“
To douchebags!" he said, gesturing to Brad. "And to girls that break your heart," he bowed his head to me. His eyes lost focus. "And to the absolute fucking horror of losing your best friend because you were stupid enough to fall in love with her.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
I knew the second I met you
that there was something about you I needed. Turns out it
wasn’t something about you at all. It was just you.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
It's over. Go home.
You're my home.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
I belong to my beloved, and my beloved is mine.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
You know why I want you? I didn’t know I was lost until you found me. I didn’t know what alone was until the first night I spent without you in my bed. You’re the one thing I’ve got right. You’re what I’ve been waiting for, Pigeon.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
Let me guess, it's the love of your life?" I said quoting Travis' statement about his motorcycle.
"No, it's a car. The love of my life will be a women with my last name.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
I know we're fucked up, alright? I'm impulsive, and hot tempered, and you get under my skin like no one else. You act like you hate me one minute, and then need me the next. I never get anything right, and I don't deserve you...but I fucking love you, Abby. I love you more than I loved anyone or anything ever. When you're around, I don't need booze, or money, or the fighting, or the one-night stands...
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
I need to hear you say it. I need to know you’re mine.”
“I’ve been yours since the second we met.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
You can’t tell me
what to do anymore, Travis! I don’t belong to you!”
In the second it took him to turn and face me, his
expression had contorted into anger. He stomped toward
me, planting his hands on the bed and leaning into my face.
“WELL I BELONG TO YOU!” The veins in his neck
bulged as he shouted, and I met his glare, refusing to even
flinch. He looked at my lips, panting. “I belong to you.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
He scanned my face with careful hope in his eyes.
“You love me?”
“It’s the tattoos,” I shrugged.
A wide smile stretched across his face, making his
dimple sink into his cheek.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
It wasn’t just me, and it wasn’t just him, it was what we were together that was the exception.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
One of these days you're going to fall in love, son. Don't settle for just anyone. Choose the girl that doesn't come easy; the one you have to fight for, and then never stop fighting. Never
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Walking Disaster (Beautiful, #2))
“
I'm not your anything," I snapped, glaring up at him.
His eyebrows pulled in and he stopped dancing. "You're my everything.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
He was afraid of nothing. Until he'd met me.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
It's dangerous to need someone that much. You're trying to save him and he's hoping you can. You two are a disaster." I smiled at the ceiling. "It doesn't matter what or why it is. When it's good, Kara... it's beautiful.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
Make way! Move it, people! Lets make room for this poor woman's hideously disfigured, ginormous brain! She's a fucking genius!
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
I don't want to sleep with you, Pidge. I like you too much.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
I know
you deserve better than me. You think I don’t know that? But
if there was any woman made for me…it’s you. I’ll do
whatever I have to do, Pidge. Do you hear me? I’ll do
anything.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
I've been drinking, all right? Your skin was three inches from my face, and you're beautiful, and you smell fucking awesome when you sweat. I kissed you! I'm sorry! Get over yourself!
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
There's a girl, Dad."
He smiled a bit. "A girl."
"She kinda hates me, and I kinda..."
"Love her?"
"I don't know. I don't think so. I mean...how do you know?"
His smile grew wider. "When you're talking about her with your old dad because you don't know what else to do.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Walking Disaster (Beautiful, #2))
“
We notice the silence of men. We depend upon the silence of women.
”
”
Seanan McGuire (Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children, #1))
“
He continued to stare out the window. "I meant what I said before. You need to walk away, Pidge. God knows I can't walk away from you.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
I smiled to fight the tears. "Fifty bucks says you'll be thanking me for this when you meet your future wife."
Travis's eyebrow pulled together as his face fell. "That's an easy bet. The only woman I'd ever wanna marry just broke my heart.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
You just want me to hold you until you fall asleep?"
I didn't answer.
He shifted to look straight into my eyes. "I should say no to prove a point," he said, his eyebrows pulling together. "But I would hate myself later if I said no and you never asked me again.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
It's over. Go home."
His eyebrows pulled in. "You're my home.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
Abs? What are you, a workout video?" he sneered.
"Pigeon?" I said with the same amount of disdain. "An annoying bird that craps all over the sidewalk?"
"You like Pigeon," he said defensively. "It's a dove, an attractive girl, a winning card in poker, take your pick. You're my Pigeon.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
You’re nobody’s doorway but your own, and the only one who gets to tell you how your story ends is you.
