“The footing was really atrocious. I loved it. I really like Cross Country; you're one with the mud.”

“The freedom of Cross Country is so primitive. It's woman vs. nature.”

“In my mind, I am this awesome, adventurous bad ass. But in reality, I am just a bookworm that really likes wine.”

“I chew my bottom lip, urging myself to step up to the plate and tell Dorian how I really feel. “I feel like you’re…doing something to me. Changing me, in a way. The day I met you, it’s like, the earth shifted. Every bit of doubt and reluctance instantly dissolves whenever you’re around me. Things make sense that ordinarily wouldn’t. I don’t fully understand it so it’s incredibly difficult for me to even try to explain it to you. But I know something happened. I know what I felt.”Dorian’s eyes darken a fraction, the makings of a dark storm brewing behind crystal blue. “You’re overthinking it.”“Am I? Or am I not thinking about it enough?”For several heated moments, we stare at each other, both our expressions guarded and defensive. He has secrets, just like I do. But while we may be hell bent on safeguarding the most secluded spaces of our psyches, the devastatingly strong attraction between us keeps penetrating the rouse. In our most intimate moments, he can’t hide from me and I can’t hide from him. And I don’t want to, though I know it’s extremely stupid of me to feel that way.”

“I always feel a certain sense of reverence in libraries, even small city ones that smell like homeless internet users.”

“I kind of missed the whole running into each other thing. Provided a lot of excitement.""I don't miss that," I admitted, bending over and rummaging through my bag for my notebook. "That was really embarrassing.""It shouldn't have been.""Easy for you to say. You're the one who got plowed. I was doing the plowing."Cam's mouth opened. Oh my God, did I really just say that? I had.”

“What are those bulb things you're slicing?""You've never seen fennel? It looks like celery and tastes like licorice.”