Pidge Quotes

I don't want to sleep with you, Pidge. I like you too much.

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.

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.

I'm gonna fuck up. I'm gonna fuck up a lot, Pidge, but you have to forgive me.

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.

I'll put everything I have. I don't regret a single second with you, Pidge, and I never will.

I still love you, Pidge.” She didn’t look up. “Don’t. I’m not doing this for you.” I sucked in a breath, physical pain shooting in all directions in my chest. “I know.

He pulled my chin up so that I would face him. "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.

Travis tapped my apple with his fork. “You gonna eat that, Pidge?” “No, you can have it, Baby.” Heat consumed my ears when America’s head jerked to look at me. “It just came out,” I said, shaking my head. I peeked up at Travis, whose expression was a mixture of amusement and adoration.

I’ve got less than twenty-four hours with you, Pidge. I’m gonna kiss you. I’m gonna kiss you a lot today. All day. Every chance I get. If you want me to stop, just say the word, but until you do, I’m going make every second of my last day with you count.

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.

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.

We’re over at Dad’s. James just won another hand of poker. I’m starting to worry.” “He’s your son, Pidge. Does it surprise you that he’s good at cards?

I meant what I said before. You need to walk away, Pidge. God knows I can’t walk away from you.” I touched his arm. “You don’t want me to leave.” Travis’ jaws tensed again, and then he took me under his arm. He paused for a moment, and then kissed my forehead, pressing his cheek against my temple. “It doesn’t matter how hard I try. You’re going to hate me when it’s all said and done.” I wrapped my arms around him. “We have to be friends. I won’t take no for an answer,” I quoted.

Besides, there was something under the good girl facade. She hated me on sight because she’d been burned by someone like me before. No way was she a slut, though. Not even a reformed slut. I could spot them a mile away. My game face slowly melted away. I’d finally found a girl that was interesting enough to get to know, and a version of me had already hurt her.

Travis!” “Down here, Pidge. Just come in feet first, I’ll catch you.” “You’re out of your damn mind if you think I’m jumping into the dark!” “I’ll catch you! I promise! Now get your ass in here!

Are you okay?” Travis asked. “My hand stings.” He smiled. “That was bad ass, Pidge. I’m impressed.

Do your worst, Pidge. I’m tired of your shit.” I released his skin and jerked my arms, struggling against his grip. “My shit? Let me out of this fucking car!” He pulled my wrists close to his face. “I love you, dammit! You’re not going anywhere until you sober up and we figure this out!

Do you trust me, Pidge?” “Yeah, why?” “C’mere,” he said, pulling me against him. I stiffened for a second or two before resting my head on his chest. Whatever was going on with him, he needed me near him, and I couldn’t have objected even if I’d wanted to. It felt right lying next to him.

I’m glad you had a good time, Pidge. You deserve it.

Happy Anniversary, Pidge." "One down, forever to go

Travis walked in and shut the door behind him. “I was mad. I heard you spitting out everything that’s wrong with me to America and it pissed me off. I just meant to go out and have a few drinks and try to figure some things out, but before I knew it, I was piss drunk and those girls…,” he paused. “I woke up this morning and you weren’t in bed, and when I found you on the recliner and saw the wrappers on the floor, I felt sick.” “You could have just asked me instead of spending all that money at the grocery store just to bribe me to stay.” “I don’t care about the money, Pidge. I was afraid you’d leave and never speak to me again.

Night, Pidge,” he whispered, turning over. I fidgeted, not yet ready to sleep. “Trav?” I said, leaning up to rest my chin on his shoulder. “Yeah?” “I know I’m drunk, and we just got into a ginormous fight over this, but….” “I’m not having sex with you, so quit asking,” he said, his back still turned to me. “What? No!” I cried. Travis laughed and turned, looking at me with a soft expression. “What, Pigeon?

I rolled my eyes and slipped the purple silk over my head, crawling in bed beside him. I straddled his lap and kissed his neck, giggling when he let his head fall against the headboard. “Again? You’re gonna kill me, Pidge.” “You can’t die,” I said, covering his face with kisses. “You’re too damn mean.” “No, I can’t die because there are too many jackasses falling over themselves to take my place! I may live forever just to spite them!

