Truly Madly Deeply Quotes

“always remember what I told you: the darkness envies the moon because it helps it shine. Don’t let people tell you you are anything less than perfect. Love you more than a flower loves the sun, —Dad.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“You’re not broken, Dot.” He stuck the cigarette in his mouth, patting my thigh offhandedly. “A little cut, sure. All diamonds are.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“It’s killing me that we could’ve been there for each other, but we weren’t. That we could’ve healed each other, but instead, we just cracked deeper and harder. Most of all, it’s fucking killing me that I only feel alive when you’re around.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“oBITCHuary: So…

oBITCHuary: I went back and read through our chats. I totally admitted to you that I’m attracted to my shitty boss, didn’t I?

McMonster: Yup.

oBITCHuary: Enjoying the ego stroke?

McMonster: I’d enjoy it more if you aim south. And, you know, use your tongue.

oBITCHuary: I’m never going to be able to look you in the eye.

McMonster: May I suggest other organs that will welcome your attention, then?

oBITCHuary: I’m so terrified I’m going to yield to temptation.

McMonster: Don’t worry, I’m sure I’ll fuck it up before we get to it.

oBITCHuary: WHY are you even interested? You could have any woman in the world.

McMonster: And you’re that woman. Where’s the mystery?

oBITCHuary: I’m completely normal.

McMonster: Respectfully, Cal, you’re not.

oBITCHuary: LOL. I meant average.

McMonster: You’re not that either.

oBITCHuary: What am I, then?

McMonster: If I have a say about it? Mine.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“Your broken is still the most whole thing I’ve seen.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“Maybe because I notice every fucking thing about you?” I blinked. One, two, five hundred times. He did? Row tilted his head upward, letting the rain pound on his face, a dark, humorless chuckle escaping him. “Fine. Want the truth? Here’s the truth: No, I didn’t ‘have feelings’ for you.” He air-quoted the words with a sneer. “I was in love with you. Honest to fucking God, full-blown, snatch-my-heart-out-and-let-you-use-it-as-a-stress-ball in love with you.” He looked disgusted with himself for uttering each word. “And you didn’t give half a shit about me.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“the darkness envies the moon because it helps it shine.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“I want you to remember that every time you doubt yourself. That there’s a guy out there in the world who worships the ground you walk upon. That you marked him so thoroughly, he’ll never forget you.” I grabbed her hand and laced our fingers together. We both looked down, and she noticed the new tattoo on my inner forearm. Of a perfect, round dot. She closed her eyes, fighting tears.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“Fine. Want the truth? Here’s the truth: no, I didn’t ‘have feelings’ for you.” He air quoted the words with a sneer. “I was in love with you. Honest to fucking God, full-blown, snatch-my-heart-out-and-let-you-use-it-as-a-stress-ball in love with you.” He looked disgusted with himself for uttering each word. “And you didn’t give half a shit about me.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“Your broken is still the most whole thing I’ve seen.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“He looked like fan art of a fantasy villain.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“It was that last tattoo that gave me pause, though. Of an anatomic heart with flowers spurting out of it. I remembered him telling me I reminded him of such a thing. And now I understood why. Because the flowers spurting from the heart weren’t just any flowers. They were callas.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“Calm down, girlie.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“A broccoli-haired trust fund baby who makes experimental techno music to take your V-card.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“I had this man’s salami stuck in my canal.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“Ambrose”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“You can’t even hide your birth control from Mom.” Row rolled his eyes. “You’re on birth control?” I gasped. “You never told me that.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“Fuck, Dot. Your goddamn existence turns me on. Your mere breathing makes my balls tingle.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“Your safe word is bumfuzzle,”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“You let your past dictate your present. Which is why you have no future.” I reached to open the door for her. “Word to the wise—fight your own demons before helping other people slay theirs. Goodbye, Dot.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“the darkness envies the moon because it helps it shine. Don’t let people tell you you are anything less than perfect.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“I won, didn’t I?” I winked.

“The Christmas gift competition? But, Dot, you’re my biggest win.”

He kissed me long and deep, in a way every girl deserved to be kissed. Many times. By the boy she loved.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“As a chef, my future wife ticked all the boxes.

She tasted delicious, just the right balance between sweet and biting.

Most important of all…

She tasted like forever.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“Dot, I would kiss you right now if I didn’t know your favorite lip gloss shade is my brother’s spunk.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“Is that the only reason you’re helping me?”

“Isn’t it enough?”

“It is. I’m just wondering if there’s something else.”

“No,” he harrumphed. “Wait, yes. Now I remember—I also want to fuck you again.”

I tripped over my own feet, about to dive into the ground. He caught me by the hem of my shirt, jerking me upright.

I’ll always catch you. When have I ever let you take the hit for something, Dot?

“You did not just say that.” I slapped branches out of my way as I regained my balance.

“Did too. Fair warning—I want much more than fucking this time around. I want dates. I want laughs. I want you to be honest with me. All the stuff that freaks you out for some reason. No strings attached. No commitment. Just fun. A perfect do-over.”

“Why do you need a do-over?”

“So my last memory of us won’t be you almost vomiting because we had sex.”

“I almost vomited because your sister caught us!” I shrieked. “Which is exactly why this won’t happen again. You’re high if you think I’m betraying her trust a second time around.”

“Thought you’d say that. I have great news for you.”

“What?”

“She no longer gives a fuck.”

“That’s not tru—”

“It is. Ask her yourself.”

The confidence with which he’d said that made my heart twist like Play-Doh. What had changed between then and now? Why was she okay with us hooking up all of a sudden?

“Why wouldn’t she care?” I asked in a panic.

“Because it no longer matters.”

“How c—”

“Come on, Bitchy. Put two and two together.”

Bitchy.

He’d called me Bitchy.

The rain intensified, knocking on our faces. I skidded to an abrupt stop. A wave of memories crashed into me all at once, nearly knocking me down on my ass. Everything became crystal clear in one swift moment.

Row defending me when Dylan caught us having sex.

Row teaching me how to slow dance in his room before my very first prom because I knew I would be too terrified to ever dance with anyone else and didn’t want to miss out.

Row and I sitting on the hood of his car, in front of an endless ocean, the moon, and the stars. Me saying, “Isn’t it beautiful?” and him answering, “Yes, you are.”

Row being essentially in love with me.

I couldn’t even touch the other revelation right now. It was too much to process.

Bitchy. Bitchy. Bitchy.

McMonster. Selfless, sweet McMonster. Who seemed to know me inside out. Who could read me like an open book. Could it be?
But it couldn’t be.

No. It couldn't.

Not him.

not the shinest boy in Staindrop.

"No more running." I planted my feet on the pavement, clutching my knees, panting. Tears prickled the back of my eyeballs. Row looked on high alert. Neither of us seemed ready to acknowledge the fact that he was McMonster and I was Bitchy.

For the first time since I'd known him, he looked like a boy. Not a heartthrob, not a world-famous chef, not a formidable boss-- just a boy.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“wasn’t hoping to bump into Prince Charming. With my luck, I was more likely to bump into Ted Bundy.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“Every girl needed a Row Casablancas to make her feel seen.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“And always remember what I told you: the darkness envies the moon because it helps it shine. Don’t let people tell you you are anything less than perfect.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“Dude made the Grinch look like Phoebe Buffay.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“I kicked my jeans off eagerly, my heel colliding with his cheekbone in the process. “Oops!” “Baby, you can stomp all over my face and I’ll say thank you.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply