“I just told Max flatly, "I had laser surgery last week to lighten my birthmark," as if it was no big deal.Oh yeah?" he said. Unexpectedly, Max swiveled around, yanked his pants down.The last thing I thought I had wanted to see tonight was Merc walking out the door. I was wrong. It was this stranger's rear end. "Please don't tell me this is one of those stripping telegrams?”

“Max: "Okay guys, I had a couple thoughts I wanted to go over with you."Iggy: (pretends to snore loudy)Max: (throws another pinecone at him)Iggy: "Quit throwing things at me!"Max: "Glad you could join us.”

“His hand slid up my spine, bringing me closer, pinning my hands between us as I watched his neck bend.I had a feeling I knew where this was going."Max," I warned, my body bracing."Quiet," he ordered softly. "Got a point to make, honey.""Max!" I snapped."Let's see how good this could be," he muttered, his eyes on my mouth and I knew, I just knew, he was going to kiss me."Max, don't you-"But his fingers had sifted into my hair against my scalp cupping my head, holding me steady and his mouth came down on mine, cutting off my words.”

“Max was looking scrambled and nauseous and Will was practically holding Max up as they walked. “Dude, I get why they call it the green thing now, it’s the color of your face,” Trent said as he too, helped Max to sit down.Max shrugged “Go on the roller coaster they tell me. It’ll be fun they tell me.”

“I know. And I couldn't wait any longer, I have to tell you - "The panic rises, and I grip the French band tighter. "Cricket, please -"But his words pour forth in a torrent. "I can't stop thinking about you, and I'm not the guy I used to be, I've changed -""Cricket -" I look back up, feeling faint.His blue eyes are bright. Sincere. Desperate. "Go out with me tonight. Tomorrow night, every ni -" The words cut off in his throat as he sees something behind me.Cigarettes and spearmint. I want to die."This is Max. My boyfriend. Max, this is Cricket Bell.”

“Last week my boss told me to rewrite a twenty-page proposal on engagement benchmarking. I turned it in and he wrote a note on the cover that just said, "No, no. Not this." I had no idea what he wanted, so I just put it off, and then when he came in this morning and told me he needed the final draft in a half-hour I printed out the exact same one as before, but this time on prettier paper. This afternoon he brought the whole team together to tell everyone I was the perfect example of being able to listen to constructive criticism.”