Wish You Were Here Quotes

“Different people connect to different parts of our souls.”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“If you told me I could have another life, a longer life, but that I couldn’t have you, I’d say no thanks. I’d take you and my short life over and over again.”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“You brightened the darkest time of my life.”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“Love is a wordless secret; it’s an inside joke. Only the two of you have to understand it.”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“Rules are for people with the luxury of time.”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“Have I asked you to marry me?” he said sleepily. We were back on. “Every day,” I replied. “Well . . .” “I always say not yet.” Adam was dozing off and slurring when he said, “Why?” I’m certain he was asleep when I finally replied, “Because I don’t want you to stop asking.”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“As long as there is love in this world, we will be a part of it.”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“We’re not even thirty yet, Chuck.”
“I know, but I’m getting there, you know, to that point of no return where no one will be good enough because I’ll be so set in my stubborn ways.”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“He taught me that one way to give your life meaning is to teach another person how to look within and love.”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“I’m a human, walking around this lonely planet, taking one breath after another, trying to decide what’s right and what’s wrong.”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“You know the people who think seeing it in a picture is like seeing it in real life? Well, it’s not. Because when you’re there, you’re not just seeing it. It’s the sounds, the smells of Paris, the way the air feels on your skin, the way the wine tastes different when you drink it from Parisian glasses while sitting in a wicker chair outside a café on a cobblestone street. You can’t re-create the hum of a foreign language being spoken over and over itself. It sounds like music. The way the sun rises and sets, the shadows on the buildings, the car horns honking in the distance. It’s all different, new, and fascinating to experience when you travel far away from home.”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“I believe you have to protect your relationship with God more than any other, Charlotte. Whether you believe in God or not, whether you think God is terrible, truly divine, or absolutely nonexistent, it is the most sacred and intimate relationship we have in our lives.”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“Your art, our memories, the memories people have of us . . . it makes us immortal. When you love someone, whether it be your family, friends, partners, whatever, it’s like planting a little seedling of yourself inside of their hearts.”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“If the ocean were music, sailboats would be the ballerinas.”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“We’re not really going to have a serious conversation, are we?”

I grinned maniacally.

“Okay, you know what, we’re going to play Truth or Dare. If you don’t want to do a dare or answer a question, that’s fine, but you have to take a shot to make up for it. Got it?”

I was relieved. I couldn’t talk about Adam anymore, and I sure as hell didn’t want to dwell on the confusing morass of emotions swirling inside of me, further complicated by the fact that Seth would be in Southern California for at least one more year. “Got it,” I said.

“I’ll go first. I pick dare.”

“I dare you to do a striptease on top of this bar,” I said, waggling my eyebrows. He reached for the bottle of tequila, poured, and tossed it back.

“Your turn.” He smiled, pleased with himself.

“You’re no fun. Truth.”

“Do you want me to kiss you?” he asked, staring at my lips.

“Yes,” I said.

He leaned in and then, suddenly, we were kissing. I pulled away first.

“Okay, now me. Truth. Fire away.”

“Why do you still like me?”

“That’s an easy one, Char. Because you’re compassionate, intelligent, funny; you have insane sex appeal; and you’re beautiful. Your turn.”

“Truth,” I slurred.

“Do you want me to kiss you?”

“Yes,” I whispered, growing increasingly bold from the alcohol. And then we were kissing again.

I pulled away and touched my fingers to his lips. “Your turn.”

“Dare.” He winked.

“I dare you to kiss me,” I said.

He took a shot. I gasped. He was such a tease. ”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“Bald is sexy, right?” he said. I laughed to myself quietly as I waited for the nurse to open the curtain.

“Yes, Adam, bald is sexy,” she said, sounding amused.

“I mean, think about it. Bruce Willis, Vin Diesel . . . Natalie Portman . . . Adam Bramwell.”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“Me: Staying here tonight.

Helen: You okay? Code word?

Helen and I had code words for everything. It was usually an old pet’s name or a line from one of our favorite movies. Growing up, Helen’s family had Maltipoos. It’s a mix between a Maltese and miniature poodle . . . damned dog people and their overbreeding. Anyway, they had a little black Maltipoo named Major. He would have been adorable if he weren’t an incessant humper. It was just vile; truly, the dog was persistent and fanatical about humping. Witnessing Major molest everything in his path was traumatizing. He was constantly in motion, his little butt pumping in and out. There was clearly something wrong with him. He humped everything from stuffed animals to vacuum cleaners to any leg he came in contact with. Helen and I hated that dog. We called him Major Humperdinck. After high school it became our code for I totally want this guy to hump me. I know, we were disgusting girls.

Me: Major.

Helen: Major What?

Me: Don’t . . .

Helen: I’m calling the police.

Me: Major Humperdinck

Helen: I knew it. Well, have fun . . . slut.”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“We walked hand in hand toward Adam’s apartment building. “You don’t seem lawyerly,” I said.

“What’s lawyerly? Like, douche-y?”

“No, like . . . disciplined. Tightly wound. High-strung. You were roaming the streets in the middle of the night, wearing flip-flops and offering Chinese food to strangers.”

