“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?”

“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.”

“Sweetheart," he chided, making my heart skid. "You'll never need me more than I need you." I didn't argue out loud, though my mind made it clear that he was insane if he thought that was true.”

“What makes you think he won't freak? He is my father and I'm his only little girl.""Betcha five bucks.""Deal," I said with a laugh. "He is gonna freak and I'll take your money and buy a honey bun with a diet cream soda and I won't share with you," I sang.”

“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.”

“Why not get married and get started on your life?" "You’ve thought about this already, haven’t you?" "Of course I have. Caleb leaned to hover over me on his elbows and looked seriously at me. “I’ve thought about it every since you first touched me and I knew you were mine.”

“So what was your favourite song?""Um...the one about the sun sizzling into the ocean." He laughed hard. "What?""Zeke wrote that song about his cat.""His cat," I repeated blandly."Yep, Peaches, she ran away.""I'd run away too," I muttered under my breath, making him laugh harder.”