“We used to be close. We used to be like brothers. And if you died . . . it would be like a part of my family had died. And I don’t think you realize that.”

“No, let’s make this interesting. If I win, we have sex backstage tonight. If you win, we have sex backstage tonight.”I wanted to laugh again, but the way he said sex froze my brain for a second. “Um…I don’t think you understand how betting works.”Moving in close to me, he breathed his response into my ear while he rested his hand on my stomach. “Don’t I?”

“He relaxed and looked at my lips and then my eyes and then back to my lips. “How do we do that? This is what we do…back and forth, back and forth. You want me, you want him. You love me, you love him. You like me, you hate me, you want me, you don’t want me, you love me…you leave me. There’s so much that went wrong before…”

“I know...and I love you. But I don't think we love each other in the same way. And...I think keeping you near me, would destroy me.”

“That’s the spirit. Now the next time you say it, say it without looking like your puppy just died.”

“I need you to be there when I die"...... "I need your face to be the last thing my human eyes see.”

“Griffin? You ever heard of knocking?”Griffin sniffed and tucked his chin-length hair behind his ears. “We’re family, dude, I don’t need to knock.”I sighed, not sure if Kellan could argue that point or not—not since Griffin had impregnated my sister. He really was family now. Lord help me.”