“Dear Satan. I don't know why you're testing me, but I don't like it. No love, Galen.”

“When he was preparing for a big fight, his trainer would take him mountain climbing to build up his hand strength and endurance. Max’s favorite piece of advice? Don’t look down until you reach the summit. Galen had asked why, thinking Max would give him some inspirational shit about the satisfaction of seeing how far he’d come at the end or something. Instead, Max had snorted, “Because it’s fucking scary.”

“I like my freedom, and I sure as shit won’t ask your permission to cross stuff off my bucket list. I’m cranky in the morning until I’ve had my coffee, and I’m not sure I ever want kids... I’m not used to compromising or having someone to answer to or clear my schedule with. And to be honest? It scares the ever-loving shit out of me. But I want to try. If you do. Because being with you is an adventure.”

“Maybe the way he tried to corral me my entire junior year of high school like I was some wayward cow and he was the ranch’s most enthusiastic farmhand?”

“Please tell me you’re not chastising me over my lack ofmanners right now. Because if I thought that were true, I just might getone of those stupid shrimp forks your mother insisted we have and jam itinto your eye.”

“Oh my God. I kneed him in the wiener. And oh my frigging God, it was like stone.”

“Apparently, fate was intent on making this a teaching moment. The lessons? You never become immune to new pain, you don't get credit for old pain and it ain't up to you to decide when you've had your share of it.”