”
”
Seanan McGuire (Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children, #1))
“
He laughed once. "Unbelievable. The one girl I want, and she doesn't want me.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
Time will make it worse! You're...the other half of his soul. He's never going to get over you. And no matter how much you hope that you will... you'll never get over him. You're going to wake up one day and realize what you've done, and you're going to regret the time you wasted apart from him for the rest of your life.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Providence (Providence, #1))
“
Travis took a step, but America pointed her finger at him. "So help me God, Travis! If you try to stop her, I will douse you with gasoline and light you on fire while you sleep!
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
I feel like any second you're going to figure out what a piece of shit I am and leave me.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
She was a story, not an epilogue.
”
”
Seanan McGuire (Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children, #1))
“
Did you forget I was with you? Are you trying to get me killed?"
"It's hard to forget you're behind me when your thighs are squeezing the life out of me." A smirk came with his next thought. "I couldn't think of a better way to die, actually."
"There is something very wrong with you.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
I'm going to kill David Lapinski!" America announced, shaking snow out of her hair as she approached.
"Direct hit!" Shepley laughed. America shot him a warning glare and his laugh turned into a nervous chuckle. "I mean... what an asshole.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
I fucking love you!” He grabbed each side of my face,
slamming his lips against mine. “I love you so much,
Pigeon,” he said, kissing me over and over.
“Just remember that in fifty years when I’m still kicking
your ass in poker,” I giggled.
He smiled, triumphant. “If it means sixty or seventy
years with you, Baby…you have my full permission to
do your worst.”
I raised one eyebrow, “You’re gonna regret that.”
“You wanna bet?”
I smiled with as much deviance as I could muster.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
I was his exception, and as much as I had tried to fight my feelings, he was mine.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
You're nobody's rainbow.
You're nobody's princess.
You're nobody's doorway but your own, and the only one who gets to tell you how your story ends is you.
”
”
Seanan McGuire (Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children, #1))
“
I'm going to kiss you now, and I don't know if I'll ever stop.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Providence (Providence, #1))
“
You’re the only woman I know that still looks incredible with your head in
the toilet. That’s saying something.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
I kissed her again, tenderly touching my lips to hers. “Now what?”
“Kiss the kids, and then you and I can celebrate eleven years of in-your-face-we-made-it. How about that?
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Walking Disaster (Beautiful, #2))
“
I'd do anything for that smile that's on your face right now.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
I’m a cat. We aren’t required to make sense.
”
”
Seanan McGuire (A Local Habitation (October Daye, #2))
“
Some adventures require nothing more than a willing heart and the ability to trip over the cracks in the world.
”
”
Seanan McGuire (Down Among the Sticks and Bones (Wayward Children, #2))
“
I'm not trying to bag you. I just wanna hang out."
"Bag me? How do you ever get laid talking like that?
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
The snow began to fall again, drifting against the windows, politely begging entrance and then falling with
disappointment to the ground
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
I had a thing for you since the night of that first fight.”
“What?” I said with a dubious expression.
“It’s true. You in that cardigan with blood all over you?
You looked absolutely ridiculous,” he chuckled.
“Thanks.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
I thought I was going to sweat five years before I'd feel like this."
"I wanted it as much as you did. I've just got a hell of a poker face" I smiled, pressing my lips against his.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
Their love wanted to fix her, and refused to see that she wasn't broken.
”
”
Seanan McGuire (Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children, #1))
“
Abby touched her palm to my cheek. "You know what, Mr. Maddox?"
"What, baby?"
Her expression turned serious.
"In another life, I could love you."
I watched her for a moment, staring into her glassed over eyes. She was drunk, but just for a moment it didn't seem wrong to pretend that she meant it.
"I might love you in this one.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Walking Disaster (Beautiful, #2))
“
You're going to break his heart, Abby. You're going to break his heart! The one girl he trusts enough to fall for, and you're going to nail him to the wall!
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
So you like her and you're scared. Now what?"
"Nothing. It just sucks that I finally found the girl worth having and she's too good for me.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Walking Disaster (Beautiful, #2))
“
Finch?" I ask him with my best fake smile. "Will you go to the stupid Sig Tau Valentine's Date party with me?"
