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21 " So, how was work? You clearly missed me.”I put my hands on my face in embarrassment and he just laughs a bit to himself.“It was boring.” It’s the truth.“No one to antagonize, huh?”“I tried abusing some of the gentle folk in payroll but they got all teary.”“The trick is to find that one person who can give it back as good as they can take it.” He takes out a pan and begins to fry the vegetables in a single, stingy drop of oil.“Sonja Rutherford, probably. That scary lady in the mailroom that looks like an albino Morticia Addams.”“Don’t line my replacement up too quick. You’ll hurt my feelings. "
― Sally Thorne , The Hating Game
22 " He taught me things in the space of two minutes that the span of my lifetime did not. "
23 " How long have you done it?”“Since the second day of B and G. The first day was a bit of a blur. I’ve always meant to compile some stats. Sorry. Saying it aloud sounds insane.”“I wish I’d thought of doing it, if it makes you feel better. I’m equally insane.”“You cracked the shirt code pretty quick.”“Why do you even wear them in sequence?”“I wanted to see if you noticed. And once you did notice, it pissed you off.”“I’ve always noticed.”“Yeah, I know.” He smiles, and I smile too. "
24 " He glances over his shoulder, no doubt hearing my insanely loud shoes stop in their tracks. Then he looks again. It’s a double take for the record books.“I’m out stalking,” I call. It doesn’t come out the way I’d intended. It’s not lighthearted or funny. It comes out like a warning. I’m one scary bitch right now. I hold my hands up to show I’m not armed. My heart is racing.“Me too,” he replies. Another cab cruises past like a shark.“Where are you actually going?” My voice rings down the empty street.“I just told you. I’m going out stalking.”“What, on foot?” I come closer by another six paces. “You were going to walk?”“I was going to run down the middle of the street like the Terminator.”The laugh blasts out of me like bah.I’m breaking one of my rules by grinning at him, but I can’t seem to stop.“You’re on foot, after all. Stilts.” He gestures at my sky-high shoes.“It gives me a few extra inches of height to look through your garbage.”“Find anything of interest?” He strolls closer and stops until we have maybe ten paces between us. I can almost pick up the scent of his skin.“Pretty much what I was expecting. Vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, adult diapers. "
25 " Since the moment I saw you. Since the moment you smiled at me, I felt like I was falling backward off a cliff. The feeling has never stopped. I’ve been trying to drag you down with me. In the worst, most ill-conceived and socially stunted way possible. "
26 " The Kissing Game goes like this, Shortcake. Press, retreat, tilt, breathe, repeat. Use your hands to angle just right. Loosen up until it’s a slow, wet slide. Hear the drum of blood in your own ears? Survive on tiny puffs of air. Do not stop. Don’t even think about it. Shudder a sigh, pull back, let your opponent catch you with lips or teeth and ease you back into something even deeper. Wetter. Feel your nerve endings crackle to life with each touch of tongue. Feel a new heaviness between your legs. The aim of the game is to do this for the rest of your life. Screw human civilization and all it entails. This elevator is home now. This is what we do now. Do not fucking stop. He "
27 " He sits on the edge of the couch, his hair damp and ruffled in every direction. I turn the page and unfortunately a lurid diagram of an erect penis glares up at me. “I am trying to be a bit more normal.” He looks at the page. “How’s it working out so far?” “I’m glad this isn’t a pop-up book. "
28 " Hating someone feels disturbingly similar to being in love with them. "
29 " I’ve got so much inside me I have no idea about. I’m like the mayor of a city I’ve never seen.”He smiles at my phrasing. “If you knew the kind of little miracles happening every moment you breathe in, you wouldn’t be able to handle it. A valve could close and not open; an artery could split, you could die. At any moment. It’s nothing but miracles inside your tiny city.” He presses a kiss to my temple.“Holy shit.” I clutch at him.“You wouldn’t believe the stats on people who go to bed one night and never wake up. Normal, healthy people who aren’t even old.”“Why would you tell me this? Is this what you think about?”There’s the longest pause. “I used to. Not so much anymore.”“I think I preferred it when I thought I was full of white bones and red goo. Why am I now thinking about dying tonight?”“Now you see why I can’t do small talk. "
30 " It’s going to happen, Josh. We just need to get it out of our systems. I think that’s what it’s all been building toward.”“You sound a little resigned.”“I can only apologize in advance for the things I’ll do to you. "
31 " I love the energy we create between us when we banter like this. It’s the most intense sensation of pleasure, knowing he’ll always have the perfect response ready. I’ve never known anyone like him; as addictive to talk to as he is to kiss. “Truth "
32 " Let me deal with him. If he turns up dead in the river you’ll know to keep your mouth shut and provide me an alibi. "
33 " Dad calls you other names starting with J, but never your real name.”“What?” He looks alarmed. “You’ve told your dad about me?”“He’s mad at you for being so mean. Julian and Jasper and John. One time, he called you Jebediah and I nearly peed myself. You’d have to grovel to my dad, that’s for sure.”Josh looks so disturbed I decide to cut him a break and change the subject. "
34 " He advances like a floating Dracula. The menace is ruined by the sporting-goods-store bag loudly crinkling against his leg. A shoebox is in it, judging from the shape.Imagine the wretched sales assistant who had to help Joshua choose shoes.I require shoes to ensure I can effectively run down the targets I am paid to assassinate in my spare time. I require the best value for my money. I am size eleven "
35 " Anthony, it's been real. "
36 " I wanted you here because I always want you with me. "
37 " Joshua is glaring at me with angry eyebrows. I use my brainwaves to transmit an insult to him, which he receives and pulls himself up straight. "
38 " TODAY IS A magnificent black T-shirt day. Write today in your diaries. Tell your grandchildren stories about it. I tear my eyes away, but they slide back moments later. Underneath that T-shirt is a body that could fog an elderly librarian’s glasses. I think my underwear is curling off me like burning paper. "
39 " Are you sad?”“Not yet.” He closes his eyes.“I’ll drive for a bit.” I hold out my hand.He shakes his head. “You’re my guest. I’ll drive. You’re tired.”“Oh, I’m your guest now?” I put as much menace as I can into my walk and he puts both hands behind his back. I smile at him and he smiles back. I’m surprised the pinprick stars above us don’t explode into silver powder. The sadness I caught in his eyes is burned away by a spark of amusement.“My hostage. My blackmailed, unwilling captive. Stockholm Shortcake. "
40 " You're always beautiful "
