“If you're there, Eva...if you're really there..." His fingers tightened around our shoulder, digging into our skin. "I love you, too. Always"Then he pushed us away.”

“Scout - oblivious to our jokes at her expense - pushed forward. "I don't understand why you're arguing with me. You know you have no chance."Michael clutched at his chest dramatically. "You're killing me, Scout. Really. There's chest pain - a tightness." He faked a groan.”

“It ended much too soon. Ash pulled away, eyes bright, shaking with desire and passion. Both our hearts were thudding wildly, and Ash´s fingers were digging painfully into my shoulders. "Don´t ask me this again".”

“I throw myself into him, letting him fill the empty hollow places being away from him. I'm already wrapped around him, but I push closer. He tightens his hold on me. Honestly, if I could fit myself into his skin and rest in-between his bones, right now, I would.”

“No," Dimitri interrupted gently. He moved his face toward mine, our foreheads nearly touching. "It won't happen to you. You're too strong. You'll fight it, just like you did thistime.""I only did because you were here." He wrapped his arms around me, and I buried my face in his chest. "I can't do it by myself," I whispered."You can," he said. There was a tremulous note in his voice. "You're strong—you're so, so strong. It's why I love you.”

“Lucille always loved a strong breeze. She said it was nature's way of blowing away our sorrows.'Just then another gust of wind whipped around us. Aunt Tootie smiled. I smiled too.”