Finch hugged me to his side. "Yes, But only because you called it stupid.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
If you come within two feet of this curtain, I will poke out your eyes while you sleep.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
Fighting, laughing, loving or crying, if it was with him, I was where I wanted to be.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
If you think I'm happy when you're not around, it's because I'm thinking of you.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Providence (Providence, #1))
“
Did women deserve to be treated like sluts? No. Did sluts deserve to be treated like sluts? Yes.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Walking Disaster (Beautiful, #2))
“
I clinked my bottle against his. “To being the only girl a
guy with no standards doesn’t want to sleep with.” I said,
taking a swig.
“Are you serious?” he asked, pulling the bottle from my
mouth. When I didn’t recant, he leaned toward me. “First of
all…I have standards. I’ve never been with an ugly woman.
Ever. Second of all, I wanted to sleep with you. I thought
about throwing you over my couch fifty different ways, but I
haven’t because I don’t see you that way anymore. It’s not
that I’m not attracted to you, I just think you’re better than
that.”
I couldn’t hold back the smug smile that crept across my
face. “You think I’m too good for you.”
He sneered at my second insult. “I can’t think of a single
guy I know that’s good enough for you.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
You slept just fine in the recliner. Why couldn't you sleep with me?"
"You mean next to a guy who still smelled like the pair of bar flies he had just sent home? I don't know! How selfish of me!
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
My
name’s Travis. Travis Maddox.”
I rolled my eyes. “I know who you are.”
“You do, huh?” Travis said, raising his wounded
eyebrow.
“Don’t flatter yourself. It’s hard not to notice when fifty
drunks are chanting your name. “
Travis sat up a bit taller. “I get that a lot.” I rolled my
eyes again, and Travis chuckled. “Do you have a
twitch?”
“A what?”
“A twitch. Your eyes keep wiggling around.” He laughed
again when I glared at him. “Those are some amazing eyes
though,” he said, leaning just inches from my face.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
Don't you remember, Travis? You ruined her sweater."
Travis smiled. "I ruin a lot of sweaters."
"Gross," I muttered.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
I don't get scared very often," he said finally. "I was scared the first morning I woke up and you weren't here. I was scared when you left me after Vegas. I was scared when I thought I was going to have to tell my dad that Trent had died in that building. But when I saw you across the flames in the basement...I was terrified. I made it to the door, was a few feet from the exit, and I couldn't leave.
"What do you mean? Are you crazy?" I said, my head jerking up to look into his eyes.
"I've never been so clear about anything in my life. I turned around, made my way to that room you were in, and there you were. Nothing else mattered. I didn't even know if we would make it out or not, I just wanted to be where you were, whatever that meant. The only thing I'm afraid of is a life without you, Pigeon."
I leaned up, kissing his lips tenderly. When our mouths parted, I smiled. "Then you have nothing to be afraid of. We're forever.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
And I know it doesn't matter what I say now, because I fucked things up... just like I always do."
"Trav?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't drive drunk on your bike anymore, okay?
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
I'm gonna fuck up. I'm gonna fuck up a lot, Pidge, but you have to forgive me.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
I decided a long time ago I would feed on the vultures until a dove came along. A pigeon. The kind of soul that didn't impede on anyone; just walked around worrying about its own business, trying to get through life without pulling everyone else down. With its own needs and selfish habits. Brave. A communicator. Intelligent. Beautiful. Soft-spoken. A creature that mates for life. Unattainable until she has a reason to trust you.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Walking Disaster (Beautiful, #2))
“
Once she kissed me, my heart slowed, and every muscle in my body relaxed. How much I needed her terrified me. -pg 252/ARC
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Walking Disaster (Beautiful, #2))
“
When Rome burned, the emperor's cats still expected to be fed on time.
”
”
Seanan McGuire (Rosemary and Rue (October Daye, #1))
“
You riding in the charger?"
"Nah. I'm going to see if I can get Abby on the back of my bike again. It's the closest I can get to the inside of her thighs
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Walking Disaster (Beautiful, #2))
“
I'm done, Travis."
He winced. "Don't say that."
"It's over. Go home."
His eyebrows pulled in. "You're my home.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
You're not going to say hi to Thomas?" I whispered.
He didn't look at me when he spoke, watching his family hug and laugh. "I got one night with you. I'm not going to waste a second of it.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
You just asked me to marry you," he said, still waiting for me to admit some kind of trickery.
"I know."
"That was the real deal, you know. I just booked two tickets to Vegas for noon tomorrow. So that means we're getting married tomorrow night."
"Thank you."
His eyes narrowed. "You're going to be Mrs. Maddox when you start classes on Monday."
"Oh," I said, looking around. Travis raised an eyebrow.
