01UndatedHate the sin, not the sinner, isn't that what good people say? Or are you asking yourself at what point does the sin overtake the sinner?Katie McGarry / quote ↗
02UndatedHe has a wide gait and I struggle to appear casual as I attempt to match his stride. His shirt’s back on, which is a sin. He could definitely give Echo’s guy a run for his money in the abs department.Katie McGarry / quote ↗
03UndatedFor the second time since meeting her, Echo looked as if I’d slapped her. Water pooled at the bottom edges of her eyes, her cheeks flushed red and she blinked rapidly. She’d succeeded in making me feel like a d*ck … again.Katie McGarry / quote ↗
04UndatedDo you think people can change?" I ask Rick "Yes." he answers plainly. "There are those who can." That grabs my attention. "So you believe it's possible?""Miss Stella."He gives me his teacher-to-pupil stare. "Its boils down to choice.Katie McGarry / quote ↗
05UndatedHis hands go to my waist—my waist! And they feel so right. I like this closeness. Maybe I like it too much. A guy has never been this close to me. Never. And I can’t believe it’s happening, even if it is to keep from being arrested.My heart beats frantically. Isaiah is hot and scary and hot. Why on earth would a guy like him want to be anywhere near a girl like me?It’s the adrenaline rush. That’s what it is. I like how he feels because I’m still experiencing the adrenaline rush from Isaiah’s NASCAR driving skills. His arm shifts, and I love how that movement causes his muscles to flex.Stop it, Rachel. It’s not real. Focus.Katie McGarry / quote ↗
06UndatedWhere the hell is your guard?" She shouts. Damn if she doesn't sound like Haley. "I'm tired.""Do I look like I care? You're getting the hell pounded out of you. If you want to tap out, then tap out, but don't stand there and let him win.Katie McGarry / quote ↗
07UndatedI like how you smile and how you laugh. I like how you love and defend your family and I like how you're trying to love mine. I love how you trust. But mostly, Emily, I love you.Katie McGarry / quote ↗
08UndatedCupping her face, I reclaim her lips and gently guide her body next to mine on the bed. Rachel’s tank rides up and my fingers explore the satin skin of her belly. There are so many places I long to go, so many places I crave to takKatie McGarry / quote ↗
09UndatedIt’s a beautiful smile. One that brightens the rat-infested attic room. No one has ever smiled like that at me. No one. Everything inside me twists with the need to keep her close.I should be pissed. Who knows if I’ll ever see the money from Eric. Who knows if Noah and I will lose the lease, sending me back into the system. Right now, I don’t f*cking care. I’m touching an angel.Katie McGarry / quote ↗
10UndatedHer soft lips kiss my jaw and my body temperature spikes. Holding on to Rachel is like holding on to a flame. It’s a soothing burn and an addictive burn. Her kiss is pure fire.Katie McGarry / quote ↗
11UndatedI’m never going to be kissed.”I open my eyes to see my brothers gaping at me like I’ve lost my mind.“You don’t kiss boys,” says West. “Boys shouldn’t be anywhere near you. Guys only want one thing, Rach, and it ain’t conversation. I should know.” He waves off the subject in frustration, then shakes his head as he speaks again. “Why are we even talking about this? You aren’t seeing anyone.”“Ah, hell,” mumbles Jack. “We’re having the sex talk with my baby sister.”“Is she dating?” Gavin demands of West and Ethan. “She can’t be dating. Now we have to beat the snot out of some horny teenager. You should have told me this was going on.”“Make them stop,” I whisper to Ethan. Along with the dread of speeches and vomiting, I’m also dying of embarrassment.“She’s not dating!” West shudders as if spiders cover him. “That’s just sick, Rach. Don’t talk like that. Ever. Again.”Gavin sends me a glare clearly meant to warn me off from kissing and dating boys before he heads for the main ballroom.Katie McGarry / quote ↗
12UndatedJust a shower. If you want me to stay on the opposite side, I will. I won’t kiss. I won’t touch.”Echo flashes that siren smile. “What if I want to kiss you?”“You’re trying to kill me, aren’t you?Katie McGarry / quote ↗
13UndatedShe pushed off her toes toward me, guiding my head down, and gently kissed my lips. No. This wouldn’t be goodbye. I’d fill her up and make her realize she’d always be empty withoKatie McGarry / quote ↗
14UndatedThe moment Noah came up behind me and kissed the side of my neck, I was torn between leaning into him and skirting away. Every muscle in my body screamed to fall into him.Katie McGarry / quote ↗
15UndatedMy body screams to stride over to her, wrap my arms around her waist, kiss her until she’s drunk on me and slowly remove every article of clothing on her body.Katie McGarry / quote ↗
16UndatedCome on, baby. It’s time.”“You’re mean, Noah.”The blanket falls off her arm as I slide a finger down her shoulder. Goose bumps form along her skin at my touch. She may be cranky, but she’s responding.“A deal’s a deal,” I remind her.“I changed my mind. I’d rather sleep.” With her eyes still shut, she hunts for the cover, but I kick it off. She presses her lips together. “I’m serious. You’re the meanest person I know.”I kiss her neck then blow on the skin, pleased with the smile she’s fighting.“Does that feel mean?” I ask.“Horribly.” She giggles. “It’s torture.Katie McGarry / quote ↗
17UndatedHe loved me.Noah Hutchins had told me he loved me, and that had made the past week at school absolute hell.Katie McGarry / quote ↗
18UndatedI know who I want to be and I want you by my side as I become that person.Katie McGarry / quote ↗
19UndatedWhy is it when people are proud of me that my life sucks?”“Because growing up means making tough choices, and doing the right thing doesn’t necessarily mean doing the thing that feels good.Katie McGarry / quote ↗
20UndatedAires and Echo Emerson. Their mother must have hated them to give them names like that.Katie McGarry / quote ↗
21UndatedI think I know what will help you chill.”The way his eyes devoured me hinted I shouldn’t take the bait, but I did anyhow. “And what would that be?”Noah pressed his body into mine, pushing me against the lockers. “Kissing.”I held my books close to my chest and fought the urge to drop them and pull him close. But that would only encourage his behavior, and good God, bring on his fantastic kissing. Fantastic or not, kissing in public would definitely mean detention and a tardy slip.I ducked underneath his arm and breathed in fresh air, welcoming any scent that didn’t remind me of him. Noah caught up to me, slowing his pace to mine.“You know, you may have never noticed, but we have calculus together,” he said. “You could have waited for me.”“And give you the chance to drag me into the janitor’s closet?Katie McGarry / quote ↗
22UndatedNoah,” she whispers in reprimand.“You’ve never complained when I’ve tried to undress you before.”Echo readjusts so she can see me, and for the first time since this morning, those eyes dance. “Yes, I have.”“When?”“The last day of school.”“So you’ve complained once.” When I led her to the nook of the abandoned hallway in the basement near my locker. I only meant to sneak in for a kiss during lunch, but things got hot and heavy and well...sue me. “I didn’t buy a yearbook, so I was memory-making.Katie McGarry / quote ↗
23UndatedI came to this house for safety. They came because the foster care system ran out of homes. We stayed because we were stray pieces of other puzzles, tired of never fitting.Katie McGarry / quote ↗
24UndatedThe worst kind of crying wasn't the kind everyone could see- the wailing on street corners, the tearing at clothes. No, the worst kind happened when your soul wept and no matter what you did, there was no way to comfort it.Katie McGarry / quote ↗