Deberías irte, Pidge. Dios sabe que yo no puedo apartarme de ti.

Travis’ mouth fell open. “Oh, hell no. Are you trying to get me killed? You’ve gotta change, Pidge.” “What?” “Get a t-shirt on…and some sneakers. Something comfortable.” “What? Why?” “Because I’ll be more worried about who’s looking at your tits in that shirt instead of Hoffman,” he said, stopping at his door. “I thought you said you didn’t give a damn what anyone else thought?” “That’s a different scenario, Pigeon.” Travis looked down at my chest and then up at me. “You can’t wear this to the fight, so please…just…please just change,” he stuttered, shoving me into the room and shutting me in.

But I…that wasn’t the only reason I took you to the fight. I wanted you there with me, Pidge. You’re my good luck charm.” “I’m not your anything,” I snapped, glaring up at him. His eyebrows pulled in and he stopped dancing. “You’re my everything.

When Pidge wakes up, let me know, okay?” he said in a soft voice. “I got spaghetti, and pancakes, and strawberries, and that oatmeal shit with the chocolate packets, and she likes Fruity Pebbles cereal, right, Mare?” he asked, turning. When he saw me, he froze. After an awkward pause, his expression melted, and his voice was smooth and sweet.“Hey, Pigeon.” I couldn’t have been more confused if I had woken up in a foreign country. Nothing made sense. At first I thought I had been evicted, and then Travis comes home with bags full of my favorite foods. He took a few steps into the living room, nervously shoving his hands in his pockets. “You hungry, Pidge? I’ll make you some pancakes. Or there’s uh…there’s some oatmeal. And I got you some of that pink foamy shit that girl’s shave with, and a hairdryer, and a… a….just a sec, it’s in here,” he said, rushing to the bedroom. The door opened, shut, and then he rounded the corner, the color gone from his face. He took a deep breath and his eyebrows pulled in. “Your stuff’s packed.” “I know,” I said. “You’re leaving,” he said, defeated.

So what’s your story, Pidge? Are you a man-hater in general, or do you just hate me?” “I think it’s just you,” I grumbled. He laughed once, amused at my mood. “I can’t figure you out. You’re the first girl that’s ever been disgusted with me before sex. You don’t get all flustered when you talk to me, and you don’t try to get my attention.” “It’s not a ploy. I just don’t like you.” “You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t like me.” My frown involuntarily smoothed and I sighed. “I didn’t say you’re a bad person. I just don’t like being a foregone conclusion for the sole reason of having a vagina.” I focused on the grains of salt on the table until I heard a choking noise from Travis’ direction. His eyes widened and he quivered with howling laughter. “Oh my God! You’re killing me! That’s it. We have to be friends. I won’t take no for an answer.

Do you trust me, Pidge?” I asked, a little nervous. “Yeah, why?” “C’mere,” I said, pulling her against me. I waited for her to protest, but she only froze for a few moments before letting her body melt into mine. Her cheek relaxed against my chest. Instantly, my eyes felt heavy. Tomorrow I would try to think of a way to postpone her departure, but in that moment, sleeping with her in my arms was the only thing I wanted to do.

If you’re that hard up for money, Pidge . . .” “I’m not borrowing money from you,” she sneered. “I was gonna suggest pawning that bracelet.” I smiled.

Travis’ mouth fell open. “Oh, hell no. Are you trying to get me killed? You’ve gotta change, Pidge.

Tengo menos de veinticuatro horas contigo, Pidge. Voy a besarte. Voy a besarte un montón hoy. Todo el día. Cada vez que pueda. Si quieres que me detenga, sólo di la palabra, pero hasta que lo hagas, voy a hacer que cada segundo de mi último día cuente.

I didn’t mean it, Pidge. If he hurts you—if he even makes you feel uncomfortable—you let me know.” The anger subsided, and my shoulders fell. “I know you didn’t. But you have got to curb this over-protective big brother-thing you’ve got going on.” Travis laughed once. “I’m not playing the big brother, Travis laughed once. “I’m not playing the big brother, Pigeon. Not even close.

I’ve got a fight in fourty-five minutes, Pidge. I want you there.

I don’t care about the money, Pidge. I was afraid you’d leave and never speak to me again.

