“You told me you don’t do relationships.”“I don’t. It only ends up a mess when true mates come along” ...“Then why? Why ask for more.”A slight pause. “Because you matter.”

“So you didn’t tell me it was a messed-up idea to keep this all a secret because. . .” “Because experience is the only teacher,” Hey-Soos says. “Even if I could have told you, it would have been a lecture. Why do you think kids don’t listen to their parents, or people don’t leave churches and do what the preacher tells them? There’s only one thing that’s universal.” “What’s that?” “The truth.”

“Why do you always answer questions with questions?”“Why don’t you shut up and kiss me?”She didn’t have to ask twice.”

“I don’t know why you put up with me, and I don’t know what I’d do if you didn’t.”

“Don’t show me how I messed up, because I don’t need to be shown. Clearly if I’ve messed up once, I can do it again without any coaching from you.”

“Come back to me. Don’t leave me all alone. Don’t die on me, you stupid sonovabitch. You goddamn fuckingidiot. I told you to stay out of the damn fight! Why the hell don’t you ever listen? I fucking hate you. I hate you,you hear me? Don’t you dare die on me, because I need to kill you with my bare hands.”