Debra Anastasia

“Livia covered his hand with her own and moved it down to her mouth. She put a sweet kiss in the center of his palm. His beautiful hands went through all this trouble for me.Blake’s eyes flared with desire, making them look greener.”

“Livia looked puzzled and whispered, “I have no idea why these are special.”Blake dared to touch her face. “They’re the exact color of your eyes.”

“Apologize to the lady,” Blake’s voice was smooth, calm, and deadly. He’d also unleashed his bright green eyes on the poor bastard, who looked like he might wet his pants.”

“She waved, and he smiled like she was the eighth wonder of the world.”

“They can kiss my ass. I’d rather talk to you than stand with those spineless nimrods any day.”

“Blake waited until she set her deep gray eyes on him. “He has no idea the beauty in front of him. He’s a fool.”His words made her heart glow. She smiled and looked at her hands.”

“Instead of taking in the splendor of the emerging fall colors and the choppy Hudson River, his eyes scanned her face like it was a million miles of heaven.”

“I’ll feed fifty goddamn people every freaking morning if I have to. Just so he can eat one sandwich.”

“Of course, he wants to be a thoughtful gentleman, not a trained seal getting food for tricks.”

“As she started down the large staircase, she saw him. The desire to be near him suddenly became a physical presence. Whoa.Today Blake stood in his shady spot with Livia’s smile echoed on his face. She had to force herself not to run to him.”

“Sometimes her cheeks hurt from laughing when he finally held her car door open for her in the evening. He was there every day and every night. For her.”

“Her heart would pound as she glimpsed his familiar form from the top of the stairs. Twice she almost wrecked her car because he was staring at her.”

“But it was a lie. She just craved more time with Blake. During those minutes each morning and evening, she felt herself becoming someone she’d never been before. Not someone else, really, but fully herself. She basked in Blake’s attention.”

“IN THE WEEKS THAT FOLLOWED, Livia played a new game every day. It was always some version of “Ignore Chris and Pretend Nothing’s Wrong With That.”

“Livia.” He seemed thrilled to let the word roll off his tongue. “Do you know that I’m invisible?”“No one has really seen me in years.” Blake looked at the sky. “Sometimes I wonder how they know I don’t have a home. I try to dress decently.” He waved a hand at his jeans and army jacket. “I think it just seeps out of me. I’m not the same as everyone else.” He shook his head, his eyes reflecting a weary despair. As he looked at Livia again, the despair was chased away with a grin. “But when you saw me for the first time, you actually saw me. You saw me, and then you smiled like I was just the same as everyone else on that platform.”

“No, Blake, I trust you. I’d be honored to have an escort to my Escort. I’m a little afraid of the dark.” Livia tucked a lock of brown hair behind her ear.“I’m not afraid of the dark at all, so this way, milady, to your chariot.” Blake held out an elbow, formally.”

“Have a great day, Blake.” Livia continued to linger. She hated leaving him here, defenseless.“I’ve already had the most amazing day.” He glanced at Livia’s eyes, and she could see victory in his. She had a feeling that that they had both felt the same intense pull.”

“You might want to find another place to sit. Those idiots could cook up a plan for revenge.”“I can’t leave.” Green Eyes took a huge breath. “This is the only place where I get to see you.”

“When Livia turned, she had to tip her head back to see his face as she handed him his cardboard. He’s beautiful.”

“He was easily six feet tall. The teens’ faces registered shock as he unfurled himself. But instead of trying put the fear of God in the bullies, he whispered in her ear.“You’re going to miss your train.”

“Livia’s nickname for him was Green Eyes, as his were spectacular—the clearest jade and almost glowing.”

“I’m going to hell, Livia,” he said.“I’m going to hell for all three of us,” Beckett said defiantly. Only now did he pull his hand away.“I think you might be a better man than you give yourself credit for,” Livia said, trying to catch his eye again.”

“Know this: I love you so fucking much. No other person has been to me what you are. No one else ever will be. - Beckett”

“You're not the guy at the train station. You're my Blake.”

“Livia, I'm made of glass, but it only shows in the sun. I can't be caught in sunlight or everyone will know what I am.”