It’s just you and me against the world, Pidge.

We walked to his Harley, and when I wrapped my arms around him, he rested his hand on mine. “I’m glad you were there tonight, Pidge. I’ve never had so much fun at a fight in my life.” I perched my chin on his shoulder and smiled. “That was because you were trying to win our bet.” He angled his neck to face me. “Damn right I was.” There was no amusement in his eyes, he was serious, and he wanted me to see it. My eyebrows shot up. “Is that why you were in such a bad mood today? Because you knew they’d fixed the boilers, and I would be leaving tonight?” Travis didn’t answer; he only smiled as he started his motorcycle. The drive to the apartment was uncharacteristically slow. At every stoplight, Travis would either cover my hands with his, or he would rest his hand on my knee.

He gripped it and the sky began to spin; and Pidge knew that if he didn't put it right, the country would somehow obey the signpost and twist around and that, even though he was directly headed for Shancreg and home, he would end up in Kyledove.

Money was money, but I didn’t want to waste any time away from Pidge. She was happier than I’d ever seen her, and for the first time, I felt like a normal, whole human being instead of some broken, angry man.

Travis ran his hand over the stubble on his scalp, shaking his head. “He didn’t get out,” he whispered. “He didn’t get out, Pidge.” My breath caught as I watched the soot on his cheeks streak with his tears. He fell to his knees and I fell with him. “Trent’s smart, Trav. He got out. He had to have found a different way,” I said, trying to convince myself as well. Travis collapsed into my lap, gripping my shirt with both fists. I held him. I didn’t know what else to do.

You need to walk away, Pidge. God knows I can't walk away from you.

He tightened his grip. “I’m not good enough for you, Pidge. That doesn’t mean I don’t trust you, I’m just bracing for the inevitable.

Yeah?... Oh, hell no, I got Pidge here with me. We're just gettin' ready to go to bed... Shut the fuck up, Trent, that's not funny... Seriously? What's he doin' in town" He looked at me and sigued. "All right. We'll be there in half an hour... You heard me, douchebag. Because I don't go anywhere without her, that's why. Do you want me to pound your face when I get there?" Travis hung up and shook his head. I raised an eyebrow. "That is the weirdest conversation I've ever heard.

But nothing. The way you’re looking at me right now? This is exactly why I didn’t tell you.” I closed my eyes. “I won’t live like that anymore, Trav. Not even with you.” “Whoa! Calm down, Pigeon. Let’s not get carried away.” His eyes focused and he walked over to wrap me in his arms. “I don’t care what you were or what you’re not anymore. I just want you.” “I guess we have that in common, then.” He led me to the bed, smiling down at me. “It’s just you and me against the world, Pidge.” I curled up beside him, settling into the mattress. I had never planned on anyone besides myself and America knowing about Mick, and I never expected that my boyfriend would belong to a family of poker buffs. I heaved a heavy sigh, pressing my cheek against his chest. “What’s wrong?” he asked. “I don’t want anyone to know, Trav. I didn’t want you to know.” “I love you, Abby. I won’t mention it again, okay? Your secret’s safe with me,” he said, kissing my forehead.

¿Qué estamos haciendo, Pidge? —Tú dímelo.

Pidge, how many times do I have to say it?” he frowned. I shook my head at his impatient tone. “I don’t understand it, though. You didn’t need me there before.” His fingers lightly grazed my cheek. “I didn’t know you before. When you’re not there, I can’t concentrate. I’m wondering where you are, what you’re doing…if you’re there and I can see you, I can focus. I know it’s crazy, but that’s how it is.” “And crazy is exactly the way I like it,” I smiled, leaning up to kiss his lips.

Their marriage had reinforced what I’ve always thought and lived by – that stalking, harassment, and inflicting general misery on a woman will eventually pay off.

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. “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. “Are you confident enough to bet that shiny bike outside?” He shook his head, a serious expression replacing the teasing smile he had just seconds before. “I’ll put in everything I have. I don’t regret a single second with you, Pidge, and I never will.

