Cross the Line Quotes

“Nate and me... we aren't built for truces, for good times, for light jokes and giggles. We're meant for the shadows. For the dirty, ugly, secret parts of our souls, the parts we can't hide because we know each other too well.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“True friends don’t judge one another. They judge other people. Together.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“You hear my heartbeat?” I nod, cheek rubbing the fabric of his shirt. “It’s beating for you, little bird,” he murmurs, holding me closer. “That can be our music.” “But you can’t hear mine,” I whisper, voice cracking. He pauses. “I can hear it, Phoebe. I hear it in my soul. I set my life by its every beat.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“I used to think it would be cool to read other people’s minds. Then I joined Facebook.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“I want him to bury himself so deep beneath my skin he’ll never find his way out, so he knows exactly how it feels to have someone so enmeshed in your soul, it’s impossible to remove them without tearing yourself in two.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“Let’s be honest: in ten years, the man-bun of the 2010s will be equivalent to the rat-tail of the 1980s.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“I spent a long time trying to convince myself you were better off without me. That keeping away from you was the best way to keep you safe. But I can’t do it anymore. I won’t. See, you and I mated for life about a million years ago, little bird. Without you, there’s no music. No love. No life.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“Because love, real love, the kind that lasts forever… it’s not patient or kind. Not pretty or perfect. It’s rough and hard as all hell. It’s ugly.” He steps closer, eyes never shifting from mine. “Love is holding someone’s filthy, tarnished heart in your hands and claiming it as yours anyway.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“Loving someone isn’t about wanting them to evolve into someone better. My mom taught me that.
Real love is saying: here, take my still-beating heart and hold it in your hands and please, please, please, promise not to squeeze too tight or drop it on the pavement. Love is being naked and afraid, but refusing to flinch.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“you either die alone, surrounded by the ghosts of all the people who ever let you down, or you live a life full of flawed people whose imperfections you’ve made a choice to overlook.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“you either die alone, surrounded by the ghosts of all the people who ever let you down, or you live a life full of flawed people whose imperfections you’ve made a choice to overlook. I don’t know about you but if given the choice, I’ll pick the imperfections every time.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“Frankly, this whole pining-from-afar, I-hate-your-guts-but-I’d-like-to-ride-your-face thing you’ve got going is not working for you.”
“That was… visual.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“Are you going to kiss me?” I ask quietly.
He pauses. “Thinking about it.”
I gulp and hope it’s not too obvious. I’m thinking about it too. And about earlier, in his bed, and the fact that there’s no one to interrupt us this time.
“Are you weighing the pros and cons?” I ask, leaning into his touch.
“Only cons here, West.” He shakes his head. “You and me… we’re a story that won’t have a happy ending. A tragedy. Nothing good comes from a tragedy.”
“Well, maybe…” I grit my teeth so I don’t say something I’ll regret, and take a steadying breath. “Maybe I’d rather live in the wreckage with you for while than fake a fairy tale with someone else forever.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“I only cut carbs when I’m using a pizza cutter.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“I’ve had hundreds of boyfriends. So what if they’re fictional? Don’t you dare judge our love.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“I loved my mother. It took me a long time to forgive her for leaving us. It took me an even longer time to forgive my father for his part in making her leave. But I did, because when it comes down to it… you either die alone, surrounded by the ghosts of all the people who ever let you down, or you live a life full of flawed people whose imperfections you’ve made a choice to overlook. I don’t know about you but if given the choice, I’ll pick the imperfections every time. I choose understanding over resentment, love over hate, forgiveness over loneliness.' I look at Parker. 'Some of us are still working on the forgiveness part.'
His eyes are still red, but his lips tug up in a half smile.
I take a deep breath. 'You don’t get to pick your family. You don’t get to choose the people who work their way into your heart and build a home there.' My eyes move to Nate. 'And life is too damn short not to spend it with the people who matter. Not to say I love you when you still can. Not to hold each other close and admit, out loud, You matter to me. My life wouldn’t be the same without you.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“The only time the ghosts disappear from his eyes is when he’s looking at you.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“I’m a classy bitch who happens to enjoy cursing and kid’s flicks.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“The wildest stallions are the most fun to break.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“Some people brag about one night stands. Whatever. I’ve got two night stands. Either side of my bed.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“They say New York is the city that never sleeps. Boston, on the other hand, is the city that gets drunk in the middle of the day at a Patriots pre-game party and passes out by seven.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“It’s then that I scream. Loudly. A real, honest-to-god, banshee-like wail. I mean, I didn’t even know my voice could hit an octave that high.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“It’s been written in my stars since I was five years old with a crush on the older, off-limits boy next door.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“because when it comes down to it… you either die alone, surrounded by the ghosts of all the people who ever let you down, or you live a life full of flawed people whose imperfections you’ve made a choice to overlook. I don’t know about you but if given the choice, I’ll pick the imperfections every time. I choose understanding over resentment, love over hate, forgiveness over loneliness.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“Don’t say shit like that. Get it out of your head. You’re not going anywhere. You’re not fucking dying on me.” He shakes me gently, as if he might force some sense into me. “I won’t let you.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“But loving someone isn’t about wanting them to evolve into someone better. My mom taught me that. Real love is saying: here, take my still-beating heart and hold it in your hands and please, please, please, promise not to squeeze too tight or drop it on the pavement. Love is being naked and afraid, but refusing to flinch. It’s not asking that person to change; it’s trusting them enough not to. And it’s not even about needing them to love you back equally; it’s just about loving them for who they are.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“We’re worth everything”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“I know I’m no good for you, that I should push you away, that I have no right to ask for a damn thing from you.” He pauses, the silence humming with unspoken words. “But I can’t help myself from wanting you anyway.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“What do you want from me, little girl? Because I’m almost certain I can’t give it to you.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line

“People say God only gives us as much as we can handle. I say, his holiness thought spiders were a good idea. Point me toward a different authority.”
― Julie Johnson, Cross the Line