Dating-ish Quotes

“It’s seductive, to live in a virtual space, especially when the real world isn’t what you want it to be.”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“Life is a struggle for relevancy.”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“You’re wicked smart. And cool. And drama free, which is a huge deal. Drama free is at the top of my list these days. You can be intimidating.”
“Me? But I’m a Hufflepuff.”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“Maybe the answer is: Don’t be an asshole, think before you open your trap, take responsibility for your words. Meaning, apologize when you’re wrong and correct yourself moving forward—and don’t constantly look for reasons to be offended and police well-meaning people’s words. We want folks to talk to each other, right? Not just hang out with like-minded people all the time. Everyone is ignorant about something, and everyone is offended by something. If people can’t have a calm, respectful dialogue without being hurt by ignorance, or without offending with insensitivity, then what the hell are we supposed to do? Surround ourselves with robots who don’t challenge our ideas?”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“Only you get to decide how you stand, what you stand for, and when you do it.”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“I know it hurts, honey.” Mom flipped off the gas stove and wiped her hands on her apron, turning to face me fully. “And it’s okay to hurt. Hurting is just as much a part of life as joy, maybe even more important. Falling down teaches you how to stand up.”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“But when Marie laughed, when her mouth curved in a perfect arch, when her eyes became the combined colors of hydrogen on the visible light spectrum, when the manifestation of happiness as perfect music passed her lips, then time stopped.”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“I’m gonna give you some unsolicited advice, okay?” Dan peered at me, as though making sure I knew to take his words seriously. “But it’s good advice, even though I’m tired as hell, so it might not make much sense.”
“Sure. Go for it.” Even in my muddled state, I couldn’t help but smile at my friend.
“You like that guy, you tell him flat out. You just lay what you want and everything out there. Don’t waste time not saying things that need to be said. He’ll always be in your mind, wrecking the possibility of things with other people, because your heart can’t move on until it knows for sure a door is closed.”
I managed a reassuring smile. “Thanks for the ad—”
“But then, if the door opens, make sure it’s the right door, not a different door. Because then you’ll be in the room, but it’s not the right room. And then you’re stuck in the room, you’ve committed to the room, and you’d be an asshole for trying a new door in the same house when you’re already in a room. And then your fucking heart won’t stop looking for a window.”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“Just because I’m a reporter doesn’t mean I don’t get to have an opinion about people.”
“And your opinion of me is?”
“Very low.”
His eyes narrowed infinitesimally. “Is it my hair?”
I flinched back, automatically checking out his hair. “No. There’s nothing wrong with your hair.”
“You don’t like Star Wars?” He gestured to his shirt. “You’re a Trekkie? You should know, I’m an equal opportunity space drama aficionado, whether it be BattleSTAR Galactica, STAR Trek, or STAR—”
“I get it, you like science fiction.”
“Ah ha!” He lifted his index finger between us.
“Ah ha, what?”
“You’re a fantasy reader, aren’t you? That’s what’s going on. What’s your favorite TV show? Buffy the Vampire Slayer, right?”
I lifted an eyebrow and crossed my arms, disliking that he’d guessed correctly. “What I read and watch isn’t the central issue.”
“Have you received your Hogwarts letter?” he asked, and his tone was so serious, I almost mistook it for a real question”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“Standing in front of the kitchen sink, Sandra was shaking her head, her eyes unfocused. “Okay. I’m so confused. About so many things. First of all,” she pointed at me, “I need the whole story. When did this happen? I didn’t even know you liked him. And secondly,” she turned to Greg, “what is the deal with you guys and the efficiency of your man-gossip phone tree?”
Greg gave her a droll look. “Don’t be a hater, Sandra. You ladies need to learn how to communicate more effectively.”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“So the man told you the truth, and now you’re surprised to discover he didn’t lie.”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“Greg cut in thoughtfully, “Not to play devil’s advocate—”
At this, we all scoffed. All of us. Even Quinn. Synchronized eye-rolling.
Greg clutched his chest and turned an offended look on his wife. “Et tu, Fiona? Et. Tu.”
“Please.” Fiona gave her husband a dry look. “You have an honorary degree in advocacy for the devil from Harvard.”
“And you passed the bar in the sixth circle of hell.” Matt grinned.
“Just get on with it,” Quinn mumbled under his breath,”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“What?” I whispered, suspicious, still fighting my flare of hormones. Or, more precisely, whoremones. That’s”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“How are we supposed to teach our children compassion if we remove all inconveniences from the world around them?” “But”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“Forget men and romance. The answer to my aching loneliness would be all the cats.”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“Marie, you are the sine to my cosine.”