"Second thoughts?"
"I'm going to have some serious paperwork to change next week."
He nodded slowly, cautiously hopeful. "You're going to marry me tomorrow?"
I smiled. "Uh huh"
"You're serious?"
"Yep."
"I fucking love you!" He grabbed each side of my face, slamming his lips against mine. "I love you so much, Pigeon," he said, kissing me over and over.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
I like the au naturel thing you have going on. Girls don't come over here like that."
"I was coerced into coming here. It didn't occur to me to impress you," I said, aggravated that my plan had failed.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
This world is unforgiving and cruel to those it judges as even the slightest bit outside the norm.
”
”
Seanan McGuire (Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children, #1))
“
America's eyes darted in Kara's direction. "Good idea, Kara. The fact that you're a total bitch comes in handy sometimes.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
Travis grabbed my wrists and wrapped them around his middle. "There's nothing to hold on to but me, Pidge. Don't let go," he said pushing the bike backward with his feet.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
His eyebrows pulled in. “You won’t leave me, right? Even when I’m a pain in the ass?”
“I vowed in front of God – and Elvis – that I wouldn’t, didn’t I?
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
I will. I've never wanted a girlfriend before, Pigeon. I'm not used to feeling this way about someone...about anyone. If you'll be patient with me, I swear I'll get it figured out.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
I was in love with her; couldn’t imagine my life without her in it; but at the same time, I wanted her to have better.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Walking Disaster (Beautiful, #2))
“
It gets better. It never gets easy, but it does start to hurt a little less.
”
”
Seanan McGuire (Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children, #1))
“
I took a deep breath, and shut the bedroom door behind me. Even though we'd put each other through hell, we'd found heaven. Maybe that was more than a couple of sinners deserved, but I wasn't going to complain.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Walking Disaster (Beautiful, #2))
“
I was just as in love with her in our eleventh year as I was in the first. Every anniversary was a victory, a middle finger to everyone who thought we wouldn't last. Abby tamed me, marriage settled me down, and when I became a father, my entire outlook changed.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Walking Disaster (Beautiful, #2))
“
I don't know what I'm going to do with you, Trav! I've dumped someone for you-twice-I've picked up and went to Vegas with you-twice-I've literally gone through hell and back, married you and branded myself with your name. I'm running out of ideas to prove to you that I'm yours."
A small smile graced his lips. "I love it when you say that."
"That I'm yours?" I asked. I leaned up on the balls of my feet, pressing my lips against his. "I. Am. Yours. Mrs. Travis Maddox. Forever and always.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
He grabbed my arm. "Wait. You're mad?"
I yanked my coat from his grip. "You know...I don't even know why I'm surprised."
His eyebrows pulled in. "I can't win with you. I can't win with you! You say you're done...I'm fucking miserable over here! I had to break my phone into a million pieces to keep from calling you every minute of the damn day-I've had to play it off like everything is just fine at school so you can be happy...and you're fucking mad at me? You broke my fuckin' heart!" His last words echoed into the night.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
For us, places we went were home. We didn't care if they were good or evil or neutral or what. We cared about the fact that for the first time, we didn't have to pretend to be something we weren't. We just got to be. That made all the difference in the world.
”
”
Seanan McGuire (Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children, #1))
“
My palms flat against the wall of the tile, I clenched my eyes shut. "Please come back" I said quietly. She couldn't hear me, but it didn't stop me from wishing she would come and save me from the terrible pain I felt without her there.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Walking Disaster (Beautiful, #2))
“
Her expression turned serious. "In another life, I could love you."
I watched her for a moment, staring into her glassed-over eyes. She was drunk, but just for a moment it didn't seem wrong to pretend she meant it.
"I might love you in this one.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Walking Disaster (Beautiful, #2))
“
I looked at Mommy but quickly shook my head. "I don't want to miss her."
Becky put her soft, warm hand on my shoulder, just like Mommy used to when I was upset. "Your mom wants to be here with you. She wants that very much. But Jesus wants her with him right now."
I frowned. "I need her more than Jesus does.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Walking Disaster (Beautiful, #2))
“
I’ve been drinking, all right? Your skin was three inches
from my face, and you’re beautiful, and you smell fucking
awesome when you sweat. I kissed you! I’m sorry! Get over
yourself!”
His excuse made the corners of my mouth turn up.
“You think I’m beautiful?”
He frowned with disgust. “You’re gorgeous and you
know it. What are you smiling about?”
