Jamie McGuire

“The anger subsided, and my shoulders fell. “I know you didn’t. But you have got to curb this overprotective big-brother thing you’ve got going on.”Travis laughed once. “I’m not playing the big brother, Pigeon. Not even close.”

“I need another drink!” I said as a second attempt to change the subject. “Shots!” America yelled. Shepley rolled his eyes. “Oh, yeah. That’s what you need, another shot.”

“After climbing off his bike, I smacked his shoulder. “Did you forget I was with you? Are you trying to get me killed?”“It’s hard to forget you’re behind me when your thighs are squeezing the life out of me.” A smirk came with his next thought. “I couldn’t think of a better way to die, actually.”“There is something very wrong with you.”

“The only thing that is constant is the fact that everything keeps changing.”

“Nina, there has always been something about you that I couldn‟t shake. Even when I didn‟t want to love you, I was drawn to you. I couldn‟t think of anything else. Now you‟re my wife, and you are carrying our child. Thereis nothing more beautiful than that. When you‟re sweaty and exhausted holding Bean, thenthat will be the most beautiful thing I‟ve ever seen. When I see tears fall from your eyeswhen we send Bean off to the first day of kindergarten…that will the most be the most beautiful thing I‟ve ever seen. When you comfort me each time we send our kids totraining; on every one of our anniversaries; and when you‟re hair turns gray. Every one of those moments will be the most beautiful thing I‟ve ever seen.”

“Vegas changed people, creating monsters and broken men. It was easy to let the lights and stolen dreams seep into your blood.”

“I fucking love you”

“The element of dates I dread. To kiss or not to kiss, I hated that question.”

“The only thing I’m afraid of is a life without you, Pigeon.”

“Travis was going to be a part of that, and if he wouldn’t let me save him, I had to save myself.”

“You two are a disaster.” I smiled at the ceiling. “It doesn’t matter what or why it is. When it’s good, Kara … it’s beautiful.”

“It was a running joke; everyone was aware of how ridiculous the rumor mill was, and yet they all shamelessly participated in it.”

“He exhaled with a deep, contented sigh, speaking in a hushed voice. “I love you, Abby. I’m going to make you happy, I swear it.”

“I couldn’t help but smile. “If I wanted to take Finch out, I’d just tell him Prada went out of business, and he’d finish the job for me.”

“If you tell anyone what I just told you, I’ll call the Mob. I know some of them, you know.” “Bullshit.” I shrugged. “Believe what you want.” Finch eyed me suspiciously, and then smiled. “You are officially the coolest person I know.” “That’s sad, Finch. You should get out more,” I said, stopping at the cafeteria entrance.”

“Shepley stomped into the apartment and slammed the door behind him. “She’s fucking impossible!” I kissed Travis on the cheek. “That’s my cue.” “Good luck,” Travis said. I slid in beside America, and she huffed. “He’s fucking impossible!”

“No, it’s a car. The love of my life will be a woman with my last name.”

“Would you like to make a wager on that, Abby Abernathy?” he smiled, his eyes animated. I smiled. “I’ll take that bet. I think he’ll get one in on you.”

“The more he smiled, the more I wanted to hate him, and yet it was the very thing that made hating him impossible.”

“I feel sorry for anyone that thinks they have a chance. I am hopelessly and completely in love with you.”

“Sé que estamos jodidos, ¿De acuerdo? Soy impulsivo y tengo mal genio, y te metiste bajo mi piel como nadie más. Actúas como si me odiaras un minuto, y luego como si me necesitaras al siguiente. Nunca acierto en nada, y no te merezco... pero estoy malditamente enamorado de ti, Abby. Te amo más de lo que he querido a nadie ni nada, nunca. Cuando estás cerca, no necesito alcohol, ni dinero, ni lucha, o algo de una sola noche... todo lo que necesito es a ti. Tú eres en todo lo que pienso. Eres todo lo que soñé. Eres todo lo que quiero." - Travis”

“You're going to be sorry you didn't open the door, because I just crawled along that piss-covered floor and now I'm going to hug you.”

“Mr Maddox, think you could tone tin down until after class?"I don't think so, Dr Chaney. Have you gotten a good look at my girl?”

“You're supposed to be Easterns' ladies man. I'm not getting the full freshman experience they promised in the brochure.”

“I shut my eyes tight, trying to savor the moment. I knew I would wish for that moment back every day of my life, so I lived it with everything I had.”

“I didn't sleep with him, Parker. He held my hair while I hurled a pint of Petron in his toilet. That's as romantic as it got.”

“Whatever. No one can hold your hair back like I can.”

