Trina Quotes

How does one become a butterfly? They have to want to learn to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.

You know. Life's short. If you don't try new things, you'll never know what you're best at. And you can only make time for new things by quitting the things you know don't work for you.

Once an asshole, always an asshole.

She's a skank. He's a player. He's cute but almost OD'd last year, so he's a bad bet. She's a two-faced, lying, cheating witch. That's right, Trina, I'm talking to you," she shouted. "By the way," she added just for me, "Trina cusses, which means cussing is trashy, which means my golden rule is to never cuss. I have class. Unlike Trina, the skank of Birmingham." The last part was, of course, shouted.

I knew then that I wanted to go home, but I had no home to go to--and that is what adventures are all about.

When it comes to girls (and in Colin's case, it so often did), everyone has a type. Colin Singleton's type was not physical but linguistic: he liked Katherines. And not Katies or Kats or Kitties or Cathys or Rynns or Trinas or Kays or Kates or, god forbid, Catherines. K-A-T-H-E-R-I-N-E. He had dated 19 girls. All of them had been named Katherine. And all of them- every single solitary one- had dumped him.

I love the sound of it," Trina whispers, as if speaking too loudly might interrupt the drumming patter of the rain outside. "It makes me want to sleep. Snuggle my head right up in your armpit and snore for three days." "My armpit?" Mark repeats. "Good thing we all showered up in the storm this morning. My pits smell like roses. Go ahead and get comfy.

How does one become a butterfly?' she asked pensively. 'You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.' 'You mean to die?' asked Yellow, remembering the three who fell out of the sky. 'Yes and No,' he answered. 'What looks like you will die, but what's really you will still live.

How does one become a butterfly?" she asked. "You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.

We have a nice home and we love each other and that's enough.

‎"Tell me, sir, what is a butterfly?" "It's what you are meant to become. It flies with beautiful wings and joins the earth to heaven. It drinks only nectar from the flowers and carries the seeds of love from one flower to another. Without butterflies, the world would soon have few flowers.

I motioned Kestra over to the table. “Come eat.” “After Trina has breathed on it? I’d rather eat off the floor.

Get some sleep Trina, I promise I will still love you in the morning and then every morning after that.

Since we're neither at the bottom nor at the top, we must be in the middle.

Stripe felt frozen. To be so high and not high at all! It only looked good from the bottom.

Yellow decided to risk for a butterfly. For courage she hung right beside the other cocoon and began to spin her own. 'Imagine, I didn't even know I could do this. That's some encouragement that i'mon the right track. If I have the stuff inside me to make cocoons—maybe the stuff of butterflies is there too.

Everything that I have told you is, of course, a fairy tale. Life is magical, after all. Nothing is safe and everything changes.

It takes lot of butterflies to make a world full of flowers

If this was a sample of what it would be like to work with Trina, I would soon die from prolonged exposure to idiocy.

She said her life was completed,” Trina said. “That’s something that none of us will ever experience. Even if we’re gleaned someday, it won’t be the same, because we weren’t born mortal. From this moment on, no one will ever know what it feels like to be complete.

All he could do was focus on the next rung of the ladder: Trina. He had to find Trina. If for no other reason than so he could die with her.

We can fly! “We can become butterflies! “There’s nothing at the top and it doesn’t matter!” As he heard his own message he realized how he had misread the instinct to get high. To get to the “top” he must fly, not climb.

Once you are a butterfly, you can really love – the kind of love that makes a new life. It’s better than all the hugging caterpillars can do.

Sometimes you have to let things go. Sometimes you have to stop caring for a minute.

It was starting to feel like a hair pulling, bitch slapping kind of fight. I needed to take it to the next level.

It was starting to feel like a hair pulling, bitch slapping kind of fight.

I don’t trust the government. Monsters. Worse than we could ever be.

How does one become a butterfly?” she asked pensively. “You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.” —TRINA PAULUS

A monster is a monster, regardless of the face it wears or the name given to it. We were all monsters in our own way. It was tragic really.

Lady number two was trying to wrap her hand around my dick despite my rejections. Being a monogamous incubus was a challenge at times like this.

That crazy-ass demon has lost his motherfucking mind.” Jez gaped at the invitation in disbelief. Despite her declaration, intrigue shone in her eyes. “We’re totally going, aren’t we?

