The Defender Ana Huang Quotes

Brooklyn.” I lowered my voice, my throat strained. “I’d lose every single fucking bet in the world if it meant I could be with you.

She was here, she was safe, and she was mine. For the first time in my life, love didn't feel like a risk. It felt like the safest bet I'd ever made.

It wasn’t even about the lack of romance in my life; it was about being someone’s priority. Having an anchor. Knowing there was a person out there

No matter where we were or how many people were around, Brooklyn could make the rest of the world fall away with one glance. I couldn’t explain how or why. She just…did.

People liked the shiny, bubbly version of me, but if they saw what a mess I was on the inside, they’d leave.

I didn’t defend you. I called out an asshole for being an asshole.” He slid a sidelong glance at me. “Besides, I’m the only one who gets to be a jerk to you.” 

Was he human or simply a Coach-shaped monster fueled by spite?

Je serais toujours là pour toi, mon coeur. Quoiqu’il arrive.

It was a lot of potential danger for one girl. The problem was, I’d never liked playing safe.

It was like God had sent her specifically to test me—I mean, us. The team in general.

Who’s the one who can’t control themself now?” “I never said I could control myself around you.

Fine. You want to know the reason?” He walked toward me, his movements precise and controlled, like a predator prowling toward its prey. “The reason is because I couldn’t stop thinking about you while I was gone. Then I come home to see you sitting there, doing nothing except existing, and I can’t fucking breathe.” His voice was low and taut. “Maybe you were right. I am pissed at you because you can float through the kitchen, making pancakes and cracking jokes, while I’m using every goddamn ounce of willpower not to touch you. That’s why I don’t want to be around you. You’re killing me, and you don’t even know it.

That’s not why I don’t want to be around you.” “Then what’s the reason? Either tell me, or leave.” “Fine. You want to know the reason? The reason is because I couldn’t stop thinking about you while I was gone. Then I come home to see you sitting there, doing nothing except existing, and I can’t fucking breathe. Maybe you were right. I am pissed at you because you can float through the kitchen, making pancakes and cracking jokes, while I’m using every goddamn ounce of willpower not to touch you. That’s why I don’t want to be around you. You’re killing me, and you don’t even know it.” “Then why’d you stay?” “Because I can’t fucking say no to you if I tried.

I had since grown into my own skin, but the anxiety had never gone away. “Why don’t you let us in on your joke?” Christian’s casual request masked a dark undertone that wiped the smiles off Raya’s and Adam’s faces. “It must be a good one.” “We were talking about something personal.” Raya rolled her eyes, but her expression contained a hint of nerves. “I see. Next time, refrain from doing so at a public event. It’s disrespectful.” The content of Christian’s rebuke was mild, but he delivered it with such vicious contempt Raya’s face flushed crimson. Instead of defending his girlfriend, Adam stared down at his plate, his own face pale. The

No one had defended me before. Ever. I didn’t need or want them to, but Stella had always been the exception to my every rule, and seeing her so strong and clear-eyed with conviction lit a match of pride in my chest.

I couldn’t believe I was defending Georgia, but Bentley had his head so far up his own ass, he could give himself a root canal—preferably without Novocain.

And most of all, myself, because I’d failed to live up to the person I thought I would be.

Henry couldn’t say the same. Plus, he had the work ethic of a stoned frat boy,

In that world, I would’ve pulled the car off to the side of the road the other night and shown her exactly who she belonged to. Not fucking Mason, who had the balls to ask her out like he deserved her.

Bullshit. The only other intern is Henry, and he’s mediocre, at best.” In fact, fuck Henry.

The mental spiral I suffered every October third was the most wallowing I allowed myself.

I’m not a saint. If you walk around looking like that, I’ll notice.” His jaw flexed again. “So I’m merely suggesting you find a way to remedy the problem, or I’ll think you’re purposely trying to tempt me.

Two, fuck Henry.

Before I could stop myself, I switched to the web browser and looked up Chicago’s football club. Just in case. Just to see.

Let’s make another bet.” “Seriously? You want to make another bet right now?” “Mmhmm. I bet I can make you scream so loud, your neighbor will be banging down the wall. No pun intended.

You’re pretty mouthy for someone who just came all over my face.” “What can I say? I’m funny that way.

Do it. Come for me. I want to feel that pretty little cunt drenching my cock.

What happens next is simple. We’re together. Exclusively. No more games, no more uncertainty. In case you had any doubt, you’re mine, and I’m yours. I don’t care who knows. In fact, I want the whole fucking world to know because I’m done hiding.

What’s wrong? Can’t handle it?” “Don’t make me turn you over and fuck that brattiness out of you.

I’ll do you one better. Remember that bet we made the first time we had sex? Let’s change it up. I bet I can make you beg to come tonight.” “Sweetheart, if you can make me beg, you deserve to win.

If I had to bet on you or a few thousand miles, I’d always choose you.

Careless cruelty always cut deeper than intentional malice.

I will always be there for you, my love. No matter what happens.

Tu es plus que mon coeur. Tu es mon tout.

You are more than my heart. You are my everything.

Je serais toujours la pour toi, mon coeur. Quoiqu'il arrive.

In case you had any doubt, you're mine and I'm yours. I don't care who knows. In fact, I want to whole fucking world to know because I'm done hidding

I'd lose every single fucking bet in the world if it meant I could be with you.

No matter where we were or how many people are around, Brooklyn could make the rest of the world fall away with one glance. I couldn't explain how or why. She just... did.

She was the only person who made me feel wholehe was the only person who made me feel whole, and her absence left a hollow ache where her presence used to be

I’d been around athletes my whole life. I’d even dated a few of them. Unless you liked commitment issues, cheating, and gaslighting, it was best to steer clear.

He was like the moon to my tide; his mere presence altered my gravitational field.

Vincent may have manipulated me into letting him move in, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t have a little fun at his expense.

It wasn’t even about the lack of romance in my life; it was about being someone’s priority. Having an anchor. Knowing there was a person out there who would be my first call if shit went down and vice versa.

Maybe you were right. I am pissed at you because you can float through the kitchen, making pancakes and cracking jokes, while I’m using every goddamn ounce of willpower not to touch you. That’s why I don’t want to be around you. You’re killing me, and you don’t even know it.

In case you had any doubt, you’re mine, and I’m yours. I don’t care who knows. In fact, I want the whole fucking world to know because I’m done hiding.

You can yell at me. You can make me run drills until I vomit. You can make me wear the fucking mascot costume and dance the ‘Macarena’ during halftime. It doesn’t matter. I’ll take it all because Brooklyn’s worth it. There’s nothing you can do or say that would change that.

Running away from overzealous fans together is a relationship milestone,” I said when we recovered our composure. I wiped a tear from my eye, my cheeks aching from how hard I’d laughed. “New couple goals unlocked.

I realized that the most dangerous person in my world wasn’t the intruder or my birth mom or any rival footballer. It was Brooklyn, because she was the only person alive with the power to unravel me.

For the first time in my life, love didn’t feel like a risk. It felt like the safest bet I’d ever made.

Ninety-nine percent of our conversations revolved around playful jabs and insults. That was the dynamic we were most comfortable with. But every now and then, we’d drop our guards, and those moments would feel deeper than they did with anyone else because they were so rare.

On the other hand, Brooklyn’s setup was pretty perfect per Scarlett’s specifications. She lived alone in a big flat that was close to our training grounds, she wasn’t a serial killer, and she smelled nicer than anyone else I knew. That last point was weirdly prominent in my mind.