“I knew they were cruel. Maybe I felt … sorry for him.” I snort. “Sorry for me? I could’ve handled those guys.” “They smashed the back of your head in with a board from my house.”

“That’s right, Sha-kira?” I shook my head “No, sorry. My hips do lie.” “Damn ok, back to the drawing board.”

“When Kieran nudged me awake, I tried to punch him."Lucy—shit!" He ducked, smashing his head on the window.I blinked blearily. "Sorry, Kier. Habbit."He rubbed the back of his head. "Between you and Hunter, it's a wonder I have all of my limbs still intact."I snorted, rubbing my eyes. "You dosed me with Hypnos.""Three months ago. Let it go, Hamilton."I just grinned sleepily. "You have so much to learn.”

“I couldn’t think of anyone I’d ever felt sorry for. There were plenty of kids I was envious of. There were others I achingly admired, but that might simply be another form of jealousy. Then there were those I feared, dreaded. And the worst of them, the man who shamed me. I could see my father’s angry features looming over my mother. I could clearly picture her beside him in his truck, cowering against the door while he belittled and assaulted her. I guess I did know someone I felt sorry for.”

“My brain must have felt sorry for me, so it’d created the only type of guy I could touch—a fantasy one.”

“I stare into his eyes, I shake my head, sorry for the chance we lost. The chance we maybe never had. But not for saving him. I would do that again, no matter the cost.”