I know I get crazy when it comes to you, but God knows I’m tryin’, Pidge. I don’t wanna screw this up.” “Then don’t.” “This is hard for me, ya know. I feel like any second you’re going to figure out what a piece of shit I am and leave me. When you were dancing last night, I saw a dozen different guys watching you. You go to the bar, and I see you thank that guy for your drink. Then that douchebag on the dance floor grabs you.” “You don’t see me throwing punches every time a girl talks to you. I can’t stay locked up in the apartment all the time. You’re going to have to get a handle on your temper.” “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.” “Let’s get something straight; you’re not a piece of shit, you’re amazing. It doesn’t matter who buys me drinks, or who asks me to dance, or who flirts with me. I’m going home with you. You’ve asked me to trust you, and you don’t seem to trust me.” He frowned. “That’s not true.” “If you think I’m going to leave you for the next guy that comes along, then you don’t have much faith in me.” He tightened his grip. “I’m not good enough for you, Pidge. That doesn’t mean I don’t trust you, I’m just bracing for the inevitable.” “Don’t say that. When we’re alone, you’re perfect. We’re perfect. But then you let everyone else ruin it. I don’t expect a one-eighty, but you have to pick your battles. You can’t come out swinging every time someone looks at me.” He nodded. “I’ll do anything you want. Just…tell me you love me.” “You know I do.” “I need to hear you say it,” he said, his brows pulling together. “I love you,” I said, touching my lips to his. “Now quit being such a baby.” He laughed, crawling into the bed with me. We spent the next hour in the same spot under the covers, giggling and kissing, barely noticing when Kara returned from the shower.

Travis: Happy anniversary,Pidge. Abby: One down, forever to go.

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.

Sabía en mi corazón que cualquier camino que eligiera sería un sendero que caminaríamos juntos.

It was Pidge's observation that toleration rather than love was what kept her parents together. They were yoked like horses to a plow and they moved through life pulling something neither could see that kept them a safe distances from each other. There was something both admirable and sad in their marital work ethic, and Pidge promised herself she wouldn't settle like they had. It was a promise she broke.

A modest frugal retirement for a loyal Imperial bureaucrat?” said Pidge. “And yet your mother so wealthy.” “Doesn’t bother her,” Ivan said stoutly. “But does it bother him?” About to deny this with equal vehemence, Ivan realized that among the many things he didn’t know about Simon . . . that was another. “I am sure he has more important things on his mind.” Pidge smiled at him. “Fascinating.” With a little Shiv-like wave of her fingers, she trailed away toward the party; Byerly, with one of his less-comprehensible grimaces, promptly trailed after.

I meant what I said before. You need to walk away, Pidge. God knows I can't walk away from you." - Travis Maddox

Pidge quickly bit into his apple. It taste of—apple; with an apple’s sweetness. Goodness, he thought, I’m half expecting miracles all the time now. He took another bite and happened to glance thoughtlessly up at the sky. There was a plane, high up there, leaving a vapour-trail behind it like the track of a sort of skysnail. And that’s just ordinary too, he thought, nothing magical about that except that it’s a marvellously clever thing. Not all miracles are magic.

She is nearly as hungry as fire, which is the hungriest thing on land.” “It is?” Pidge said, wondering about wolves with sharp teeth and hyenas and jackals, whose very nature seemed to be hunger. “You may say it is. Haven’t you ever seen flames licking their red lips as they consume all before them? Fire is so hungry that the more it is fed, the bigger its appetite grows. Other things can be gratified, but not fire. And the sea is all this and more.” “Do you really mean that Hannah is nearly that hungry?” Brigit asked, disbelieving. “I do. And signs on it, because of her appetite she is nearly as strong as water.” “Water?” Brigit said, her voice rising in scorn. “Water isn’t strong.” “I don’t believe you’re serious but if you are, you’re wrong. Water is so strong, it can wear away rocks and shift mountains. Don’t you know well, that one man can tame a horse but it takes hundreds or even thousands to spancel water? If a country was a person, the rivers and streams would be its veins with all its life’s blood in them. Even when it is harnessed it is never tamed. It can light up cities and turn wheels and if it gets free and throws itself at a town, it can wipe out life like chalk on a slate. It can do all of that; but the sea can do all that, and more.

