I Want to Kiss You in Public Quotes

“Gosh, British accents should be banned. If Michael had an American accent, I would have never spiralled out of control and questioned my very normal sexuality. I would have felt nothing at all.”
― Zelda French, I Want to Kiss You in Public

“How hard can it be? Just like a popsicle, right? But I hadn’t had a popsicle in a while. Perhaps I really was terrible.”
― Zelda French, I Want to Kiss You in Public

“You know like some people are ‘nice’, but they’re not ‘kind’ and the difference is subtle, but it’s there. Nice people want you to think they care. Kind people actually do.”
― Zelda French, I Want to Kiss You in Public

“You’re so nice. I wonder what you taste like.”
― Zelda French, I Want to Kiss You in Public

“Men. All the same, am I right?”
― Zelda French, I Want to Kiss You in Public

“It might just be the weed.”
― Zelda French, I Want to Kiss You in Public

“I can’t believe I have spent two weeks without hearing his voice. Gosh, British accents should be banned. If Michael had an American accent, I would have never spiralled out of control and questioned my very normal sexuality. I would have felt nothing at all.”
― Zelda French, I Want to Kiss You in Public

“If he liked you, he wouldn’t try to change you,” Lucie says. “To mould you to his taste.” “To change your clothes.” “And decide who you hang out with,” Tony concludes. Michael hasn’t done any of this. I have done this. By choice. But if I challenge what they think… I might incriminate myself and reveal more than what I want to reveal. On the other hand, they’re right. I have changed. I have taken decisions that might seem completely crazy to them. The worst of all… I have ditched them to run after a guy. I’ve never acted like this before. It’s true. It all started when Michael arrived.”
― Zelda French, I Want to Kiss You in Public

“Oh, to be young and stupid. Dorian would get me.”
― Zelda French, I Want to Kiss You in Public

“Michael struggles back into his coat. “Are we going after them?” “Who?” “Tony and your girlfriend.” “I don’t think so.” Lucie’s angry face flashes in my head, twisting my stomach. “They wouldn’t want to see us right now. Come on, I’ll take you home.” “I’m drunk,” he says. He attempts to button his coat but gives up after the first half-assed try. “That’s okay. That’s why I’m taking you home.”
― Zelda French, I Want to Kiss You in Public

“The power of Michael’s curls cannot and will not be underestimated in this room.”
― Zelda French, I Want to Kiss You in Public

“I could tell them. The gay bomb I dropped seemed to have faded into acceptance pretty quickly, so, perhaps I could finally confide in my friends, for the first time in m— “Oh my god!” Tony slaps a hand on his mouth. “Were you ever in love with me?” Or, maybe not. “Come on, tell me!” Tony shoves Lucie aside, his eyes boring into mine. “Like, a little? At least?” “Sorry.” It’s hard to apologise while trying not to laugh. “Not really, no.” “Come on, just a bit!” “I don’t want to jump on everything that moves, Tony!” “Just Michael, then.” He moves away, looking miffed. “Well well. Nothing for your best friend Tony. Not even a sniff. Just great.”
― Zelda French, I Want to Kiss You in Public

“It’s the curls, isn’t it?”
― Zelda French, I Want to Kiss You in Public

“My phone vibrates in my pocket. Same odd number. “Who’s that?” Tony asks. “No clue, but they’re insistent.” “Give it to me!” Tony attempts to pry the phone off my hands, but I’m able to shove it back into my pocket. “Please, Lou, I’ll pretend to be a Jehovah witness, and—”
― Zelda French, I Want to Kiss You in Public

“Very aware of the compliment François just threw my way, I answer with a smile, and he seems satisfied with the results. So now I’m best friends with François? This year is getting weirder and weirder. We walk through the front gate together, in front of everyone, in front of Tony himself, whose jaw drops to his shoes. “Just because of the look on his face,” François whispers in my ear, “I forgive you for everything.”
― Zelda French, I Want to Kiss You in Public

“I don’t get it. You always act like you want to be different from all of us. Now you get to be different. So, be happy!” “Shut up, François!” I hiss. His shrill voice is even louder than the traffic and the wailing child in front of us. “Everyone can hear you.” “You are so closeted.” “I’m not.” I am, it’s quite clear by now. But he doesn’t get to hear that.”
― Zelda French, I Want to Kiss You in Public

“You looked miserable.” “You know, I’m starting to believe it’s just my face.”
― Zelda French, I Want to Kiss You in Public

“That may be an understatement, and already, my mind starts racing with questions. But Michael is sitting a breath away from me, and to see him here, in this place, feels so out of place, like mixing two different universes that have nothing to do together. Like Ironman having tea with Dumbledore, that sort of thing.”
― Zelda French, I Want to Kiss You in Public

“Did you apologise to her, at least?” “Yes.” I lean back into the sofa. “I wrote a text while you were gossiping with your next-door neighbour. Even called myself a blockhead.” She waggles her finger in my face. “You are a blockhead. And I wasn’t gossiping. I will have you know that I have great relationships with all of my neighbours.”
― Zelda French, I Want to Kiss You in Public

“Why don’t you want a relationship with Doriane? You just told me kissing her is the best thing in the world, and in too many details.” “I didn’t say I didn’t want to. I said I’m not sure.” “Why the hell not?” “Because!” I put my head in my hands and start pulling at my hair. How can I tell her without betraying myself? “Doriane is… different. Being with her… would make me different too. I’m not sure I want this. You don’t understand. A lot of people will talk, then I’ll have to tell my family, and that is the last thing I want.” Miss Eugénie’s expression turns incredulous. “How different is this Doriane? Does she have four arms or something?” “No. She’s… She’s British.” “Terrible handicap indeed! Your life will never be the same.”
― Zelda French, I Want to Kiss You in Public

“Lucie stares blankly into my face. “You’re never happy. I really don’t know why I—” “Why you what?” I dare her. “Say it.” Everyone is holding their breath. François’s jaw is completely slack. Sacha is gripping his arm, her hand over her mouth. Michael has sat upright, but has the decency to avoid staring at us.”
― Zelda French, I Want to Kiss You in Public

“So, I’ve got good news and bad news.” “Let me guess,” François says. “You’re the bad news.” Yasmine, without looking up from her phone, gives a dry chuckle. Tony ignores them both.”
― Zelda French, I Want to Kiss You in Public

“It awfully feels like I’ve been demoted from my position of mysterious rockstar, and relegated to the freaky part of the spectrum, with mimes and people who scrapbook.”
― Zelda French, I Want to Kiss You in Public