Mile High Liz Tomforde Quotes

You don’t have to love your body every single day. That’s unrealistic to expect, but I’ll be here loving it for the days you can’t.

Stevie,” Zanders says. “You following me?

But the truth is, I do want to be loved, and that’s scary to admit. It’s a lot easier to say you don’t want to be loved when no one loves you.

It hurts a whole lot less to be hated when you’re not being yourself than it does not to be loved for who you are,

You’re my first choice, Vee. My only choice.

If shit-talking is a love language, then it’s ours, and I thoroughly plan on bantering with my wild girl for the rest of my life.

I pepper kisses on the side of her head as I watch a smile pull at her lips through the mirror. And though I love every single curve on her body, that one right there is my favorite.

Stevie girl, I’ll follow you anywhere.

So, ‘Vee’, huh?” “It’s a family nickname.”  “My family nickname is Zee. Vee and Zee. Aren’t we fucking adorable?

I would’ve followed you anywhere, but you never asked.

There’s only so much oxygen on an airplane. I don’t want his ego to suffocate the rest of us.  You know, safety and all that shit.

You don’t have feelings?” Maddison asks, unconvinced. “You cried while watching Coco with Ella. You have fucking feelings, man. You should start letting people know.

Hey, Stevie?” “Hmm.” Her head leans on her arms, facing me. “I like talking to you.

Don’t hurt me.” He searches my face, trying to read me as hope overtakes him. “I couldn’t.

So, you like me?” His smile is eager and excitable.  I can’t help but laugh at this giant man asking such a childish question. “What do you think?” “Say it. Stroke my ego, Stevie.

your mom is the absolute worst, Zee.”  “So is yours.” I rest my head on his shoulder. “Look at us,” I tease. “Trauma-bonding.

And you’re not an option, Stevie, because besides you, there’s no other choice.

Stevie,” Zanders says in his smooth velvety voice. “You following me?

But there’s no chance in hell I’m upgrading this. Stevie’s hands might drip in 24-karat gold after today, but this five-dollar beat-up ring is hers, and therefore it’s mine.

I’m going to fucking destroy your body tonight and hopefully some of those insecurities that don’t make any goddamn sense right along with it.

This is my favorite one, Stevie girl.” He allows me to spin the ring that’s lost all its shine. “Because it was yours, and you’re my favorite.

Don’t you fucking dare.” My voice is as quiet as I can make it. “If you say anything, I will end you. Then I’ll marry your wife just to spite you, and your son will grow up calling me Daddy.”  “Oh, fuck you!” Maddison isn’t trying to be quiet at all. “Stevie, Zee wants you to be his date to a charity gala in Chicago, but he’s too chicken shit to ask and doesn’t think you’d want to go with him.”  “I fucking hate you. We are no longer friends.

And wearing your hand around my throat like a necklace is my favorite piece of jewelry.

Get over here. I need all my girls together.

Hey, Zanders?” “Hmm?” “That’s what it feels like to be loved.

Being vulnerable and authentic is scary, man. Terrifying. But to the people who matter to you, the ones you’ve shown your true self to, they love you unconditionally. Why not let others love you unconditionally too? At least give them a chance to.

I just want everyone to know,” Zanders announces from the backseat. “I joined the mile high club today.

I like that he lets me see hidden sides to him.

Then for good measure, I add a kiss to Maddison’s cheek. “Zee.” He holds his spatula up in warning. “Get your nasty-ass lips away from me.

It’s the list of girls I see in those cities. It’s a little different now, but the concept is still the same.

You’re my personal version of heaven, Stevie girl.

I like you, Vee, and I’m being completely honest and vulnerable here. I just want the chance for you to want me. The real me.

You’ll always be my first choice. Have been since the day I met you, sweetheart.

Yes. I like you, the most arrogant man in Chicago.” I watch as the weight falls off him, his eyes bright and his smile pompous as hell. “I think you mean the sexiest man in Chicago.

Oh my God,” she cries, head falling back.  I didn’t know I earned a new nickname, but she can call me that anytime she wants.

I’ve recently learned that sometimes the clothes don’t matter all that much. Just the memories you make in them

I want Stevie to want to hang out with me.  I also really want to kiss her.

Can I fuck you senseless, sweetheart?

Do you want to be loved for who you are or for who people think you are?”  “For me.” “Then why haven’t you let anyone know who that is?

You’re not an idiot. You’re not crazy for wanting to be wanted. For wanting to be loved.

You want to be chosen first? Well, so do I. So, choose me.

