More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
“My future doesn’t include you.” I struck the first blow, harder than any heavyweight could handle. “I’ve got a job to do now. I need to concentrate on me, and I can’t do it with you around. You’re too needy, Marnie. You’re clingy and you suffocate me until I can’t breathe.”
oh he’s doing too much
Thick forearms crossed over his chest, almost covering The Lions logo embroidered on the left of his shirt. Huge biceps bulged and strained under the fabric; biceps covered in tattoos. So many tattoos you could barely see his bronzed skin.
I know that’s right
Stars. Even from this distance, I could make out dozens of stars running up and down his heavily muscled arms, all different sizes, before disappearing under the fabric. Stars in between – I squinted – were they planets? Words? Squiggles?
oh I just know those are for her
It’s gonna be my number, Star. Five. I’m the fifth planet. And then he’d kissed me, and I forgot anything after that.
Private: We’re back in the same city, Star. Hope you’ve had a great first day. X
Nope. Not one. And it wasn’t even like I’d sent many – just a daily check in; morning and night. Ten in total.
just ten 😭
Of everything I’d done in my life, Marnie was the only one who could get my nerves spinning like a fastball.
“Right, listen up,” I began quietly. “No one, and I mean no one, is to go near Marnie Matthews. I don’t give a fuck if you are scheduled to see her. I’m canceling all the appointments now.”
“Thanks for the ride, Jupiter.” “You’re welcome.” And because I wanted to see her blush again, I couldn’t help adding, “I didn't know geeks looked like you.” “Like what?” “Hot.”
Jupiter: I’m so fucking happy you’re here, Star.
The Jupiter I’d known with his dimples, winks, and toothy grins was impossible to deny. The Jupiter with the tattoos and arrogance, all man and muscle, was becoming harder to ignore. A combination of the two was deadly. And it was anyone’s guess how much longer I’d be able to hold out.
“I’m saving you as Star. Stars and Stripes has become too much of a mouthful, and I prefer my mouth to be full of other things.”
“Starlight, star bright, you were the first star I saw tonight. Wish I may, wish I might, have this kiss with you tonight.” He smiled, nervously, “I changed the words a little.”
It was official. I had a crush on the boy next door. And he’d just kissed me.
Using the tip of my bat I drew out the letter M. M for Marnie. I might not have known where she was for the past fourteen years, but writing her into the sand by the plate meant I had her with me.
WHAT THAT IS SO AKSKDJDUEU
It gave an inch and the newly formed crack by the handle meant it wouldn’t take much more to knock through. Two more times in fact. I fell into the room to find Marnie looking up at me from the floor, her face filled with horror, and maybe a little fear. I ran to her as quickly as I could.
there is no way he busted a door down to save her im dead
“I don’t give a fuck! The field is the only place I play fair. When it comes to you, all bets are off.”
The wall built around my heart was slowly being knocked down, brick by brick, by the boy who’d put it there in the first place. And that was not something I’d planned for.
I’d quickly take my eyes off the road to glance over at her, and wonder if perhaps I was currently spinning off my axis.
She was waiting for me on the balcony, her smile warming me better than the dying heat of the day’s sun.
I could kiss this girl forever.
I was suddenly desperate to slow down this moment. I wanted to savor it; capture it in a little vial I could wear round my neck or keep in my pocket.
if I was the question, Marnie Matthews was my answer.
“I think I’ve been pushing too hard.” He sat forward, his mouth set in a hard line, though the edges were twitching, like yeah, he could’ve told me that for free.
“Put your clothes back on,” he said, before adding, “you’ve got two hours before we have stretching.” “Two hours for what?” “To find her. She should be in the park. He said she’s using her lunchbreak. Go and find her, break up the date, fix whatever you fucked up. It doesn’t matter, just be back in two hours.”
this is literally a horrible idea
Throwing a wink to Marnie, I sprinted back to the club, newly energized and much happier than I’d been when I left. Threatening people really put a pep in my step.
His smile widened when I giggled; it wrapped around my heart and squeezed. I couldn’t imagine a day I’d ever get enough of it.
“You know how people say stuff is written in the stars? Do you think we are?”
I was a notebook away from drawing hearts around her name while I listened to Adele on repeat and tried to be patient.
if he’s not like this it’s over
She could have been sixteen again, and she’d never been more beautiful.
She was going to know how much I worshiped her; I planned to show her every fucking day.
I fell asleep listening to Marnie nestled into my chest breathing in and out for the first time since I was eighteen years old. And my world righted itself.
I didn’t need to look at the sky if I had him.
“I’m glad you’ve finally found her again, it’s been long enough. Though,” she pinned me with a look, “you haven’t told her why you broke up in the first place.”
bitch you better be joe king
“You’re perfect, Marn. I love you. I’m so sorry about this. I’ll make it up to you later. We’ll watch the stars,” I winked at her, “and then I’ll make you see them.”
The Stars Don’t Look Bigger, But They Sure Look Brighter.
My last thought as exhaustion took me; death must be easier than this.
“Fourteen years, three months, and thirteen days, Marnie. That's how many days I've loved you, and you've been my first and last thought for every single fucking one. So I guess the question is whether you’re going to let me.”
I watched until the doors closed, and for the second time in my life, I left Marnie Matthews on her doorstep, holding my heart while I walked away.
He sprinted toward the dugout, ball still in his hand. I didn’t know he was capable of scaling walls more deftly than a cat, but in a blink, he was on the roof of the dugout, standing in front of me with the ball in his hand. I barely noticed the movement around us, of cellphone cameras coming out as he bent down and leaned forward. “Hello, Marnie Matthews.” I blinked away the emotion in my eyes. “Hey.” He held his hand out. “I caught you a ball.”
Then I got to see the wavy line he drew in the dirt, the way he always did. But for the first time, I realized that it was more than a wavy line… much more than a wavy line. I saw it for what it really was. An M – for Marnie.
It had taken half our lifetimes, but we’d finally found each other again. For good.
She was worth everything.
“I wished for you.” “What?” Her head tipped back, and the bubbles rose up as she moved closer. “What d’you mean?” “I’d never been in love before, but that night… laying there, drinking hot chocolate and eating popcorn… I never wanted it to end, so I wished for you forever. I knew that night I would fall in love with you, that we’d always be together. Even when we broke up, somehow I always knew I’d find you again, that we’d find each other. It wasn’t easy. I’d wake up some nights and miss you so much I could feel my heart cracking again, but all I had to do was look up to the sky, and I knew
...more
She stared down at the ten-carat blue diamond set in a gold band twisted with diamond dust; a hazy, glowy Milky Way of her very own. The Milky Way was where it all began.
ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS I AM THROWING UP