You know the way you can sometimes see someone who looks lost in a crowd?” said Sonny. “Yes,” Pidge said. “No.” Brigit frowned. “Well he might be in Faery. Have you ever known one person to stop and listen to the cuckoo calling, and the person standing beside him doesn’t hear anything, and only thinks his friend is imagining it?” “Yes,” Pidge said. Brigit half-nodded. “Or a girl might look into a river and shout: ‘Look! There’s a fish!’ and her friend shouts: ‘Where! Where! I can’t see it!’” “Oh, yes!” Brigit agreed. “The two worlds go hand in hand. As you know from going through the stones, you could be walking through a field and a few steps to the right of you, you could be walking in this world.

Leave me be! Leave me be!” she shouted; and with her stick, she beat at her dreams. She had passed the children without noticing them. And then Pidge was not afraid of her any longer. He realized that her anger was directed only against herself and her own thoughts.

On June 3, 1972, I was born in Miss Eva’s barn. Mom christened me Dean Adam Doogan, as she lay sheet-covered and spread-eagled over two bales, her bird legs akimbo. Granny held one leg, Aunt Belladonna held the other, Pidge held her hands, Hattie cradled her head, and Miss Eva was the accidental midwife after Mom went down in that horse stall.

I don’t want to sleep with you, Pidge. I like you too much.

Is it a sort of quest?” “Yes.” Pidge had once read a story to Brigit about a quest. She looked stern. “I’m not slaying no dragons or anything like that,” she declared. “Any,” Pidge said. “I’m not slaying any dragons.” “Neither am I!” She nodded solemnly. “There never was any dragons to be slayed in this,” the old angler said, smiling at Brigit, “unless all things graceless are dragons. It’s more seeking than slaying.

As they neared the glasshouse, they went on tip toes, making it a game of spying. When they got closer they noticed the closed venetian blinds. “They’ve got some of those slatted blinds, but there might be a place to peep in,” Brigit said. Then they noticed the sign saying: BEWARE OF THE FROG and they burst into delighted laughter. “What you laffin’ at?” said the frog as he sprang into view from behind an old up-turned bucket. Then he remembered that he was on guard and said: “Halt! Who goes dere? Friend or Foe?” Pidge and Brigit were astounded and delighted and they stared at the frog in happy disbelief. “You can’t talk,” Brigit ventured after awhile, her eyes wide and her voice full of doubt and hope at the same time. “You hear me awright,” the frog said accusingly.

To begin with, Bibb didn’t like Pidge’s expression, and she swallowed the last of her plum pudding before she spoke the boldest words she’d dared to utter.

I’m too tell you to watch out,” he said, “there’s danger at the crossroads.” “At the crossroads up ahead? What kind of danger?” “Too soon to say—but danger there is.” Pidge could only think of one possible danger. “You can’t mean traffic, it’s so quiet around here?” “I can’t mean traffic, young human sir—but you are to use the eye of clarity when you get to the crossroads, such as would confound Geography and Cartography; such as would make Pandora’s Box into a tuppeny lucky bag,” the old angler said earnestly, and added: “Bad work and many not knowing it; quiet as water under the ground. You be careful, young mortal sir, as there’s more than one kind of angling and you could be sniggled in a flash! There’s lures and lures. That’s my message!” What a lot of strange things he said and I don’t understand the half of it, Pidge thought. Aloud he said: “Who told you to tell me? Was it the Gardai?” “Couldn’t say it was. But that’s the chatter that’s filling the place and I was to put you wise.” The old angler looked with dreadful earnestness straight into Pidge’s eyes as if trying to impress the importance of his words on Pidge’s brain. His concern was clearly very great. “Well, thank you very much,” Pidge said. “All the small wild things know it,” the old angler said. “It’s them that chatters.” “They usually do,” Pidge replied, thinking of forest fires and how animals are said to scent danger from a silent wisp of smoke. Not knowing what Pidge was thinking, the old angler looked surprised at Pidge’s apparent knowledge. “You know more than the Minister of Education,” he said and he swung his legs in behind the wall with great agility. He began to walk off.

Who goes dere? Friend or Foe?” “Neither,” said Pidge and he laughed. “Doan know what to do about a Neither,” said the frog looking baffled. Then he remembered that he was supposed to say something more. “Tress.. um, tress…ah!…passers! Trespassers will be….will be…” He forgot the rest. “What?” asked Brigit. “Trespassers will be kilt stone dead!” the frog said brightly. “Oh, really?” said Brigit.

