The Comeback Quotes

“You’re not walking in there on your own two feet. This is our first home. Humor me.”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“Let me down. What if there’s someone out there?” I laugh. “We’ll make an impression on our new neighbours.”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“I love you, Bastian.”
“I love you too, Fab. Forever.”
Every time the words come out of his mouth, he adds the forever. A reminder that he’s mine, and I’m his, and that’s how it’s going to be.”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“He’s not in costume, but he’s got a plastic axe clutched in his left hand and judging by the glare he’s levelled at his friend, he’s wishing it was a real one.”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“Fab.” Suddenly I’m not so sure of myself. “Is it ok if I call you that?”
She drags a breath deep into her lungs and tilts her head up, shining eyes almost a navy blue in the lighting backstage. “Yes, Bastian.”
“Good, because I plan on using that name every day for the rest of our lives. Fab, I’m so sorry. For everything I did back in high school. And for not chasing after you. I should have fought for you. I thought that hockey was the only thing I needed in my life, but I was wrong. All I could think of during the game was you. Up here on stage. I needed to be here with you. That last goal I scored. It was for you. So I could show up for you, like you’ve shown up for me so many times. And from now on, every goal I score is for you. Every win is for you. Every day is for you. I will dedicate every single hour to convincing you I’m never going to leave you again. Never going to hurt you.” Her cheeks are soft under my hands. “If you’ll let me.”
A few stray tears chase each other down her beautiful face. Is she trying to find the words to let me down easy? I lean in to whisper in her ear. “Well?”
“Well, what?”
“Don’t leave me hanging here. I love you.”
“What? Oh.” She laughs through the tears. “I love you too. I think I always have.”
“Thank fuck.”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“There’s a microphone within arm’s reach, so I take a page out of one of my sister’s favorite cheesy romances, snatching it up. “I love you, Abigail McCloud.” My deep voice resonates through the theater and her face flames up.
“Sebastian.” She hisses, swatting at the microphone in my clutches. The noise of the crowd swells, but to me, it’s just the two of us. My stomach flips when she pulls away. “My future boss is here. And you had your tongue in my mouth.”
“Sorry.” I’m not.”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“I told you I wouldn’t let you fall.”
The words wrap around my soul.
But he was wrong.
I did.
I fell.
I fell hard.”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“Yes, you still look amazing. Is there something above Goddess? High Priestess? Mother of Gods? I don’t know my mythology, but whatever top tier is, that’s you right now. Stunning.”
“Laying it on a bit thick, aren’t you?”
“I’m only stating the truth.”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“Listen to epic music and you want to do epic shit.”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“You’re brutal.”
“Not brutal. Honest. So, she left and you…” Her head tilts to the side. “Just let her go. Just like that? You didn’t fight for her?”
“This is real life. It isn’t some cheesy romance movie, Ariana.”
“Obviously not. Future NHL star with up-and-coming songwriter. Best childhood friends turned high school enemies with a second chance at love. But no. You’re a colossal idiot. Not romance movie material at all. You let her go. Wuss move. If you were in a romance movie, you’d chase after her to the airport, or announce your love for her in front of the entire college. You wouldn’t run like a coward with your tail between your legs.”
“She’s not flying anywhere.”
“Totally missing the point, brother. If you don’t go after her, you’ve got zero chance. Personally, I think the odds are low even if you go after her, but a slim chance is better than no chance.” She glances around. “How about I stay another night? Before we have to go back to school on Monday.”
“After that inspiring speech, how could I possibly say no?” I duck to avoid the second swat aimed at me.”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“Pain is the mother of creativity. It helps you grow and expand and make better art. I guess I’ll embrace it and appreciate it for what it is. Inspiration. Bastian is my dark muse.”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“You have no idea the things I’ve learned from those books. Things that keep Jordan very happy if you know what I mean. I can give you a few recommendations if you’d like.”
“Obviously I know what you mean.”
Dude has zero chill anymore.”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“Awwww, Sebastian.” She blushes, steepling her fingers in front of her mouth. “I won’t tell Aspen you were so nice to me. He might start thinking untoward things and your face is so pretty I’d hate for him to break it.”
“Oh, I think he’s going to break my face whether I’m nice to you or not.”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“Seems like he’s changed since high school, but if he’s not willing to fight for you, he’s not worth it. You’re worth fighting for. I’d fight for you. Literally. If you want me to fight him, I will. He might be a big tough hockey bro, but I’ve got a black belt.” She jumps away, punctuating her words with a spin kick.
“Don’t fight him. I’d hate to hurt Lakeview’s chances at a championship. But you’re right, I deserve someone who will fight for me, or at least feed me grapes. Bare minimum.”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“When I offered to help him with extra practice, he got all defensive. Small dick syndrome?” She shrugs. “I dunno. Sometimes I feel like some people can’t stand it when you shine brighter than them, and I’m not going to dim myself for anyone.”
“You’re amazing, and honestly, you deserve to be worshipped. Any guy or girl who is lucky enough to snag you should respect that. I’m talking like fanning you with palm leaves, and hand feeding you grapes kinda deal.”
“You’re right. I do deserve that. Maybe one of those things to carry me around too, or an elephant. Do you think I could get my own elephant to ride around on?”
“Probably cruel to the elephant.”