By one tomorrow, I'll look enough like her to pass. I'm calling Mavis." "Oh." Peabody brightened. "Oh, that's iced." "Easy for you to say. You won't have to listen to lectures from her and Trina on why I haven't had my eyebrows shaped lately, or why I haven't used the butt cream or whatever. And I'll probably have to agree to a full treatment after the op." This was said with undisguised bitterness. "I know how they work." "You're a true soldier, sir, sacrificing yourself for the cause." "Wipe that smile off your face, Officer." "Wiping, sir.

You've got to take time for you, or your internal organs get all shriveled and your skin goes saggy. I read all about it. Anyway, Trina's got some outrageous new body paint." "No. Absolutely. I don't do body paint." Mavis rolled her eyes. "For me, Dallas. We know you. But I think you should give it a try one of these days. I bet Roarke would really go for the Gold-Dust. It does amazing things for the boobs. Makes them sparkle." "I don't want sparkling boobs." "It's flavored, too. Frangipani." "Really?" Roarke blew out a stream of smoke. "I'm very fond of tropical flavors.

TRINA: I'm tired of all the happy men who rule the world. Their smile, their smile's their pedigree. They smile, but not for me. I'd like the chance to hide In their world. I'm happy, but I'm not at ease with that whole world.

Se na vida há uma coisa real e divina é a arte - e na arte se há um raio do céu é na música. Na música que nos vibra as cordas da alma, que nos acorda da modorra da existência a alma embotada. Oh! é tão doce sentir a voz vaporosa que trina, que nos enleva - e que parece que nos faz desfalecer, amar, e morrer!

Wherever Sinclair is, he can take care of himself. You have more important things to do right now. Like stay alive.” With a shake of his dark head, Arys steered me inside with a hand on my waist. “You have this tendency to taunt death, my love. It’s frustrating.

I had a moment of clarity, and I wondered if my life would end in his hands. Maybe not today but one day. If our destiny was to destroy each other, that might only be fitting.

So, did you talk to her?” His head bobbed, and he gave a wan smile. “I did. If you can call it that. I tried to talk some sense into her. She told me that if I didn’t get out of her way, she’d send me back to you with my head stuffed up my ass. She’s a real classy broad, that one.

After killing Harley Kayson, my vampire lover’s sire, and taking over the club, I’d been forced to look around and accept the cold hard fact that I ran a whorehouse for vampires. There was no way to sugar-coat it. Just call me, “Madam.

I didn’t wait this long to find you just to watch you gamble your life away over another vampire. Be careful, Alexa. I’d hate to have to kill Sinclair to cure you of your recent bout of insanity.

All these women. And Trina. Trina,” she repeated, with considerable passion as she gripped his shirt. “And gooey dessert and body things and chick-vids. All night. Slumber party. Do you know what that means?” “I’ve had many dreams of them. Will there be pillow fights?” She spun him around so his back hit the door. “Don’t. Leave. Me.” “Darling.” He kissed her brow. “I must. I must.” “No. You can bring Vegas here. Because . . . you’re you. You can do that. We’ll have Vegas here, and that’ll be good. I’ll buy you a lap dance.” “That’s so sweet. But I’m going. I’ll be back tomorrow, and lay a cool cloth on your fevered brow.” “Tomorrow?” She actually went light-headed. “You’re not coming back tonight?” “You wouldn’t be in this state now if you paid attention. I’m taking a shuttle full of men to Las Vegas late this afternoon. There will be ribaldry, and a possible need to post bond. I’ve made arrangements. I’ll bring back this same shuttle full of men—hopefully—tomorrow afternoon.” “Let me come with you.” “Let me see your penis.” “Oh, God! Can’t I just use yours?” “At any other time. Now pull yourself together, and remember that when all this is over, you’ll very likely arrest a killer who’s also a dirty cop. It’s like a twofer.” “That doesn’t make me feel better.” “Best I have.

I love your dress!” Kendra says to me. “Thank you!” I say. “It’s vintage.” She recoils in real horror. “Oh my God. Are the nineties considered vintage now?” Trina says, “Yes, girl. Their nineties are our seventies.” She shudders. “That’s terrifying. Are we old?” “We’re geriatric,” Trina says, but cheerfully.