If I can’t stand you”—Zanders inches forward, leaving absolutely no room between our bodies, his large frame overpowering me—“then why has my only thought of every minute of every day for the last week been me wondering what it would feel like to fuck you?

He loves hard and cares about his people like you wouldn’t believe. So, there’s nothing about him that needs to change. He just needs someone to accept who he is and appreciate what he brings to the table.

She playfully rolls her eyes. “Stop calling me ‘sweetheart.’” “Never.

I kind of what to hang out with her, too. With our clothes on. Without is cool too. Whatever.

I want her.

That maybe one day I will love this woman, and maybe somehow, she will find a way to love me.

It’s a lot easier to say you don’t want to be loved when no one loves you.

You cry at Disney movies?” I tease, my breath ghosting his skin. He wraps his arms around my waist, holding me to him. “Fucking sob.

You like me,” he coaxes, his lips only inches from mine as he stares at my mouth. “Kiss me.” “Say it, and I’ll do a whole lot more than kiss you, sweetheart.

One day, I hope you can fully appreciate the body you’re living in because, sweetheart, it’s smoking hot, and my dick has never been happier.

You’re always going to be a part of our family. You don’t need my permission to go, but if for some reason you think you do, well, you have it. I just want you to be happy. We all do.

Are you shitting me, Stevie? That’s why you’ve avoided me all these years? That’s locker room talk.” Wait. Was it? Was I exaggerating this whole time about the words he said about me?

Stevie- Does me buying you pants qualify me to get back in your pants? Kidding...sort of. Merry Christmas, -Zee (Please get rid of those disgusting sweatpants. No one needs to see those.)

It hurts a whole lot less to be hated when you’re not being yourself than it does not to be loved for who you are,” he continues. “As much as I tell people I enjoy the hate, I want to be loved more than anything, but I’m not ready to risk rejection yet.

Zanders and I standoff, holding each other’s stare for far too long, silence stretching between us. I swallow. “You following me?” A light laugh flows through him. “You have no idea, Stevie girl.

Maddison’s wife, Logan, is one of my closest friends and probably the most capable person I know.

Because some people aren’t worth following.” I nod in understanding.  “And some people are worth following to the ends of the earth.

Wipe that stupid grin off your face,” Maddison laughs.  I continue to smile, way too happy about this situation. “Can’t help it.

But I have to be okay with that because I want to be around him.  I like talking to him.

I loved sleeping with him, and I like the confidence he gives me.

I remember all too well

Love me.  Choose me.

But this song is almost over, and I’m not ready to let go.

I want to kiss her. I want to pull her away from my chest and kiss her so fucking hard she forgets everything she’s worried about when it comes to me.

Oh my God. I’m never leaving this bed.” “Please don’t.

Sweetheart,” I laugh, lifting to look at her. “My ego is already fucking huge, and I’m trying not to come in under thirty seconds, so leave the praising to me, please.

That’s when I realized no one had ever loved me enough to stick around.

I watch as his ring-covered fingers type in the ten digits with precision before adding his name. Zee (Daddy) Zanders

I want more than just sex with you. I want you. All of you. I just want a chance.

I like you. I know that doesn’t sound like anything coming from a grown-ass man, but fuck, I like you so much, and it’s fucking terrifying. You scare me just as much as I scare you.

  “You’re a badass,” Indy compliments as soon as I step into our workspace. “But if you want to take a second to cry, I’ll cover you.” “Okay,” my voice breaks. “Maybe for just a second.

Stevie specifically said it wasn’t a date. Like multiple times.” Maddison squints through the phone screen. “So, your table being set with candles and flowers is because this isn’t a date?

Say yes,” I whisper. “Tell me you’d go with me. Tell me you want to go with me.” I need her to say yes, not just to inflate my ego, but because I need to know I’m not crazy. I need to know that she feels it too. That she likes being around me just as much. That she likes talking to me just as much. That she likes fucking me just as much. That she likes teasing me just as much.

If you want to be in Seattle, then I’ll try my hardest to play in Seattle. If you want to move somewhere else, then I’m coming too.” He releases a heavy sigh. “Stevie girl, I’ll follow you anywhere.

His throat bobs in a deep swallow before continuing. “I thought the scariest thing would be losing Chicago, losing my fans, but I was wrong. The scariest thing is losing you. All this time, I thought I needed an entire city to love me, but the reality is I just need one person to. I need you to love me. You’ve always been my first choice, Vee, and I lost sight of that for a moment, but I promise you, you’ll never have to question your place in my life again.

People like that are going to treat you like you’re not enough or you’re not worthy, but that’s their own insecurities coming out. They’re bullies, and they’ll stop when you make them stop. If you start loving yourself, their words will no longer have meaning.