“Last night was one of the best nights of my life.""Sleeping in between the toilet an the tub on a cold, hard tile floor with a vomiting idiot was one of our best nights? That's sad, Trav.”

“Are you moving out?""Nope. Lost a bet.”

“You have to overlook his demons. It's the only way he'll know.""Know what?""If you'll climb over the wall.”

“I should say no to prove a point. But I would hate myself later if I said no and you never asked me again.”

“It looks like Vegas threw up on a flock of vultures.”

“He pulled my chin up so that I would face him. "I know you deserve better than me. You think I don't know that? But if there was any woman made for me...it's you. I'll do whatever I have to do, Pidge. Do you hear me? I'll do anything.”

“Don't even think about it, Travis. She's like my sister," America warned."Baby," Shepley said, "you just told him no. He's never gonna stop, now.""You're not her type," she hedged. Travis feigned offense. "I'm everyone's type!"I peeked over at him and smiled. "Ah! A smile. I'm not a rotten bastard after all.”

“He lifted my luggage off the floor. "You're not sleeping on the couch or the recliner. You're sleeping in my bed.""Which is more unsanitary than the couch, I'm sure.""There's never been anyone in my bed but me."I rolled my eyes. "Give me a break!""I'm absolutely serious. I bag 'em on the couch. I don't let them in my room.""Then why am I allowed in your bed?"One corner of his mouth pulled up into an impish grin. "Are you planning on having sex with me tonight?""No!""That's why. Now get your cranky ass up, take your hot shower, and then we can study some Bio.”

“I stared at the couch with revulsion. "She's someone's daughter, Travis. What if, down the line, someone treats your daughter like that?""My daughter better not drop her panties for some jackass she just met, let's put it that way.”

“I didn't say you were a bad person. I just don't like being a foregone conclusion for sole reason of having a vagina." I focused on the grains of salt on the table until I heard a choking noise from Travis's direction.His eyes widened and he quivered with howling laughter. "Oh my God! You're killing me! That's it. We have to be friends. I won't take no for an answer.”

“She smiled and wrapped her arms around him, kissing his neck. "I'll leave my number on the counter.""Eh...Don't worry about it," He said in a casual tone."What?" She asked, leaning back to look in his eyes."Every time!" America said. She looked at the woman. "How are you surprised by this? He's Travis Fucking Maddox! He is famous for this very thing, and every time they're surprised!”

“I was his exception, and as much as I had tried to fight my feelings, he was mine.”

“You gotta dance with the devil to get out of Hell.”

“I felt like Winnie the Pooh trying to squeeze into the honey tree.”

“Should be a pleasant flight, Mr. and soon-to-be Mrs. Ryel,” the pilot said. Jared’s grin stretched the width of his face. “I might have paid him extra to say that.” “I figured as much,” I teased.”

“Claire freed him, and then lifted Ryan to his feet. She pushed back his head to inspect his wound, overly rough. “You’ll live.” Ryan winced. “Thanks, Honey, I love you, too.”

“You don’t really think I’m going to let her yell at my wife, do you?”“You’re getting pretty comfortable with that term.”“I guess it’s time I admit it. I knew you were going to be my wife pretty much from the second I met you. I’m not going to lie and say I haven’t been waiting for the day I could say it…so I’m going to abuse the title. You should get used to it, now.” He said this all matter-of-factly, as if he were giving a practiced speech.”

“I’d do it all over again, you know. I wouldn’t trade one second if it meant we were right here, in this moment.”

“I’ve never been so clear about anything in my life. I turned around, made my way to that room you were in, and there you were. Nothing else mattered. I didn't even know if we would make it out or not, I just wanted to be where you were, whatever that meant. The only thing I’m afraid of is a life without you, Pigeon.”

“I loved him, and no matter what my reasons were to live without him, I knew it wasn’t what I wanted.”

“I’ll never love anyone the way I love you, Pigeon.”

“That’s not true. I love you more than my life, Pigeon,” he said, hurt.“That’s exactly what I mean. That’s crazy talk.”“It’s not crazy. It’s the truth.”

“Everyone’s staring at you in this dress,” he said. I looked up, expecting to see a tense expression, but he was smiling. “I guess it’s kinda cool…being with the girl everyone wants.”I rolled my eyes. “They don’t want me. They're curious why you want me. And anyway, I feel sorry for anyone that thinks they have a chance. I am hopelessly and completely in love with you.”A pained look shadowed his face. “You know why I want you? I didn’t know I was lost until you found me. I didn't know what alone was until the first night I spent without you in my bed. You’re the one thing I’ve got right. You’re what I’ve been waiting for, Pigeon.”