“Having buck teeth in junior high,” she rounded up unsteadily, “mustbe ideal preparation for getting old. For pretty people, aging is a dumbshock. It’s like, what’s going on? Why doesn’t anyone smile at me atcheckout anymore? But it won’t be a shock for me. It’ll be, oh that. Thatagain. Teeth.”

“Luke, you have to know, it won’t be like the other guys. If it’s you, it’ll be worse.” My voice went softer, lower, barely a whisper. “If this goes bad, it’ll destroy me.”

“It doesn’t matter what’s wrong with him. We’re not going to act like he doesn’t exist. Not anymore.”

“I clenched my teeth and tried desperately to get air to my starved brain. If this annoying red head didn’t go away I was about to go all wolf up in here and it wasn’t going to be pretty. My wolf was screaming at me to defend my territory. Caeden was mine and she just wouldn’t get the message!”

“The saddest thing is there won’t be anyone to miss us when we’re gone. No family, no friends, no one waiting at home.”“It’s better that way,” I said. “It’ll be easier for me, knowing my death doesn’t add to anyone’s pain.”“If you can’t give anyone pain, then you can’t give them joy either.”

“Oh my God, sociability is just a big smile and a big smile is nothing but teeth, I wish I could just stay up here and rest and be kind." But somebody brought up some wine and that started me off.”