“Don't worry about me babe. I've seen so many backs walking away from me that this is old hat," he said, shrugging like this wasn't killing him like it was me. "Say it," he said, his voice shaking.”

“Brody, please tell me what this has all been about" I said."The lead-up to the Second World War" said Brody, still not lowering the handout, "or so I've been assured."Frustrated, I pushed the paper away from Brody. He averted his eyes from me."Don't be like that" he said quietly."Are you seeing Ashley Ventwood" I asked him."No" he said, still looking away."Would you tell me if you were?" He didn't move.”

“I shall freckle.""That doesn't bother me," he said with a shrug."It bothers me!""Don't worry. They'll be on your own face, so you won't have to see them."Ellie gaped at him, astounded by his illogic.”

“I’m gonna take a nap, Heaven,” he said, wanting away from her to clear his head. He didn’t like feeling uncomfortable in his house.“Haven,” she corrected him as he started to walk away.“I know,” he said. “I kinda like Heaven though.”She turned to him, and their eyes met for the first time since he’d walked into the room. “Me, too.”

“They resumed walking. Alex felt an ache in his eyes and throat. "I don't know what happened to me," he said, shaking his head. "I honestly don't."Bennie glanced at him, a middle-aged man with chaotic silver hair and thoughtful eyes. "You grew up, Alex," he said, "just like the rest of us.”

“We’re not breaking up because you want to do the noble thing for me,” he said, his voice dropping low in warning, the edge there, dark and twisted. “You will never get away from me; you should resign yourself to that now.”“Lan––”“I’ll kill you and then myself, that’s a promise.”The way he said it, so matter-of-fact, I really should have worried.”