“I feel like I’m going to an execution.Of my heart and my trust maybe.And that’s pretty much right.”

“I love her so damned much." Manny heard himself say. “That’s my heart right there. That’s my woman”.”

“I guess I could be pretty pissed off about what happened to me, but it’s hard to stay mad when there’s so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I’m seeing it all at once, and it’s too much; my heart fills up like a balloon that’s about to burst. And then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold onto it. And then it flows through me like rain, and I can’t feel anything but gratitude—for every single moment of my stupid, little life. You have no idea what I’m talking about, I’m sure; but don’t worry….you will someday.”

“I really feel like I’m going insane and want to rip my hair out of my head to cancel out the pain in my heart."~Cole”

“I’m not an animal. I don’t pretty on people’s families to get back at them. (Angelia)Oh, girl, trust me. Animals don’t revenge-kill or –attack. That’s purely human. So in this case, you better act like an animal and guard her with your life. ‘Cause that’s what I’m going to take if she so much as gets a paper cut in your presence. (Vane)”

“I think back to our fearsome disaster of a night together, with the Old Yeller and the awkward and her pretty much jumping me in an alley. And then her pretty much jumping me in the car. Me pretty much wanting to jump out of my whole existence. And suddenly, I feel really grateful for that whole crazy-ass experience. I’m not sure where I’d be if it hadn’t happened, but … chances are it wouldn’t be here. It’s not like I know where stuff’s going to go from this point. Probably more difficult, scary, confusing, stressful-as-all places. But I’ve got a crazy old bastard trying to force-feed me citrus in the name of my own health, and that? That’s not something I’d trade. “Thanks, Cora,” I say. “Yeah,” she replies, with this little smile that’s almost gentle, “sure.”