Better Than Before Quotes

“A laugh I'd recognize anywhere”
― Lynn Painter, Better Than Before

“Her eyebrows furrowed. "What are you doing?"

"What do you mean?"

"Are you being a dick about my hair? Because I know you're not complimenting me."

"Lizzie," I said, pouring on the tease, even though I fucking loved her new hair. It was shorter and cute as hell, but no way could I give her a genuine compliment.

We didn't do that.

So I said, "Your hair is the stuff of cheerleader fantasy. Of main character daydreams. Your hair runs so that young gingers' hair can walk."

She bit down on the inside of her cheek and-holy shit-looked like she wanted to laugh. "Are you high, Wes Bennett?”
― Lynn Painter, Better Than Before

“Wes was looking at her. "You know how I feel about weirdos."

"Yeah, well, I don't share your fondness. This one sent me to the back of the boarding line for cutting."

"No shit?" He started laughing that contagious Wes Bennett cackle and said, "No wonder you're obsessed. There's just something about a girl who hates your guts."

"I'm definitely not obsessed," I corrected him, knowing full well I was still staring at Glasses.”
― Lynn Painter, Better Than Before

“She bit down on the inside of her cheek and-holy shit-looked like she wanted to laugh. "Are you high, Wes Bennett?”
― Lynn Painter, Better Than Before

“Although, as I watched him sleep, it occurred to me that he was way more attractive than I'd originally thought. He was my age-we were both freshmen-so I should've noticed, but his personality had somehow distracted me from the length of his eyelashes, the thickness of his dark hair, the prominence of his Adam's apple, and the way he had the tiniest little dimple in his chin.

He was, objectively speaking, a very cute guy.

"You checking me out, Glasses?"

Gah!

His eyes remained closed as he said, "Swear to God I can hear you holding your breath. Relax and exhale, kid; it's okay to creep on me."

"As if," I growled, irritated that I'd gotten busted, because the last thing on earth I wanted to do was stroke his ego. "I just thought you might be dead."

"Worried?"

"Hopeful.”
― Lynn Painter, Better Than Before

“Y’know, Buxbaum, someday you might see it differently.”
I tilted my head, crossed my arms, and said, “I was talking about you, Wes, not kissing in general.”
His lips slid up into the dirtiest of smirks. “Oh, I know, Elizabeth.”
― Lynn Painter, Better Than Before

“Are you high, Wes Bennett?”

"I'll answer that if you answer this: Were you playing Beyoncé on the piano last night?"

Her green eyes went wide, and her mouth dropped open. "You heard me?"

"The windows were open," I said, shrugging like it was the first time I'd ever heard her, "and I was having a smoke out back. So was it 'Halo'?"

"You smoke?" She was looking at me like I was a puzzle, like she couldn't figure me out.

"No. Was it?"

The crinkle in her forehead grew somehow. "Yes. So ... do you or don't you?"

"Like Beyonce? Fucking love her."

She rolled her eyes. "Why do I even bother trying to have a conversation with you?"

"Because you're fascinated and want to know more."

She snorted.

"Because you find me wildly attractive and need some insight into my soul?"

"Try again."

"Because you want to reconcile the data you've entered into your diary about me with the real-life, actual facts?"

"So you are high.”
― Lynn Painter, Better Than Before

“Why are your cheeks red?"

He was looking at me like I was a silly child, and I kind of wanted to hurt him. "Because I'm sitting in the hot sun, dumbass."

"No need for name-calling when I'm trying to help you."

"How are you trying to help me, exactly?"

"If you're interested in Charlie, I can provide the assist."

"No offense, but I will never-in my entire life-want you anywhere near my love life."

"Never say never."

"Nevernevernevernever and oh, yeah-never."

"You wound me, Buxbaum," he said, putting his hand over his heart.”
― Lynn Painter, Better Than Before

“Because I don’t know if I’d say I’m an expert, but if you ever need any coaching, I’ve got all the tips you’ll ever need. I’m your guy—the guy—for mastering the art of the French kiss.”
― Lynn Painter, Better Than Before

“Every time you jump the fence, it looks like it's going to topple over. Would it kill you to go through the gate?"

"Your dad put a lock on it," I said, "so I can't anymore."

"Oh-five, oh-four, two-one," she said, rolling her eyes. "Just put in the number, use the gate like a civilized human, and maybe don't even talk to me when you retrieve your misdirected sports paraphernalia. Zero contact would be cool."

"But how could I tell you how much I like your new hair if I didn't speak?”
― Lynn Painter, Better Than Before

“She lowered her chin to look at me over her sunglasses. "If I hadn't covered my face in time, I'd probably have a broken nose right now."

"I'd stop the bleeding with the shirt off my back if that happened, Lizzie."

"Yeah, and I'd probably get a bacterial infection from your filthy jersey.

Why don't you just take your little toy and go?"

I really was insane, because I fucking loved going back and forth like this with her.”
― Lynn Painter, Better Than Before

“My bad!" Charlie yelled as he jogged over. "I'll get it."

I held out a hand. "Don't you fucking dare."

"Still with that?" Charlie said, grinning and shaking his head like I was pathetic.

I was pathetic.
"I just enjoy messing with my neighbor, that's all."

"Sure it is."

I ignored him and charged over the fence, easily climbing it and dropping right into the Buxbaums' yard. The tree Liz was parked under was on the other side, bordering the other neighbors' fence, and she was facing
my direction.
The football was in the grass right beside her.”
― Lynn Painter, Better Than Before

“Wes had always been able to see through everything and just know. My thoughts, my reactions—he never missed a blush or a stammer, and he had the ability to catch any tell that my face might expose.”
― Lynn Painter, Better Than Before

“It was like she was stuck between caterpillar and butterfly, and I couldn’t look away.”
― Lynn Painter, Better Than Before