I tried to quell my amusement to no avail. “Nothing.
Let’s go.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
You said you're done with me, and I accept that. I'm a different person since I met you. I've changed... for the better. But no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to do right by you. We were friends first, Pigeon. I will always love you, but if I can't make you happy, it doesn't make much sense for me to try to get you back. I can't imagine being with anyone else, but I'll be happy as long as we're friends.
"You want to be friends?" I asked, the words burning in my mouth.
"I want you to be happy. Whatever that takes.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
He managed a single laugh. "Who would have thought from the first time we met that we'd be sitting here? You couldn't have told me three months ago that I'd be this miserable over saying goodbye to a girl."
My stomach sank. "I don't want you to be miserable."
"Then don't go.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
You should have asked her first, Trav," America said, shaking her head and covering her mouth with her fingers.
"Asked her what? If I could get a tattoo?" he frowned, turning to me. "I love you. I want everyone to know I'm yours.
I shifted nervously. "That's permanent, Travis."
"So are we," he said, touching my cheek.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
A toast” I yelled, climbing onto a chair. On my way to the top, I stole someone’s beer and held it out in front of me. “To douche bags!” I said gesturing to Brad. “And to girls that break your heart.” I bowed to Abby. My throat tightened. “And to the absolute fucking horror of losing your best friend because you were stupid enough to fall in love with her.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Walking Disaster (Beautiful, #2))
“
I’m sorry, Shepley,” I called after him.
He froze and wheeled around, with the face of a man that had reached his limit. “I wish you and Travis would just get your shit together! You’re a goddamn tornado! When you’re happy, it’s love and peace and butterflies. When you’re pissed, you take the whole fucking world down with you!
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
Because ‘boys will be boys’ is a self-fulfilling prophecy,” said Lundy. “They’re too loud, on the whole, to be easily misplaced or overlooked; when they disappear from the home, parents send search parties to dredge them out of swamps and drag them away from frog ponds. It’s not innate. It’s learned. But it protects them from the doors, keeps them safe at home. Call it irony, if you like, but we spend so much time waiting for our boys to stray that they never have the opportunity. We notice the silence of men. We depend upon the silence of women.
”
”
Seanan McGuire (Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children, #1))
“
You’re sorry? I damn near drank myself to death, I could barely get out of bed, I shattered my phone into a million pieces on New Year’s Eve to keep from calling you … and you’re sorry?”
I bit my lip and nodded, ashamed. I had no idea what he’d been through, and hearing his say the words made sharp pain twist inside my chest. “I’m so … so sorry.”
“You’re forgiven,” he said with a grin. “Don’t ever do it again.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
He flashed his dimple and shook his head. “I fucking love you.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
They don’t want me. They’re curious why you want me. And anyway, I feel sorry for anyone that thinks they have a chance. I am hopelessly and completely in love with you.”
A pained look shadowed his face. “You know why I want you? I didn’t know I was lost until you found me. I didn’t know what alone was until the first night I spent without you in my bed. You’re the one thing I’ve got right. You’re what I’ve been waiting for, Pigeon.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
Well, hell yeah! I’m gonna kick your ass, too!”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Not this time you’re not. I have a new superpower.”
He laughed. “And what’s that? Harsh language?”
I leaned over to kiss his neck once, and then ran my tongue up to his ear, kissing his earlobe. He froze in place.
“Distraction,” I breathed into his ear.
He grabbed my arms and flipped me onto my back. “You’re going to miss another class.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1))
“
Shepley jogged around the front of the Charger, and then slid into the driver’s seat. “I’m still taking the official position that this is a bad idea.”
“Noted.”
“Then where?”
“Steiner’s.”
“The jewelry store?”
“Yep.”
“Why, Travis?” Shepley said, his voice more stern than before.
“You’ll see.”
He shook his head. “Are you trying to run her off?”
“It’s going to happen, Shep. I just want to have it. For when the time is right.”
“No time any time soon is right. I am so in love with America that it drives me crazy sometimes, but we’re not old enough for that shit, yet, Travis. And … what if she says no?”
My teeth clenched at the thought. “I won’t ask her until I know she’s ready.”
Shepley’s mouth pulled to the side. “Just when I think you can’t get any more insane, you do something else to remind me that you are far beyond bat shit crazy.”
“Wait until you see the rock I’m getting.”
Shepley craned his neck slowly in my direction. “You’ve already been over there shopping, haven’t you?”
