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1 " Marriage has nothing to do with rings or vows or a fuckin’ piece of paper. None of that shit binds people together,” he said. “Marriage—being in love—is a choice to stay every day, and keep staying, no matter what. You don’t lie, you don’t cheat, you don’t leave, and you don’t give up. You stay. "
― Carian Cole , Don't Kiss the Bride
2 " When we’re together, she’s not eighteen, and I’m not thirty-four. We’re just two people who get along great, make each other laugh, take care of each other, and have insane chemistry. "
3 " I need to be strong today, because that’s what marriage is sometimes. You take turns being the strong one. "
4 " Words like mine and his float through my head. Words I shouldn’t be thinking of, because they’re a sham. Not real. But sometimes, they sneak in. I wonder what it would feel like to be someone else’s special person. To have them be mine. "
5 " It’s not about sex—I can get that anywhere. It’s a magnetic pull to get closer. Emotionally. Physically. Every time I’m with her I get this feeling of indescribable contentment that I can’t even wrap my head around. "
6 " If I kiss you, I’m not going to stop.”She stares up at me. Her eyes are full of everything that draws me to her. Mischief. Fire. Desire. Honesty.“Then don’t stop,” she says. "
7 " You’re the only one I ever want to stay. "
8 " I tear my eyes away when I remember this perfection is all wrapped up in an eighteen-year-old girl.This chick will undo me. "
9 " Fine. You want honesty? Let’s do it.” I spread my arms out. “I like you, too. More than friends. More than I should, and more than I fucking want to. I think you’re cute and sexy, and you make me laugh. I love your crazy-ass clothes and your cat with the fucked-up name. I just wish you weren’t eighteen years old.”“Was that so hard?” she asks. "
10 " Jude has a no-getting-attached rule. I recognize all the signs because I also have that rule. However, it doesn’t seem to be working for us. Our rules are breaking themselves. "
11 " She looks magical and beautiful and she’s looking at me like she’s making a thousand wishes and every single one of them includes me.Her hope completely shatters me.I’m so tired of putting walls up. "
12 " I nod at her as I take my order and throw a tip in the jar. “Oh, hey, Skylar,” she continues, peering past me. “I didn’t see you huddled way over there. Are you hitchhiking?” “Yes,” Skylar replies. “But now we’ve teamed up to look for airheads to murder. When’s your shift over?” “Shut up, bitch,” the girl tosses back. Before pulling away, I reach into the tip jar and take my dollar back. "
13 " Later, when we’re home, we take Cassie in the backyard to run around, and Skylar puts Gus in a cat stroller and pushes her around the perimeter of the property. I stand on the back patio smoking, wondering how I ended up with a teen bride pushing a cat in a baby stroller across my yard. "
14 " I nod and watch him walk casually back to his truck. How dare he look just as sexy from the back as he does from the front. I wish I didn’t want him, but I still do. So damn much it hurts. "
15 " How sad to fall so far, only to disappear as soon as the destination is reached. "
16 " I struggle with all the lessons I’ve learned to make good choices. Like how bad is a master at wearing the mask of good and not to fall for it. "
17 " Things seem to happen so easily and smoothly for Megan all the time, while I drive the struggle bus. "
18 " Life just had to fuck with me by throwing the perfect girl in my life and then twisting the knife by making her only eighteen years old. "
19 " Thank you for taking care of me.” He shrugs. “It’s kinda my favorite hobby now. "
20 " Marriage—being in love—is a choice to stay every day, and keep staying, no matter what. You don’t lie, you don’t cheat, you don’t leave, and you don’t give up. You stay. "
