“Just touching her like this. Holding her face as our bodies touched everywhere made me feel like a freakin' rock star.”

“Still I pulled her into a hug, because I knew she let me off the hook on purpose and yeah, I'm a guy and I love my mom. So shoot me. I'm man enough to hug her without feeling like a mama's boy.”

“My skin tingled a little where she touched me. I was totally aware of that one spot more than I'd been aware of anything in my whole life. I didn't know if I wanted the feeling to go away or to feel it forever.”

“I let her catch me. I like it when she catches me. But last summer, she stopped chasing. It sucks.”

“Her eyes don't leave her book, but I see her smile. It's like the inside of my chest hiccups or something at the sight.”

“I was totally aware of that one spot [where she touched me] more than I'd been aware of anything in my whole life.”

“I grab her arms and pull her toward me. Now she has her arms wrapped around my waist and we’re chest to chest. She’s laughing and I almost want to laugh with her. For a second it feels real and okay. The knot in my gut loosens and I’m not scared to breathe.”