“I'm trying to quit,” he said. “Just so you know.” He lit the cigarette and inhaled so long and so deep it sounded like air being let out of a tire.”

“Even sound seemed to fail in this air, like the air was worn out with carrying sounds so long.”

“It was so loud and so deep, it wasn't really sound at all, just something that turned the air hard and then hit you with it.”

“It's late, I'm tired, and your cigarettes are giving me a headache," I growled."I suppose that's fair." He drew in on the cigarette and let out the smoke. "Some women think they make me look sexy.""I think you smoke them so you have something to do while thinking up your next witty line."He choked on the smoke, caught between inhaling and laughing. "Rose Hathaway, I can't wait to see you again. If you're this charming while tired and annoyed and this gorgeous while bruised and in ski clothes, you must be devastating at your peak.”

“I'm tired of being lost and I'm tired of dying, so I'm going to try something different this time.”

“Ty?” I said, trying out your name, liking the way it sounded. “So what’s it like anyway? Australia?”You smiled then, and your whole face changed with it. It kind of lit up, like there were sunbeams coming from inside you.“You’ll find out,” you said.”