“You must not know very many lawyers. Anyway, now I’m roaming the streets in the middle of the night, wearing flip-flops, carrying Chinese food, and holding your hand. I win. And there’s nothing more lawyerly than winning.”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“the public sense, that will be his legacy, but for me, his legacy is that he taught me something very important. He taught me that one way to give your life meaning is to teach another person how to look within and love.”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“Look at you; you’re like a salty sea captain, with your dog and shit.”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“My father strode up and cleared his throat. “Oh, hello, Mr. Martin,” Seth said.

“Hello,” my father said. They shook hands.

“Charlotte, your mom and I want to discuss something with you, but I don’t think it’s a good time now. I think you need some rest.”

“Oh Jesus, what now?” I said.

“Charlotte!” my mother scolded.

“I’m drunk, you guys. It’s not a big deal.” Seth anchored me to his side by wrapping an arm around my waist.

My mother stuck her hand out to Seth. “Hello, Seth, I’m Charlotte’s mom, Laura.” She blushed.

“Oh, Motherrr, are you blushing? He’s just a professional baseball plaaayer with twelve-pack abs and perfect hair, get over it!”

“Let’s go, drunky.” Seth pulled me along.

“Hey, Taylor,” my father said, calling Seth by his last name. We turned back to see my dad point to his own eyes and then to Seth’s. I’m watching you, he mouthed, and then he buckled over and started laughing.

“Your family is totally weird,” Seth said into my ear. “I see where you get your sense of humor.”

“Yep, they’re all right. By the way, it’s your fault I’m drunk.”

I caught Helen’s eye as we left the bar. Seth waved, she smiled, and Roddy laughed.

“I think you had a little too much before I got involved.”

“I told you that. Hey, wanna go skinny-dipping?”

“I’m getting you a sandwich and then I’m putting you to bed,” he said.

“Killjoy.”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“I love this song, can you turn it up?”

I reached and turned the dial up on the Vance Joy song “Red Eye.” Adam bobbed his head to the music. At the stoplight I looked over at him. He was wearing the black beanie my brother had given him, his black Wayfarers, and the hospital gown.

I laughed.

He turned to me and smiled. “What?” he said.

“You’re cute.”

“Oh yeah? Wanna fool around?” He grinned.

I was glad that Adam couldn’t see my eyes welling up behind my sunglasses.

The car behind us honked. I hit the gas and my car lurched forward from the intersection. “How much time do we have?” I asked.

“What? Are you serious?”

“Yes, Adam, I am serious.” He was having a good day.

He reached for my phone. “We have like an hour and a half before Leah freaks out.”

I knew I was taking a big chance, but how could I say no to him? There was so much joy in him that day just because he got to go to the drive-thru at In-N-Out.

“Okay.” I glanced over at him and flattened my lips. “You better not have a seizure on me.”

“I can’t think of a better place to have a seizure. Although I can see how that wouldn’t be much fun for you.”

I laughed hysterically. “Oh man, I didn’t mean literally on me; I meant on my watch.”

“Well, Charlotte, I don’t have much control over that, but I’ll try. You know what helps?”

“What?”

“Alcohol.”

“Really?”

As we passed the Four Seasons he said, “Pull in here.”

“This is too expensive, Adam.”

“What? Are you crazy?” The energy in the car was tangible. “This may be the last time I ever go to a hotel with a girl. I’m paying. I have a ton of money. Come on, Charlotte, please?” His mood was instantly lighter than it had been in several days.

“Okay.” I did a U-turn and pulled into the driveway of the hotel.”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“I had a cat named Ginger when I was a kid. He was orange. I named him when I was three, before I knew Ginger was a girl’s name, according to most of the world. Anyway, when I was around eight, a raccoon attacked fierce Ginger. He came walking up our driveway with part of his intestines hanging out, dragging on the concrete. My dad said he’d be fine. No one believed my dad. Ginger somehow managed to climb into the rafters of our garage. I was 99 percent sure he was going there to die, but he didn’t. He spent seven days licking his wounds until he healed himself. Cats are awesome! We had a lot of respect for Ginger after that, even though he was kind of an asshole”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“He jolted upright and grabbed my foot. “How are you doing that?” He inspected my feet. “Oh my god!” Holding my foot up, he said, “How are you doing that with these sausage toes?”

“Hey! I like my toes.”

“They’re adorable, but they look like they belong on a fat toddler.”

We were both laughing, but I felt vulnerable, so I sat up. “Let me see your feet.”

“I have beautiful feet,” he said and it was true. The bastard could have been a foot model.

“Damn you.”

“Come here, let me see those little Jimmy Deans.”

“Leave my toes alone!”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“If the ocean were music, sailboats would be the ballerinas. I was never any good at dancing before. Maybe I didn’t know how.”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“Your art, our memories, the memories people have of us . . . it makes us immortal. When you love someone, whether it be your family, friends, partners, whatever, it’s like planting a little seedling of yourself inside of their hearts.”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“Promise me this is the last moment in your life that you will let fear stop you from doing what you want.”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“I think we have soul mates, but I think we can have more than one, just like we can have more than one career, or more than one hobby, or more than one fucking favorite food. Different people connect to different parts of our souls.”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“Like our souls leave some residual imprint on the people we knew, or something.”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here

“for me, his legacy is that he taught me something very important. He taught me that one way to give your life meaning is to teach another person how to look within and love.”
― Renee Carlino, Wish You Were Here