My Return to the Walter Boys Quotes

“You should go to the dance,” he said, his voice low and gravelly. The sound made my stomach flip. “I don’t have someone to go with.” Eyes flashing, he stepped into my personal space and grasped my upper arm, but his grip was gentle. “That’s bullshit, and you know it.” Goose bumps swept across my skin, emanating from his touch. “Is that… I mean, are you asking me?” “That depends,” he said carefully. “Are you saying yes?” We were standing so close, I could feel the warmth of his breath on my face. “I—yeah,” I whispered. “I think I am.” “Then I’ll be your someone, Jackie.”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“Jackie, we might not have the same last name, but you should know by now you’re one of us.”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“Stop worrying about grieving wrong. It’s not something you can mess up,” he said, gently knocking his knee against mine. “Healing isn’t a linear process. Some days will be better than others.”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“Trick-or-treating must have been successful, because when I stepped into the kitchen, my attention was immediately drawn to the den where the youngest Walters were gathered, costumes still on, candy hauls dumped on the floor in front of them, and Hocus Pocus playing softly in the background. A fierce negotiation was taking place between Parker and Jack, but eventually she pushed five Almond Joys over to him and he handed her a Tootsie Pop in return. It was almost ten o’clock, so I was more than a little shocked to find them still up but recognized an excessive amount of sugar was probably the culprit when Benny let out a high-pitched scream and tackled his twin to the floor.”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“Why?” he asked. “I know we haven’t known each other long, but you’re family now, Jackie. You could break Cole’s heart, and I’d still answer every one of your calls. Day or night, I swear. Even if I knew you needed help disposing of a body or something nefarious like that.”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“But home was also where your family was, and the Walters were here. That made Colorado my home now too.”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“Because even though you’re mad at me, I still make your heart race.”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“I’ll be your someone, Jackie.”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“He smirked at this. “You think I’m pretty?” I rolled my eyes. “You think you’re pretty.” “I think you’re pretty.”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“That’s what made grief so difficult to overcome; no matter how much effort you put in to moving on, it was always lurking below the surface, ready to pop up at any moment and leave you reeling.”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“I’m pretty sure Alex was yours long before I met him, but he was just too dumb to realize it.”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“I could help you.” He launched himself off the bed, took my hands in his, and kneeled at my feet. “On the days that are hard. I want to help, Jackie. You just need to let me.”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“It’s just…you’re like Cinderella—always running away from me.”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“ship names”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“golden boy,”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“Jesus, you’re ridiculous,” Isaac muttered, then reached across the table and, to my utter surprise, took my hand in his. It was the sort of comforting gesture I never would have expected from him. “Jackie, we might not have the same last name, but you should know by now you’re one of us.”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“By the way, if you’re looking for a replacement boyfriend, I can submit my mug shot as part of my résumé,” he added. “I hear moody delinquent bad boys are all the rage.”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“With his knee?” Alex scoffed, clearly missing the memo about Nathan’s attempt to lighten the mood. “Yeah, right.” “You’re all wrong,” Parker said. “Obviously, he’s moving to Las Vegas to become an Elvis impersonator.” “Hey!” Cole clapped once to get everyone’s attention. “Are you guys done?”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“Cole Anthony Walter.”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“Oh, benevolent goddess—”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“The girls were arguing over potential team names when Cole and I slid into the two remaining spots. Heather liked Roonil Quizlib and Neville Wears Prada, but Kim was adamant about Anything for Our Moony. All the while, Riley kept throwing out inappropriate ideas that had Alex and Skylar in stitches—Dumbledeez Nuts and We’re Dead Sirius to name a few—but the other two didn’t bother acknowledging her.”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“Without it, I would have been way overdressed, considering most of the crowd was wearing camo, flannel, and Carhartt.”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“I’m mean, remember?”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“Goddess, you wound me! Is my chivalry only worthy of poisoned words? A mortal dagger disguised as a compliment?”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“How could I stay away when my name’s on your back?” he asked, reaching over and tugging at the collar of the crewneck he’d lent to me.”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“I can keep you warm.” Cole’s voice was barely a whisper in my ear, but it was enough to make me jump. Heart racing, I turned to face him with a half-hearted glare. “You should ask Isaac what happens to people who startle me, Cole. Next time, my instincts might kick in, and I won’t be held responsible for any damage done to your pretty face.” He smirked at this. “You think I’m pretty?” I rolled my eyes. “You think you’re pretty.” “I think you’re pretty.”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“Why are you sitting in the dark?” he asked, face scrunched into a scowl. “That’s creepy as hell.”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“It’s not a block party unless your mouth is stained blue from a blue raspberry snow cone,” he told me. “I’d rather have cherry,” I said to be contrary. Truthfully, I’d be happy with either flavor. Cole groaned as we joined the end of the line. “That’s so boring.” “It’s a classic.” “Yeah, classically boring.” “Blue raspberry isn’t even a real fruit,” I pointed out. “None of this is real fruit,” he said. “It’s syrup. Why don’t you just admit you’re too chicken to walk around with a blue mouth for the rest of the night?”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“Oh, this is fire.” When he caught my gaze in the mirror, he waggled his brows and added, “You picked it because I’m hot, right?” “I was aiming for badass, but after that joke, I regret not choosing the clown face.” A little boy at the front of the line gasped. He tugged on the wrist of the woman standing beside him. “Mooom! She used a bad word,” he said, pointing straight at me. His mother eyed me with disapproval. Between her and the grumpy artist, I figured it was time to go.”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys

“Danny, the traitor. “No one calls me that.” “Yeah, but everybody else uses Jackie.” He stepped forward, his gaze dropping to my mother’s necklace. Without a word, he lifted the pendant with deft fingers and briefly inspected it before letting the flower settle back against my breastbone. When his eyes found mine again, he hit me with another smile. “I wanna be special.” A big part of me wanted to tell him he already was special, almost everyone thought so, but that was too embarrassing of a confession to make. I opted to change the subject instead. “How was your summer?”
― Ali Novak, My Return to the Walter Boys