Have you always had a dog?” I asked. I so wanted to know everything about him. “No, Pigeon’s my first pet.” “And you didn’t consider getting any other kind? Like a cat?” “A cat?” he scoffed. “Never. I’m not bringing home some sociopath intent on luring you into a false sense of security before they eat your face.” That made me laugh. “Some cats are nice and affectionate.” Not that I had any firsthand knowledge, but it had to be true. “Decoys. They’ve never forgotten that they used to be worshipped as gods. You’ll never see dogs planning on destroying humankind. Which is one of the reasons I adopted Pigeon.” “She won’t eat your face?” He smiled. “I’m pretty sure she’s not plotting my demise. And it’s nice to love somebody who doesn’t want anything in return.” Whoa, that sounded deep and like an area that was obviously none of my business but I still wanted to ask too many questions about. Before I could figure out what to say in response, he said, “While we’re on the topic of animals and their devious plans, something you should definitely know about Pidge is that she loves shoes. And by love, I mean she chews them into tiny pieces until they no longer resemble shoes. So you always want to keep your closet door shut.” “Got it. She won’t come for my face, but she will for my shoes.” Pigeon and I were going to have issues if she chewed up my shoes. I’d been forced to sell off most of my bags and footwear. The shoes I had now were very inexpensive and I wasn’t emotionally attached to them, but I didn’t have enough money to buy more cheap shoes.

So it seems like your biggest expenses fall in this miscellaneous category. Part of setting a budget is figuring out how much you should be spending and then discipline yourself to stay under that amount. You should also be looking at monthly expenditures that maybe are unnecessary. Like . . .” He scrolled down a bit and said, “Do you really need Netflix?” That was like asking me if I needed my firstborn child. “Uh, yes. I need it. That’s nonnegotiable. If for no other reason than it allows me to consume television the same way I do ice cream and alcohol.” He laughed and said, “Okay, okay. You win. Netflix stays. What about this expense for Sephora? A hundred and thirty-two dollars?” While I’d had to downgrade my hair dye, makeup, cleanser, and toner, I was not willing to give this up. “That’s for my moisturizer.” He blinked at me a couple of times, as if he hadn’t heard me correctly. “You paid a hundred and thirty-two dollars for lotion for your face?” “It’s not lotion. It’s moisturizer.” “For one bottle? What’s in it? Dragon’s blood and the scraping of a unicorn’s horn?” I wasn’t about to tell him it wasn’t for a whole bottle, but for like two ounces. “Ha-ha. I need it. My face needs it.” “You don’t need it. You’re beautiful.” “It’s why I’m beautiful!” I was caught between sheer delight and disbelief at his words, and partial terror that he was going to make me stop using it. But then I started thinking about the way he’d complimented me—he’d said it so matter-of-factly, like it wasn’t his personal opinion, just a truth he happened to agree with. I wasn’t sure how to feel about that. While I was trying to figure out his deeper meaning, he chuckled and shook his head. “Come on, you’re easily the hottest girl in this apartment.” If I thought I’d been thrilled before, it was nothing compared to what I was feeling now. A flush started at the top of my scalp and went down to my toes—unpainted because I couldn’t afford to get a pedicure. Then I realized that Tyler was quoting back to me what I’d said about him at the charity event. Did that mean . . . it was a joke? A callback and he didn’t really mean anything by it? Or was he trying to butter me up so that he could pry my moisturizer out of my cold, soon-to-be dehydrated hands? Not willing to be taken in, I said, “You’re not going to flatter me to get me to change my mind. I’ll remind you that I’m the only girl in this apartment.” “That’s not true. Pidge is here and she’s gorgeous. Aren’t you?” he asked his dog, bending over to pet her. She licked his cheek and I had never felt more of a kinship to her, ever. He turned his attention back to me. “Do you really need it?” “The only time I get a facial now is when I open the dishwasher midcycle and the steam hits me in my face. I don’t buy the moisturizer every month. I’m really careful with how much I use on a daily basis. But I’ve had to give up so many other things. Let me have this one.” “All right, all right.

She [Pidge Bledsoe] supposed there was something gentle in every man, even the mean ones.