In a Jam (Friendship, RI Book 1)

by Kate Canterbary

“This is it, isn’t it?” “What?” “The start of your villain era,” she said. “The ‘no fucks given, ask me if I care, throw out your whole life and start over just because you feel like it’ era.”

together. “You know you’re a real parent when you blame the kid. Wise. I like it.”

If I could exhaust myself enough, distract myself enough, I wouldn’t have to think about all the bruises and broken things.

“There’s a ton of shit I can handle,” she said, “and I’d still love if someone stepped in front of it for me.”

“Here’s what you don’t understand about me: I’m amazing with projects. Give me a project and I’ll make it happen, get it done.

“Bodies are extremely temporary and they’re the least interesting things about us. They carry us around while we’re on this earth and there’s nothing more I can ask from my body than that. I certainly wouldn’t spend any time worrying about the size or shape of anyone else’s body. Not when I could care about their heart and their mind instead.”

“Sweetheart, I don’t have a single clue what you’re trying to do here but I know you need to stop spending all your time wondering what you did wrong when these half-assed people leave you. Stop giving yourself to people who have no hope of ever playing on your level. Stop chasing people who don’t know how to show up for you. It’s a waste of your time and so are they. Let them go. Let the door hit them on the ass on the way out. They’re the ones who fucked up. Not you.”

“And just so you know, I don’t currently possess the interpersonal skills necessary

“Do you want to vent while I listen supportively or do you want me to offer solutions?”

“I thought you said this wasn’t a Hallmark movie.” She lifted her shoulders, let them fall. “It won’t be a Hallmark movie when you bang him. Those things never get past first base. One chaste kiss, end of story.

Looking back now, I had no idea what it was that convinced me sex with the ex was a smart choice but the person before him had always made me feel safe. I could say anything, do anything, and it wouldn’t be wrong. I knew I’d never get my vulnerabilities thrown back in my face and I’d trusted that person. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever trusted the ex that way. I’d wanted to trust him and I think I wanted it just enough to convince myself that I did. I’d convinced myself of so many things. It didn’t seem possible to swallow all those lies and half-truths while telling myself I had everything I’d ever wanted. Aside from

I felt like I’d been waiting a very long time for someone who knew how to shatter me and also wanted to pick up all the pieces.

People drove me fucking crazy but they also humbled the hell out of me.

I just—I guess I want someone who notices me.”

“I don’t want to do it all on my own. I can but—but I don’t want to. And I deserve better than that.”