“You need to choose Leah," Duffy breathes into my ear as he drags his lips lightly across my cheekbone. He rests his forehead against mine. "I won't be your second choice.”

“Canada is lovely," she breathed against his lips. "And you are lovely."His laughter ghosted into her mouth. "That's my line, Lyd. You are supposed to think me handsome”

“I still need you," I murmured. He rested his forehead against mine and closed his eyes, his breathing irregular. Then his lips found mine again. It made my heart ache, made my soul ache. I loved him far too much.”

“How can it be that the people who are supposed to love me the most are here, so close, all lined up shiny and promising, yet I feel so alone?”

“I know now that this isn’t true love or perfection or happily ever after. It’s not even meant to be. This is a broken condom at the end of a drunken night. This is a generational walk of shame with two hundred spectators”

“When at last he could lift his head, he asked, “What have you done?”“What have I done?” She lifted a mocking brow. “Why, I’ve kidnapped the marquees of Northcliff.”“You dare to admit it?” Inch by painful inch, he dragged himself onto the cot.“Admitting to it is the least of my sins. I did it.”

“The Cutter leaned toward me, resting his forehead against mine. 'Fool me once,' he whispered, 'shame on you.' He pressed the bridge of his nose against mine, his breath burning the back of my throat. His voice was rough and furious. 'Fool me twice, and I will cut out your fucking throat.”