“Damn it. I mean, darn it. I thought the church was on fire. I’m so sorry. How do you clean up holy water? Is it like communion? Do you have to lick it off the floor? Can I help you?”

“Dear Livia McHughI'll be your husband. I'll be nothing but yours for the rest of forever. A single, simple day with you is something I'll refuse to take for granted. You have been the reason my heart beats since the moment I saw you, long before your hands actually had to do the job for me. Sleep in my arms. Wake up by my side. My beautiful love, be my wife and make me the happiest man. And I will never, ever lose count. Love always, Blake Hartt”

“I see it, sweetheart. You were right - you're beautiful when you're glass.”

“My inamorata, you know where I'll be: where I'll always be. Waiting. For you.”

“Captain Romance back there wants to inject himself into you like a vaccine.”

“Me? I want you to be sure." he said."You," Livia whispered. "Me." His eyes were full of intent. "Always you." Livia gave him her biggest, heartfelt smile. "Five hundred." Blake touched her face as if she might be a mirage and smiled back only when she didn't disappear.”

“You've smiled at him four hundred and forty six times as of a few minutes ago. He announces the number every time I see him.”

“Hot baskets of butt!”

“I can't leave." Green Eyes took a huge breath. "This is the only place where I get to see you.”

“I love you in such a greedy way, I’m guiltyabout it.” She tilted her head back as he moved his lips to her throat.“Guilty is for crimes. Always is for love.”

“I’m making you my wife right now, even if you cry through the whole damn thing.”

“I can finally fucking breathe seeing you goddamn bastards.”

“This is supposed to be a touch-feely conversation where we tell you, ‘Don’t worry, you’ll always have a family here with us.’ And then we may or may not have sappy music piped in.”Ted rolled his eyes. “That was tactful, Eve. Wonderful.”

“If I told you once, I told you a million times: you’re a handsome motherfucker. I’m almost gay for you.”

“This place's a festering whore's crotch. Do I own it?”

“Beckett pulled Blake’s face back to look at him and held it in his hand.“Never alone, bro. You’re never alone as long as I live.”

“Blake laughed as Beckett set him back on the seat and pointed a thick finger at the organ. “You ass-f**k this bitch. Ass-f**k it.” Beckett peeked over the balcony at Cole below. “Sorry, baby. I have too much dirty in me.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be Jesus’ bitch?”

“I want to screw him on the table and make him eat in my bed.”

“And I will never, ever lose count.”

“Beckett started the Hummer and texted Eve:Tak4e Ur Cloth3s OFF Im on my qwayHer reply came back quick as lightning:Take ur clothes off and f*ck yourself.“One way or another, this chick is gonna kill me,” Beckett growled as the Hummer roared away.”

“Kyle’s shrill voice interrupted their moment. “Figured you two would turn this into a scout meeting. Will you get your asses up here? People are waiting. I mean Beckett here has maybe a fewhours before he’s bent over a metal toilet getting it up the ass from aguy named Bubba. Do you want him to have fun now or not?”The streetlight illuminated Beckett as he appeared next to Kyle. “Why would I be the bitch? I don’t think that’s a fair f*cking assumption.”Kyle refused to look at him and crossed her arms. “Of course you’d be the bitch. You have dimples. Bitches have dimples. And I bet your ass is soft like two pillows. Bubba’s going to love bouncing off of you.”Beckett stormed away, dragging Kyle with him. “I’ll be the f*cker,” he told her. “Not the f*ckee. The f*cker.”“Fine, a$$hole, you’re the f*cker,” Kyle’s voice faded away as they returned to the party.”

“As Blake leaned down to accept her hug she whispered, “Remember when you and Livia tried to hog the spotlight at my wedding? Just when you and Livia get to the good part, Cole and I are going to have porno sex right there.”She pointed discreetly at the spot to Blake’s right, and he couldn’t help but laugh.”

“But Blake infused hope in his music. Love was the only song he knew how to play.”

“You make the rest of the beautiful things in the world cry for even trying at all. You make it hard for me to breathe.”