“Rosie: Sorry about that, Randy Andy here wouldn’t let me leave the office.Ruby: Oh he is such a slave driver! You should complain to head office, getthe asshole fired.Rosie: He is head office.Ruby: Oh yeah.Rosie: Well in all fairness Ruby, he may be a prick but we did just take abreak an hour ago . . . and it was our third one in less than threehours . . .Ruby: You are turning into one of THEM!Rosie: I have a child to feed.Ruby: As do I.Rosie: That child feeds himself, Ruby.Ruby: Ah leave my little fatso alone. He’s my baby and I love him regardless.Rosie: He’s 17.”

“You already made your point,” I say with a mouthful of fruit. “Did I?”“Oh, for the love of dick, yes. Now leave me alone.” “Never. If you want, I’ll fuck you now.” The gall. I wouldn’t fuck him now if my clit was on fire and needed to be doused with nub-saving cum. I roll my eyes at him. “No thanks, we have a lifetime of fucking ahead of us,” I say mockingly. He shrugs and starts to walk away as if it makes no difference to him one way or the other. He’s such a jackass sometimes. Before I can stop myself I throw my half-eaten banana at him and it hits him on the back of his neck. He spins around, wipes his neck and looks down at the banana on the floor. “Did you really just fruitally assault me?”He thinks he’s so damned funny with his wordplay.”

“How did you get my number anyway?”“Some asshole named Nash.”“Asshole?”“Yeah, asshole. Don’t tell me you don’t think he’s an asshole!”I laugh uncomfortably. “Um, no I don’t think he’s an asshole. He’s always been nice to me.”asshole. He’s always been nice to me.”“Of course he has. You’re gorgeous. What man wouldn’t be nice to you?”“Plenty.”“Assholes, all of them,” he teases.“They’re assholes, too?”“Yep.”“Is everyone an asshole today?”“Yep,” he repeats. “Word of the day toilet paper.”I laugh, genuinely this time. “Is that right?”

“Twice we stood beside each other at the altar, Rosie. Twice. And twicewe got it wrong. I needed you to be there for my wedding day but I was toostupid to see that I needed you to be the reason for my wedding day. But wegot it all wrong.I should never have let your lips leave mine all those years ago in Boston.I should never have pulled away. I should never have panicked. I should neverhave wasted all those years without you. Give me a chance to make them upto you. I love you, Rosie, and I want to be with you and Katie and Josh.Always.Please think about it. Don’t waste your time on Greg, this is our opportunity.Let’s stop being afraid and take the chance. I promise I’ll make youhappy.”

“He opened the front door and Gwen said, “Lock?”He stopped immediately. “Yeah?” Did he have to sound so eager when he was the one making the decision to go? Damn him! “Uh…could you leave him here? He kind of comes with the place.” Frowning, Lock glanced down. “Oh, jeez!”Oh, jeez?“Sorry about that.” He immediately dropped the lion he’d dragged from the couch to the door, back to the couch, and back to the door. “Habit. Usually I bat my prey around until they stop fighting and drag them off to the brush to…well…you know.” He looked down at Mitch. “Sorry about that…uh…”“Mitch,” she told him. “Mitch. Right. Sorry about that, Mitch. And nice to meet you.”

“I take it you know my companion?"Oh,yes!" said Savage, his smile disappearing. "We know all about Ruby Journey. Please don't let her kill anyone important. Or set fire to anything."Your reputation precedes you," Random said dryly to Ruby.”