Her hand flies up to her mouth. “You’re right. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that. I guess I’ll have to settle for a Ferrari. Cherry red. Or one in every color to match my lipsticks.”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“Nothing shatters your grand musical pretensions than your drunk best friend passing out in the middle of the song that tore your soul to shreds to create. I’ll remember this when she’s on her first red carpet.”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“Creating new songs is such a strange experience. Knowing that other people will hear your words. They might interpret them in a completely different way than you originally intended. The melodies might bring them great joy or aching sadness. We all interpret creative works through the lens of our own experiences, so they’re getting a piece of me and blending it with a piece of themselves. It’s beautiful. There’s so much division in the world. I love the thought of two people in different cities, countries, or continents listening to the same song at the same time. There’s magic in that.”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“Was he mean to you? Let me get my bat. Wait, I don’t have a bat.” She dissolves into giggles again.
“And all of humanity breathes a sigh of relief.”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“It’s like we need to capture each other’s taste and feel and imprint it in our memories. It’s like a goodbye. But no. She can’t leave now. Not after that. It’s just my brain messing with me. Convincing me I’m not worthy of her, of this. I’m not, but I’m selfish. I want it. I want her. For keeps.”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“I need her to see the promise in mine. The promise that I’m never going to leave her again. The promise that she’s it for me and I’m never leaving her again.”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“I want to show how sorry I am. I want to worship her and erase every hurt I’ve ever caused her over the years, but her urgent tugs have me on the verge of losing it.”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“She wants the control. Fine, I can give her that. I took it away five years ago, but I can give it back. I’m hers. There’s nothing I won’t do to keep her in my life this time. Keep her in my bed. At my side. Cheering for me at games. Hell, I’ll be the one cheering for her on stage, or playing songs she’s written on repeat.”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“She reclaims her power, stepping into me this time, and the tiniest flicker of hope sparks. “Well, I guess that’s the problem, Sebastian.” She spits out my name, and fuck me, if she doesn’t look as beautiful spitting mad as she does when she’s happy.”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“When I…” my voice is shaky, and hoarse, “when I saw you that day, everything seemed right again. You were my sun too, and it was a long five years without you in my life. I was about to scoop you up, spin you around and never let you go.” I’m avoiding her eyes, but that’s not right. She deserves eye contact. She deserves me to look in her eyes when I tell her how it went down. “Then one of those idiots made a comment about your clothes or hair or something stupid. Something I didn’t care about. You were the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen that day. But their immature high school comment brought me back to earth. I remembered why I avoided you in the first place. Why I wanted to keep you as far away from my fucked-up life and my stepdad as possible, and instinct took over.”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“My smile is tight but there as I grab one of the hard wooden chairs from the kitchen. Not nearly as nice as the black leather office chair in my room but folding my bulk into this thing will be like my penance.”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“Ignore him.” Beau walks in with a smug smirk on his face. “He’s just being an asshole because he hasn’t gotten laid in a while. Blue balls. You know.”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“We were never meant to be then, but will my heart ever be free if I don’t at least give him a chance to explain?”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“I’ve got a few things to say, and I don’t want you running for the hills. Can you listen before you freak out?”
Not ominous at all. “Okaaayyyy.”
“I talked to Sebastian.” His mouth twists as he sort of spits out the name.
“You shouldn’t have.”
His hand flies up to halt my protest. “Yes. I should have. I’m your friend and I kind of wanted to punch that guy in the face, but he’s pretty big, so…” A snicker sneaks out. “Sorry, Abs. Wasn’t willing to risk my pretty face for you. Although maybe a broken nose would give me that extra bad boy edge. I don’t like it any more than you do. I’d love nothing more than for you to punch this guy yourself and move on with your life, but I don’t think you can. Abby, trust me. I know what it’s like to care about someone so deeply you can’t shake them from your system. You need to talk to him and figure out what’s going on. Then you can make the choice. Either ditch him for good or maybe you’ll understand him a little better.”
“He doesn’t deserve my time.” I repeat myself.
“Maybe not, but you deserve it. The closure, or whatever. I still want to punch the guy for being an idiot, but I think he has some genuine reasons for his actions, and I think it’ll help you out to hear them. I can’t stand seeing you so upset.”
“He’s been avoiding me. How do I even know he’ll talk to me?”
He takes a long pause without turning to face me, and the words slip out on a whisper.
“Because I can see it in his eyes, his mouth. Every single feature says he’s fighting his feelings for you.”
“But…”
His eyes meet mine as he cuts off my protest. “He’s the one you never got over, Abby. Don’t waste your chance.”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“What am I going to do? I’m but a mere mortal standing in the way of a cresting tidal wave. I can’t stop the inevitable, so I’m just going with the flow.” The shrug paired with his ‘what can you do?’ look is laughable.
“Uh-huh. You just know she’s going to dress you in your favorite ripped jeans and a tight black t-shirt that shows off your guns, so you don’t care. Who knows how long my neckline is going to be?”
He looks down at the arm he’s bent into a flex. “What, these?”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback

“Well, you know the girls you usually go out with are…” She trails off again and my muscles tense up.
“Not as perfect and gorgeous as you?” She looks up, startled. “You’re beautiful, Fab. You always have been, and you always will be. Inside and out, and I l… love that about you.”
― Nikki Jewell, The Comeback