“My muse is an ungrateful harlot who’s abandoned me to actually come up with my own plots.”

“Adrian stood there leaning against the doorframe, watching me with his heart in his eyes. In my chest, my own heart was breaking. On my cheek, the lily reminded me who I was. ”

“The problem with having so many people call me by nicknames was that when someone called me by my actual name, it usually meant something serious was happening.”

“My mom beat me up," I informed my reflection. It looked back sympathetically.”

“I loved you!" he yelled. He jumped up out of his chair so quickly I never saw it coming. "I loved you, and you destroyed me. You took my heart and ripped it up.”

“It occurred to me that I was standing face to face with the hero of a love story nearly as dramatic as my own.”

“Longing surged up within me. I wanted it. Oh God, I wanted it. I didn't want to hear Jerome chastise me for my "all lowlifes, all the time" seduction policy. I wanted to come home and tell someone about my day. I wanted to go out dancing on the weekends. I wanted to take vacations together. I wanted someone to hold me when I was upset, when the ups and downs of the world pushed me too far. I wanted someone to love. ”