. Running from things you’re afraid of won’t get you very far.”
Fear is a funny, fickle thing. It’s there to protect you, to keep you from getting hurt, tells you to back up before it’s too late. But it weighs you down, keeping you from moving forward, like feet stuck in mud. And more often than not? You get hurt anyway. Sometimes, like today, you hurt the person you care about in the process too.
Truth is, I don’t know how not to. I don’t know how to put my heart on the line for a man who’s never been interested in a relationship. I don’t know how to open myself so wholly to someone who may not, in the end, be able to reciprocate, to keep my heart safe.
this.
“What did he do? His ass is fucking grass, Liv, I will kill him. I swear, I’ll do it. I’ll go to jail for you.”
Her wide eyes lock on mine, cheeks blazing, hand hanging there in midair, holding on to a … A goddamn Oreo. Woman’s my fucking soul mate.
soul mates
You can’t fix your past, but if you want a different future, all you have to do is choose it.”
random girl giving great advice lol
“What scares you the most?” “That I’m going to fall in love with him.”
“I’m just happy, honey.” She grins up at me. “Happy looks good on you.” Feels damn good too.
Hope is one of those funny things, kind of like time. Time either races or drags; there’s no in between. When things aren’t going your way, time stands still. You feel stuck, rooted in place, and your feet won’t move in the direction you want to go.
Hope works the same way. Everything feels slow and dark without it, like a night spent waiting for the sun to rise.
while it’s important to be able to be happy on your own, having another person to amplify that happiness, to share it with along with all the other special moments, that’s what life’s all about. That’s where it really starts to get fun.”
i want this 😢
“Hurting someone and getting hurt are risks you take in love.”
“I really like you, Ollie.” Tenderness swims in her eyes as her shoulders drop. “I really like you, too, Carter. Thank you for being patient with me and giving me some time.” The truth is, I think I’d give her anything she ever needed, all she’d have to do is ask.
I’m not anxious; I’m in control. There’s a difference.
“Are you still scared?” “Yes.” “What are you most afraid of?” “Falling,” she answers quietly and without hesitation. “I’ll catch you.” “Promise?” Bringing her to me, I sear her with a kiss that feels every bit like a future I never knew I wanted. “Promise.”
“It’s hard not to compare myself to someone like you,” I admit. “I know we’re on different playing fields, but everything you have is so beautiful, so incredible, and—” “Including you, Ollie. You’re so beautiful, so incredible, all of you. Don’t you get that everything else doesn’t compare? I’d trade it all in for you.”
“Girlfriend?” He nods, scratching at his head. “Is that okay? I know I want to be with you. I know we’re compatible. I don’t need time to see if this will work, if I’m serious about you. I already know all that. I want you to be mine and I don’t want to share you with anyone else. So be mine. Please.”
“Your arrogance never fails to amaze me.” “What you mean is confidence, and you love that about me too.”
“What’s wrong?” “I like you so much,” he blurts. “I like everything about you. Is that right? Is it okay to tell you how much I like you or am I supposed to keep it to myself? Tell you once and never talk about it again? Tell you every single day? I don’t know, Ollie; I’m new at this. All I know is I really wanted to tell you, and also, I’m super fucking terrified.”
This intensity that vibrates between us, the magnetism that draws us closer and closer, it’s as confusing as it is addicting. I can’t find a pause button, and it’s daunting. You’re not supposed to fall this quickly.
“You wanna fight, get your self-doubt out, that’s fine. But you’re gonna do it with me, at my house, together.” His searing stare swings my way. “I refuse to let you push me away again.”
we love a man that doesn't let the woman run and hide
But mostly, I hate these tears. I don’t want to be the dark cloud that hangs over her. I want to be the light that glows in the dark and eases all her fears.
“Your tears are not a weakness, so stop trying to hide them. Don’t be sorry for showing me how you feel. Being vulnerable with each other is how we learn to be the best versions of ourselves as partners. When you show me the type of love you need, I learn how to give it to you.”
“My heart chooses you because you’re feisty and fierce. You’re sarcastic and you know how to clap back at me, and I love those bits of confidence. But I love when you show me your sensitive side, too, and I love that you think you hide it so well but actually wear it on your sleeve.”
“You have a big heart, Ollie, and with a big heart comes big emotions. Some of those are fears, insecurities, and that’s okay.”