My eyelashes fluttered and so did my heart, but I managed to tease, “Are you saying we’ll never be on the same wavelength?”
He moved his head to the side as though considering my words. “More like, we complement each other. In basic trigonometry terms, cosine is the sine of the complementary or co-angle.”
“I took trigonometry in high school. All I remember is pi r squared.”
“I would argue that pie are round, but whatever gives you a right angle.” He shrugged.
I laughed, even though the joke was painfully punny, and my hopes took his words as permission to start the countdown clock on their evil little space rocket.”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“He wasn’t a robot needing reprogramming; he was a person. He was ultimately responsible for fixing himself, and only if he wanted to.”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“I’ve come to understand clothes matter to most people because society decrees how a person is ‘packaged’ reflects the internal values, abilities, and personality of that person. This packaging is often called ‘personal expression.’ Since deciphering this, I’ve resented the concept of personal expression”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“Hurting is just as much a part of life as joy, maybe even more important. Falling down teaches you how to stand up.”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink the water that will allow it to enter into a happy, fulfilling relationship. Maybe the horse likes being dehydrated. Or maybe you weren’t that horse’s type.
Step back from the stupid dehydrated horse . . .”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“What if people start mistreating their robots? Purposefully?”
“Mistreating a robot?” Matt echoed, as though I’d spoken a different language, and then a sly grin spread over his features. “You mean like, pushing its buttons? Get it?”
I had a hard time fighting my smile at his goofiness. “No. I mean—”
“Or playing something other than its favorite music, which everyone knows is heavy metal.”
I groaned, laughing and shaking my head. “Oh wow. That was impressive.”
“Thank you, thank you.” As he examined my face, his smile deepened and his eyes warmed, as though he was both surprised and pleased by my laughter. “Sorry for interrupting, I just have a million robot jokes and no one lets me tell them.”
“You can tell them to me, anytime.”
“Good to know.”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“I reached into my bag and pulled out the macaroons, holding them between us. “Here. These are for you.”
He glanced at the white bakery box, his frown even more severe than before. He didn’t take the box. “What’s in there?”
The look of suspicion made me smile in spite of myself. “Cookies.”
“Where’d you get them?”
“I made them.”
His expression cleared and he snatched the box from my hands. “You did? What kind?”
“Macaroons.”
“Coconut!” He’d ripped open the box with impressive speed, his eyes widening with what looked like elation. “Come to me,” he said reverently to the cookies.
“I hate coconut,” Derek said conversationally, coming to stand next to me.
“She didn’t bring them for you, did she?” Matt said, his head doing an unexpected, sassy bobbing movement.
I rolled my lips between my teeth, breathing through my nose while my eyes bounced between the two men.
“Maybe she will, next time.” Derek grinned at me. “I like chocolate.”
Matt’s eyes cut to mine. “Are you making a mental note? You look like you’re making a mental note. Don’t. Don’t make a mental note. Don’t bring him cookies.”
“Gentlemen.” I pasted on my best professional smile. “I will be happy to bring cookies, to you both, but first I need to see what you’ve been working on.”
“Fine.”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“ridiculous.”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“Why are you crying, Marie?
I didn’t know.
I honestly had no idea.
Feelings? Whoremones? Maybe a nearby, but as of yet unseen onion?”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“Marie,” he whispered against my hair.
“Yes?” I closed my eyes, bracing.
“You’re holding me too tight.”
“Oh, sorry.” I loosened my arms, having to use a mental crowbar in the process.”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“I refuse to have you question your value. In doing so, you insult me. If you want to be with me, you’re going to have to find a way to accept that you’re not just worthy of great love, and you don’t just deserve great love . . . You must demand it.”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“society decrees how a person is ‘packaged’ reflects the internal values, abilities, and personality of that person. This packaging is often called ‘personal expression”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“Take responsibility for your words, meaning apologize when you're wrong and correct yourself moving forward and don't constantly look for reasons to be offended and police well meaning people's words. We want folks to talk to each other right? not just hang out with like minded people all the time? Everyone is ignorant about something and everyone is offended by something. Of people can't have a calm respectful dialogue without being hurt by ignorance or without offending with insensitivity than what the hell are we supposed to do? Surround ourselves with robots who don't challenge our ideas?”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“He was the dehydrated horse. He had to drink water himself. He had to want it.”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish

“You are. Your confidence is intimidating, because it’s entirely valid. And your goodness. And,” his gaze blazed over my body, “the rest of you.”
― Penny Reid, Dating-ish