“Truly, all that was missing was Mission Impossible theme music, and if I was being honest, it was playing in my head anyway.”

“I'd more than missed him, I needed him. It wasn't a dependency, it wasn't a weakness or a failure, he was an addition to my very soul. And I laughed into our kiss as I realized that this was what love was. I could live without him, of course I could, and I could function and get on with my days if he wasn't here, but I didn't want to. I wanted him right where he was, in my space and in my life.”

“The song that was playing above us was You And Me by Lifehouse and he pressed his face into my hair and softly sang the words to me.What day is it? And in what month?This clock never seemed so aliveI can't keep up I can't back downI'm losing so much time'Cause it's you and me, and all of the people with nothing to do, nothing to loseAnd it's you and me, and all of the people And I don't know why I can't keep my eyes off of youI could have died... or cried...or sighed. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do more.”

“Kyle, open up. What kind of weirdo locks his bedroom door anyway?""The kind that has jerks staying over who steal girlfriends."I pressed my fingers into my eyes and took a deep breath as the pain in back and legs got a little worse. "She wasn't your girlfriend.""Irrelevant!" he yelled.”

“I kinda like it that I can stand on my own,” I said with a smirk. “Let’s not make it a habit, ok? I’m not thrilled with this discovery of yours.” He cracked a playful smile. “I much prefer to order you around and you just do whatever I say.” “Your high handedness is impressive,” I mused.”

“Was he laughing at me? Was I so pathetic that the thought that not only getting caught, but being humiliated with laughter was appropriate punishment for my lameness?”

“It’s ok, Merrick. I get it. I’m sorry, I just...I just can’t handle it when people are upset with me and I can’t fix it somehow. I’ll stay out of your way, ok.” As I hopped down from the counter and turned to leave he grabbed my wrist and my skin immediately began to tingle.“You’re so blind,” he breathed shaking his head.”