More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
“Uh-huh.” I fold my arms and pop out my hip. “Okay, Dad.” With a smirk, he tucks his hands into his front pockets and rocks back on his heels. “You can call me daddy anytime.”
😏😏 ok!
“Yeah. My dad’s being a dumbass.” She rolls her eyes while I flinch at the harshness in her voice. “By the way, this is my mom, Summer, and my sister, Miley. You okay if I put them in your section?”
Ok you are irritating me! How would you know he’s being anything when you aren't talking to him! Also awkward 🤣!
“Honey, your father and I sheltered you from a lot of things,” Summer continues, “but now you’re getting older, and I’m not going to keep you in the dark. Clearly, the man needs therapy if he’s dating a girl half his age.” Her nose wrinkles, and she looks around the restaurant like she wants to keep the conversation private despite me standing two feet away from her. “Can you imagine? Like, what is your father thinking? He has two daughters who are probably close to her age. It’s sickening.”
Ugh I hate her! And she’s hardly half his age, come on now!
His lips pull into a frown, and he drops his voice low. “What’d I do wrong, Kate?” Wrong? He thinks he did something wrong? He has to be joking.
Aww! Nothing! You are perfect! The women in your life are not! Your ex and kids are bitches! And you are acting weird kate what do you expect him to think! 🙄
As soon as she discarded me, she decided I wasn’t worth her time, and therefore, I’m not worth anyone’s time. Not even my own daughters’ time.” He lets go of my chin and grabs my hand not holding my latte, squeezing it softly and bringing it to his lips. “I am begging you not to let her make the decision for us too.”
😢😢
“Like I said, Kate, I like you. I like baking cookies with you and watching you study. I liked kissing you, and I liked…”
😍😍
“What else did you like, Mack?” I whisper. “I liked how I didn’t feel lonely anymore. Even when I was with Summer, I still felt alone. But with you?” A soft smile tugs at the corner of his lips. “It’s different. It’s more.” “It’s more for me too,” I breathe out.
💕😭
“You think I’ll break up with you if you have a seizure?” he demands, his amusement dissipating.
Seriously woman most normal men would not break up with you because of a seizure!
“To be fair, I started reading romance books when Miley posted the cover of a book on her Instagram. I bought it hoping we could discuss it.” He read a romance book in hopes of connecting with his daughter? Swoon.
Awww he’s the best!
“Yeah. It’s literally a roadmap written by women, explaining exactly what a girl wants in her perfect guy.”
That’s what I’m saying!
Blowing softly on her hot mug of coffee, Mia murmurs, “If you don’t marry him, I will.” Blake snorts. “Yeah, I’m totally calling Theo to remind him how he’s starting to look like the lesser Taylor and needs to up his game. Because that?” Blake’s mouth makes a tiny circle as she whistles. “Is the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”
😍😍
“Dr. Buchanan will see you now,” she announces.
Reminds me of fifty shades 🤣🤣
“You’re playing a dangerous game, baby,” he warns.
The baby gets me every time!
She tries to sneak out the front door, but I grab her arm, keeping her in place. “Not gonna break you, Kate. Not after all the work it took to put you back together again.” Her laugh eases the knot in my chest as she peeks up at me. “Promise?” “Yeah.”
😭💕
“A girl who looked a shit-ton like Hazel just ran out of here, man,” Rowdy warns. His cowboy hat is pulled low, but it doesn’t stop me from noticing his eyes darting toward the exit. “Figured you’d wanna know.” My brows furrow. “Hazel? M-my Hazel?” Rowdy nods. “Crap,” Kate mutters, looking shy and nervous as shit, twisting her hands in front of her as she stares at the exit.
Omg this bitch 🙄
“Still,” Kate argues. “It had to have brought up some mixed emotions. Especially after the gossip train from your ex and how she made you sound to Hazel and Miley from the last time we were seen together. It’s probably confusing.”
Pffft!
“Well, if you didn’t, you do now. You should steal one of my hoodies.”
The best part when you first start dating a guy!
“What relationship?” I push. “Because all I’ve seen is him reaching out to you. Wanting to connect with you. To get to know you again. And yet he’s never gotten anything in return.”
This! Would love to know what he actually did!
“Why? So he can tell me how great it is to date someone his daughter’s age?”
Shes 25 🙄. It’s 9 years!
“I’m not your age,” I point out. “I’m twenty-five, Hazel. And yeah, a nine-year age gap isn’t exactly tiny, but I care about him––”
Exactly!
“Fine. Tell him it’s over. Leave my dad alone, and I’ll give him a chance to be my father again. I’ll talk to him. Call him. Even take him out to Sunday brunch if it will get you away from him.”
Seriously. I hate her!
And I guarantee Miley will say the same thing when she finds out about our father’s new whore.”
Omg that’s no ok!
Because he knows I make a good point. He knows Hazel is far from innocent in this entire situation. But he also knows it doesn’t matter whether or not she’s innocent because he’s her father. And dads? They’re supposed to be there for their kids and do anything for them––no matter what.
😭😭💔
“Mack, if she wanted a relationship with you, she would’ve been cultivating it before she found out about us. Right?” “Yeah, but…” His voice trails off, leaving a crack in my chest the size of the Grand Canyon. But. He said but. “She’s my daughter,” he argues, looking more broken than I’ve ever witnessed. “I’m her father. I’d do anything for her. I have to be willing to do anything for her.”
Yes! But she can’t just manipulate this whole situation!
