Second Chances in New Port Stephen Quotes

“We're so old," Nick said, his body shaking with silent laughter.
"Yeah." Eli let out a long breath along Nick's skin. "Isn't it great?"
It was, actually.”
― TJ Alexander, Second Chances in New Port Stephen

“Because love wasn't enough, right? Even though he loved Nick, even though Nick was the funniest person he knew (and he wasn't even trying, the dipshit), even though he would be happy being with Nick until they were wrinkly and old and had no teeth-- none of that changed the fact that if Eli stayed here for a guy, even one as amazing as Nick,, he'd end up miserable and bitter and everything would be ruined anyway. So maybe it was better that he'd ruined it all now.”
― TJ Alexander, Second Chances in New Port Stephen

“I've concluded that I need to stop worrying so much about what the future holds. I want to be happy when I can be." He stepped forward and stopped right in front of Nick, their bare toes mere inches apart in the sand. "Does that-- is that okay?" The wind coming off the water ruffled his hair like he was a goddamn cologne model. Nick was not immune.
He also felt, somewhere in his chest, a kinship with what Eli was saying. Seemed like Nick wasn't the only one doing some soul searching lately. They were finally both on the same page. This could work. This could really, honestly work.”
― TJ Alexander, Second Chances in New Port Stephen

“Nick didn't feel almost forty, sitting here with Eli. He felt like he was eighteen again, sixteen again, ten, seven, and here they were, still having their heaviest, most important conversations with each other. (At eighteen: What do you think we'll be doing when we're older? Sixteen: Can I take you out on a date? Ten: I think it's harder to make someone laugh than it is to make them cry. Seven: If dinosaurs were real, what' stopping them from coming back one day?)”
― TJ Alexander, Second Chances in New Port Stephen

“Eli closed his eyes with a sigh. "Look, early aughts Elijah Wood was trans masc culture. When Lord of the rings-colon-The Fellowship of the Ring came out, it was the first time a short dude with great lashes got to be the hero in something, okay?" He'd been... more than obsessed with the film back in the day. For reasons which only became clear later in life.
"You named yourself after a hobbit," Nick crowed.”
― TJ Alexander, Second Chances in New Port Stephen