01c. 1980 ADI don’t want you involved in any of that.”“Because you care about me?”“Of course.” I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t want to worry about you getting hurt.”He stepped in and his other hand settled just above my hip. “Because you want to be with me?”“Yes.” That word was easy to speak.Rider smiled then and the right dimple appeared. “You want to be my girlfriend.”I opened my mouth and then I laughed. It sounded strange after the seriousness of our conversation, but the statement was sweet and silly.His cheeks pinked. “Not sure how I feel about that laugh,” he teased. “But I do love the sound of it.”My breath caught at the word. Love. Oh, gosh, was that what was happening here?“So do you? Want to be my girlfriend?” he asked, and then chuckled. “Probably should’ve brought this up before I kissed you, but I want...I want to see where this goes, Mallory. I feel like we got a second chance, you know? I’ve been thinking that since I sat down in speech and saw you sitting there. We have a second chance. And who gets second chances?”I searched his gaze, feeling a rightness deep in my chest. I had thought the same thing before, about second chances.“I don’t want to pass that up.Jennifer L. Armentrout / quote ↗
03c. 1980 ADForever was my heartbeat and it was the hope tomorrow held.Jennifer L. Armentrout / quote ↗
04c. 1980 ADGrabbing a scarf off the chair, I threw it at him. He caught it, clutching it to his chest as he flew into the air. "You gave Tink a scarf. Tink is free!" He flew out into the hallway like a little cracked-out fairy, screeching, "Tink is freeeeee!"Ren looked at me. "What the actual f**k?"I sighed. "He's obsessed with Harry Potter. I'm sorry."Tink darted back into the room, holding the scarf to his bare chest. "There is no reason to apologize when it comes to Harry Potter.""You do remember what happened to Dobby, right?" I said."S**t." Tink's eyes widened and he dropped the scarf.Jennifer L. Armentrout / quote ↗
05c. 1980 ADOh no I know that look. What are you thinking?That this is the most ridiculous declaration of attraction I've ever heardJennifer L. Armentrout / quote ↗
06c. 1980 ADEvery so often i'd wake up when his arms clenched around me, his embrace so tight i thought he'd cut off my circulation, holding me as if even in his sleep he was haunted by the fear of losing me.Jennifer L. Armentrout / quote ↗
07c. 1980 ADNow I was nothing but a shade of grey - my moral compass ambiguous.Jennifer L. Armentrout / quote ↗
08c. 1980 ADYou’ve given up on yourself before anyone else has a chance to.”Silence greeted me.I could feel Rider’s stare on me. Several moments passed. “That’s bullshit, and kind of priceless coming from you. You gave up on me yesterday.”I started to defend myself, but I couldn’t. I swallowed hard. “I know. You’re right about that, but I’m also right.”“And how’s that?” Challenge hardened his tone.“Because I give up on myself on a daily basis,” I admitted. My cheeks heated but I continued. “I know.”He sucked in an audible breath. “Mallory...”I shook my head as I thought about all the conflicting emotions and needs and wants. “It’s true. It’s what I do. I don’t mean to. Or maybe I do. It’s...it’s easier being scared of everything.”“How...how can that be?” His voice softened. “How can that be easier?”My smile was faint. Suddenly, I really wished I was at home, with my head under the blankets. “You can’t fail when you don’t really try, right? You’d know that.Jennifer L. Armentrout / quote ↗
09c. 1980 ADWe’re probably leaving soon,” Rider said. “Might catch a movie.”Jayden leaned against the wall as he looked around the room. “I see how it is. You figure you don’t stand a chance with Mallory now that I’m here to show her what a real man looks like.” He winked as Rider just shook his head. “Fine, leave. But no dumb movie will be as entertainin’ as the Jayden Show. And I don’t charge admission.Jennifer L. Armentrout / quote ↗
10c. 1980 ADThat's the funny thing about trying to escape. You never really can. Maybe temporarily, but not completely.Jennifer L. Armentrout / quote ↗
11c. 1980 ADI see you as Lily. I see you for who you are, even though you don't.” -JulianJennifer L. Armentrout / quote ↗
12c. 1980 ADWill you show me what you really look like? You don't sparkle, do you?Jennifer L. Armentrout / quote ↗
13c. 1980 ADThe alien in my uncle hand obviously taken full control. Soon, it would claw its way out of his stomach and tap dance across my bedJennifer L. Armentrout / quote ↗
14c. 1980 ADNever in my life had I been more frustrated. Go figure it wouldn't be with a human but a freaking alien. At least I now knew that the male species were asses no matter what planet they hailed from.Jennifer L. Armentrout / quote ↗
15c. 1980 ADLuc blinked innocently. That little fuck. "I gave you a piece of opal and a Luxen to nom-nom on.Jennifer L. Armentrout / quote ↗
16c. 1980 ADWhile you're deep in something, you never say or do what you need to. It's always after the fact, when it's too late, that you realize what you should've said or done.Jennifer L. Armentrout / quote ↗