“Maybe we can keep this under the radar for a bit. Only for a little while. Until I can talk to her. Until she can see I’m not the guy her mother painted me to be. We’ll keep our relationship under wraps for a little while. It’ll be fine.”
Ummm no!
“But we met, and you showed me I’m worth it. I’m worth the effort. I’m worth the inconveniences. You put me back together, Mack.” My voice cracks on a sob, and I wipe at my tears. “You put me back together, and yet, here I am, asking you––begging you––to pick me. Even when it’s inconvenient. Even when it isn’t fair. Because I’m worth it. Because you love me. Because I’m not broken. And I know it isn’t fair,” I repeat. “But this isn’t on me. It’s on Hazel. She shouldn’t have the power to decide who you do or don’t date. She’s a fucking adult, Macklin. An adult who’s still listening to her
...more
😭💔
“I’m not asking you to choose,” I continue. “I’m asking you to stand up to her. To stand up to your ex, who we both know is pulling the strings. I’m asking you to set boundaries and stand up for what you want. Because I know you want me. I know you could maybe even love me one day. And do you want to know how I know it, Mack?”
“Because you’ve shown me I’m lovable. And I know you love your daughters, and I know you deserve to have a relationship with them. I want you to have a relationship with them, Mack. More than anything, I do, but this isn’t fair. You can’t let them control you. You can’t.”
“You’re killing me, Kate.” He watches the tears fall down my face, but he doesn’t reach out and wipe them away. He doesn’t tell me everything’s going to be okay. He simply watches me. My pain. My fears.
😭😭
“I don’t want to choose,” he grits out. “You can’t ask me to choose.” “They’re the ones asking you to choose!” I yell. The last of my restraint finally snaps as I wave my hand through the air. “I don’t want you to pick. You shouldn’t have to pick.” “But I do!” he returns. “They’ve left me no choice!”
😭😭
“There’s always a choice, Mack. Stand up for yourself. Stand up for me. Don’t let them push you around. Set boundaries. Tell them you love me. You’re an adult, Mack. You’re allowed to be happy. You’re allowed to have a relationship with your daughters and your girlfriend. What they’re doing? It isn’t fair.” “You think I don’t know how unfair this is?” he snaps. “You think I’m not dying inside at the idea of losing you?”
😭💔
“But it shouldn’t be at your expense, and it sure as hell shouldn’t be at mine.” I drop my hand and release a slow, shuddered breath. “Let me know what you decide. I’ll respect your decision, whatever it is. I promise.” “Wait.” He grabs my wrist, holding me in place. “I’m not going to hide our relationship.” I gently tug myself from his grasp. “I deserve more than that. And so do you.”
Fair!
“Yeah, you scared me,” he adds. “Because loving you is scary. You have the power to break me, Kate.” “Can we talk about this later? Please? When my brain doesn’t feel like it was put through a blender? When I don’t have to worry if you're only telling me these things because of…” I gulp and close my eyes, attempting to focus. “Because of what you saw.” “I’m not––” “Please,” I beg. “Please stop. Please…wait. Please.” He stays quiet. Doesn’t argue. Doesn’t drive his point home. He just watches me. Rubbing his thumb back and forth against the back of my hand, the rhythmic touch soothing. “Okay,
...more
I mean she’s not prickly, she just doesn’t want you declaring your live now. You could have done it before, when you were fighting.
“Okay. Eleven it is. Love you, Haze.” “You too.”
Awww! But still his daughter annoys me.
With her gaze glued to her lap, Hazel mutters, “And I guess it rubbed off on me.” She gulps and looks up at me again. “Does she hate me?” “Kate?” I question. Hazel nods. “I’m sure she doesn’t.” “Did I ruin everything between you two?” she questions me. “Not at all, Haze.” “Are you lying to make me feel better?”
I mean I’d probably hate you 🤷🏻♀️
Come on, my prickly porcupine. Please don’t shut me out.
😭😭
Please let me come see you. Let me hold you. I can bring you back to my place, and we can make another fort. Please? Don’t you dare make me say the “L” word via text, my prickly porcupine. Because I’ll do it.
This guy 💕💕
“You think this is about you, Kate? You’re fucking perfect, and you would be with or without me. I’m the mess when we aren’t together,” he argues. “Not you.”
😭💕
“Don’t you get it, Kate?” Mack whispers. “You’re worth the risk. Worth the fear. Because every single day I get to spend in your presence is a day worth having. Before you, I was lost. Lost in monotony. Lost in my job. And the gym. And the cabin.” “You like all those things,” I point out. “Yeah. But I like them better when I’m with you. I like me better when I’m with you.”
💕💕
“Yeah, Kate.” He smiles, running his thumb against my cheek and dragging his fingers further up to where my stitches are. His concern makes my breath hitch as he examines the damage and meets my eyes again. “I love you. All of you.”
😍😍
“I told you I brought you a present.” He shifts on the mattress and pulls something from his back pocket, handing it to me. “What’s this?” My eyes bounce around the little index card. One cup of salted butter, softened. One cup of white sugar. One cup of light brown sugar, packed. Two teaspoons of vanilla extract. The list goes on and on. I look up at Mack and shake my head, confused. “Is this…” My lips part, but my voice is lost as I scan the list of ingredients again. It can’t be. There’s no way. “It’s Mama Taylor’s recipe,” Macklin tells me. His chest swells with pride. “But you said––” “It
...more
Awww that’s true love 😍🤣
A shiny, white Jeep Grand Cherokee is parked on the right-hand side, and Kate stares at it carefully. “Mack?” “One of the best four-wheel drive vehicles on the market. It’s yours.”
Uh yes please!