I smiled.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Walking Disaster (Beautiful, #2))
“
The way I feel about you . . . it’s crazy.”
“You got the crazy part right,” she snapped, pulling away from me.
“I practiced this in my head the whole time we were on the bike, so just hear me out.”
“Travis—”
“I know we’re fucked-up, all right? I’m impulsive and hot tempered, and you get under my skin like no one else. You act like you hate me one minute, and then you need me the next. I never get anything right, and I don’t deserve you . . . but I fucking love you, Abby. I love you more than I’ve loved anyone or anything, ever. When you’re around, I don’t need booze or money or the fighting or the one-night stands . . . all I need is you. You’re all I think about. You’re all I dream about. You’re all I want.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Walking Disaster (Beautiful, #2))
“
First, it’s okay to be sad. It’s okay to feel things. Remember that. Second, be a kid for as long as you can. Play games, Travis. Be silly”—her eyes glossed over—“and you and your brothers take care of each other, and your father. Even when you grow up and move away, it’s important to come home. Okay?”
My head bobbed up and down, desperate to please her.
“One of these days you’re going to fall in love, son. Don’t settle for just anyone. Choose the girl that doesn’t come easy, the one you have to fight for, and then never stop fighting. Never”—she took a deep breath—“stop fighting for what you want. And never”—her eyebrows pulled in—“forget that Mommy loves you. Even if you can’t see me.” A tear fell down her cheek. “I will always, always love you.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Walking Disaster (Beautiful, #2))
“
Shepley walked out of his bedroom pulling a T-shirt over his head. His eyebrows pushed together. “Did they just leave?”
“Yeah,” I said absently, rinsing my cereal bowl and dumping Abby’s leftover oatmeal in the sink. She’d barely touched it.
“Well, what the hell? Mare didn’t even say goodbye.”
“You knew she was going to class. Quit being a cry baby.”
Shepley pointed to his chest. “I’m the cry baby? Do you remember last night?”
“Shut up.”
“That’s what I thought.” He sat on the couch and slipped on his sneakers. “Did you ask Abby about her birthday?”
“She didn’t say much, except that she’s not into birthdays.”
“So what are we doing?”
“Throwing her a party.” Shepley nodded, waiting for me to explain. “I thought we’d surprise her. Invite some of our friends over and have America take her out for a while.”
Shepley put on his white ball cap, pulling it down so low over his brows I couldn’t see his eyes. “She can manage that. Anything else?”
“How do you feel about a puppy?”
Shepley laughed once. “It’s not my birthday, bro.”
I walked around the breakfast bar and leaned my hip against the stool. “I know, but she lives in the dorms. She can’t have a puppy.”
“Keep it here? Seriously? What are we going to do with a dog?”
“I found a Cairn Terrier online. It’s perfect.”
“A what?”
“Pidge is from Kansas. It’s the same kind of dog Dorothy had in the Wizard of Oz.”
Shepley’s face was blank. “The Wizard of Oz.”
“What? I liked the scarecrow when I was a little kid, shut the fuck up.”
“It’s going to crap every where, Travis. It’ll bark and whine and … I don’t know.”
“So does America … minus the crapping.”
Shepley wasn’t amused.
“I’ll take it out and clean up after it. I’ll keep it in my room. You won’t even know it’s here.”
“You can’t keep it from barking.”
“Think about it. You gotta admit it’ll win her over.”
Shepley smiled. “Is that what this is all about? You’re trying to win over Abby?”
My brows pulled together. “Quit it.”
His smile widened. “You can get the damn dog…”
I grinned with victory.
“…if you admit you have feelings for Abby.”
I frowned in defeat. “C’mon, man!”
“Admit it,” Shepley said, crossing his arms. What a tool. He was actually going to make me say it.
I looked to the floor, and everywhere else except Shepley’s smug ass smile. I fought it for a while, but the puppy was fucking brilliant. Abby would flip out (in a good way for once), and I could keep it at the apartment. She’d want to be there every day.
“I like her,” I said through my teeth.
Shepley held his hand to his ear. “What? I couldn’t quite hear you.”
“You’re an asshole! Did you hear that?”
Shepley crossed his arms. “Say it.”
“I like her, okay?”
“Not good enough.”
“I have feelings for her. I care about her. A lot. I can’t stand it when she’s not around. Happy?”
“For now,” he said, grabbing his backpack off the floor.
”
”
Jamie McGuire (Walking Disaster (Beautiful, #2))