Dad: I love you. My eyes burn with tears from seeing those three words. Words he and I haven’t spoken to each other in twelve years. I try to hold it in, but eventually, my body shakes with a silent sob. I didn’t know how badly I needed to hear that from him until now.

Every single part of my body aches. My heart hurts. My lungs are shallow. My eyes burn. The man who lifted me up with his words, who has been so adamant about reminding me that I’m enough, that drowned out everyone else’s noise, is now listening to what others have to say.

The point is, he’s an arrogant athlete that’s in love with himself. I know his type. I’ve dated that type, and I’ll never do it again.

I realized it was no one else’s responsibility to love me. So, I started loving myself. No one else was going to.

Sometimes I’m not great at admitting what I need, regardless of how blunt and honest I can be. But I’m thankful to have these people know me so well.

The material feels like straight-up butter as it glides over my thick thighs. And I shaved my legs this morning. Well, my lower legs because I’m too lazy to do the whole thing,

This season means nothing without you. Nothing matters without you. Please come tonight. -Zee

Stevie girl, do you like me?” He pushes a corkscrew curl away from my face so he can see me.

Hurt people hurt people,

You cried while watching Coco with Ella. You have fucking feelings, man. You should start letting people know.” “Don’t use Coco against me! That shit was sad!

Look at me!” I desperately yell from across the room. “If you’re going to break my heart, at least watch while you do it.

It hurts a whole lot less to be hated when you’re not being yourself than it does not to be loved for who you are

Your body is my favorite thing on this planet.” He takes a deep, earned breath. “And wearing your hand around my throat like a necklace is my favorite piece of jewelry.

You deserve good things, but you’ve got to accept them when they come into your life.

Because hating you was a whole lot less scary than acknowledging that one day, I was going to love you.

I watch as his ring-covered fingers type in the ten digits with precision before adding his name. Zee (Daddy) Zanders I shake my head, laughing, holding my hand out to take my phone back.

That’s when the panic attacks started. That’s when the anger started. That’s when the constant reminder that no one loved me started. That’s when I realized no one had ever loved me enough to stick around.

Can I stay here?” She sucks in a deep inhale. “Only for the night? Until my parents are back?” “Of course.” My head darts to my shirtless brother in the kitchen. “Ryan, Indy is going to stay with us for the night.” Indy’s eyes follow mine, finding my brother. She quickly cleans up her face. “Who are you?”  “Um...I’m Ryan.” He offers her an awkward wave. This has got to be uncomfortable for him, having a random crying girl in his living room, not to mention he’s shirtless right now. “Why? Who?” Indy turns towards me then back to my brother. “Why are you hot?” That causes a relieved laugh to escape me, but my brother awkwardly chokes on his saliva in response.  “Indy, this is my twin brother, Ryan. Ryan, Indy.”  “Jesus,” she huffs out. “What kind of voodoo did your parents do while you two were in the womb for you to both be so attractive?

You took Brett back after he left because you were trying to prove to yourself you were good enough to keep him, but if you take Zanders back, it’s because he’s been working on himself to be good enough to keep you.

Actually, no. I don’t really give a shit,” I state with honesty as Maddison almost chokes in startled laughter next to him. “Just curious. But you could’ve asked the other flight attendant to make you one when she came over here, you know.”  He glances towards the front of the airplane, where Tara’s perfectly thin frame is standing, watching us. “Yeah, but something tells me when it comes to food, I trust your opinion more than hers.” What the hell does that mean? Is that his way of judging my body? Is that his way of saying he knows I eat that kind of junk on a regular basis and can probably make a good one? I mean, he’s not wrong, but still.

This is all I’ve ever wanted, to be chosen by the person I care about the most. I had friends in school who only chose to spend time with me because of my brother. I’m a twin, and I was still my own mother’s second choice. I’ve had a relationship where his first pick was anyone but me.

Look, I know that you’re trying to use her brother for some kind of in to work in Chicago sports, but do you know who has more ties in this city than Ryan Shay? Me. So, I’ll let you leave this gala in one piece if you go now. Otherwise, I’m known for putting on a show, and I can guarantee you’ll never work in any of the sports networks in this city by the time I'm done with you.

I brought you here so I could look you in the face and tell you that I’m done. I’m done holding on to the anger and hurt you caused. I’m done hiding your name from the press because I’m afraid people will find out about you. And I’m done letting your inability to stay when I needed you most hold me back from the people who want to be in my life. People who would never abandon me the way you did.