“Aren't I supposed to be brave, fearless? Isn't that what the world expects?" "Screw what the world expects. Think about all the things you've faced. You cracked, but you didn't break. You're still standing. I'd call that fearless. You've already conquered so much.”

“Screw what the world expects. Think about all the things you’ve faced. You cracked, but you didn’t break. You’re still standing. I’d call that fearless.”

“My breath caught in my throat.Buttered biscuits and honey."You're not what I expected.”

“You aren't my keeper, Lily.""No one is. You're responsilbe for you. I'm simply reminding you that you're worth more than what you'll find at the bottom of a bottle.”

“Michael put the paper down and leaned across the table toward me, unexpectedly intense. "What do you want?""I already ordered an espresso," I answered, reflexively leaning back."No, I mean what do you want from life?""Good morning to you, too. Isn't it a little early for philosophy?”

“I realized I'd never asked him about his major. Probably wasn't time travel.I didn't think our local college was quite that progressive.”

“You think you can start tomorrow? I need a break.""Only if you can free me from this beast of a chair," I said, wiggling as I tried to get some leverage. "What do you feed this thing? Customers?""Relax." Lily let her hair fall around her shoulders and grinned at me. "I kind of like having a captive audience.”