After several minutes, Trina finally stopped in front of a small shack that had been boarded up with three wooden slats nailed across the door. From the outside. Someone had been imprisoned. And that someone was screaming.

Christmas is not only where you find it; it's what you make of it.

I might be five foot one and counting, but that doesn't mean shit when it comes to what really makes you tough.

This isn’t my first circus, sweetheart. I don’t mess with you addictive types. Anymore.

I’d asked him to make me forget what it felt like to feel, and he asked me to make him remember.

We’re the Mickey and Mallory Knox of vampires. All we bring each other is more pain and misery. That’s what we share. It’s all we’ve ever shared.

I am going to make you so crazy, Alexa, that the only way out will be to drive a stake through my heart.

So, tell me about your plan to kill Arys Knight. And don’t leave anything out.

Vampires horde information like its toilet paper in a natural disaster.

You’ll be happy to know I never saw Kale. Your illicit lover remains alive to tempt you another night.” His tone dripped venom, and I cringed.

You are the light in my darkness. I can’t watch you become something you will grow to hate.

We fight. We fuck. We forgive. It’s what we do,

Regret steals time from you. It gives nothing back.

Shaz came back with something to prove. Like any other animal, he’s going to run around marking his territory and generally ticking everyone else off. And you have to let him.

Fucking bitch! I’m not going to beg.” “Good. It’s probably better if you don’t go out like a pussy.

More blood flowed as Kale and I killed together yet again. Enablers, that’s what we were to each other, an excuse, someone to blame for making it so easy to give in to the weakness again.

I can’t be fixed, and I don’t even want to be. Because as long as you think I’m damaged goods that need to be repaired, neither of us will be happy. You can’t turn me into your ideal version of me,

But I like it, Shaz. That’s the part that makes me a monster. I fucking love it.” “So does Arys, but he’s not running amok like a fucking lunatic slaughtering college kids and fucking fallen angels.

Trina had filed a civil suit against the officer who raped her, and the jury awarded her a judgment of $62,000. The guard appealed, and the Court reversed the verdict because the correctional officer had not been permitted to tell the jury that Trina was in prison for murder. Consequently, Trina never received any financial aid or services from the state to compensate her for being violently raped by one of its “correctional” officers. In 2014, Trina turned fifty-two. She has been in prison for thirty-eight years. She is one of nearly five hundred people in Pennsylvania who have been condemned to mandatory life imprisonment without parole for crimes they were accused of committing when they were between the ages of thirteen and seventeen. It is the largest population of child offenders condemned to die in prison in any single jurisdiction in the world.

My mom used to say not to go to college with a boyfriend, because you’ll lose out on a true freshman experience.” “Well, to be fair, your mom never met Peter Kavinsky. She didn’t have all the facts. If she had met him…” Trina lets out a low whistle. “She might’ve been singing a different tune.

It was curious to note the effect of the alcohol upon the dentist. It did not make him drunk, it made him vicious. So far from being stupefied, he became, after the fourth glass, active, alert, quick-witted, even talkative; a certain wickedness stirred in him then; he was intractable, mean; and when he had drunk a little more heavily than usual, he found a certain pleasure in annoying and exasperating Trina, even in abusing and hurting her.

Canta, hija, canta y trina, si ese es tu camino. Buscate por dentro, hurgate hasta que descubras, sin miedos, quien habita en tu interior. Hablame de tus dudas, de tus fantasias, de tu curiosidad justificada por la reproduccion humana y animal, de tu preocupacion por la politica, de tu interes por las artes: la vida es un abanico de posibilidades de realizacion personal. Encuentra las tuyas, para eso tienes a tu madre, un faro en tu camino, una referencia nocturna de la cual careci yo en mis noches de miedo. No seras un objeto de adorno. Pensaras, construiras, haras, propondras, no callaras, aportaras, disfrutaras la cama y a tu pareja, te reiras con un par de tequilas y sin ellos, seras plena, intensa, exitosa, risueña y enormemente productiva para que el dia que te mueras, espero que sea muy tarde y sobre todo mucho despues de que yo haya partido para siempre, lo puedas hacer con una sonrisa en el rostro.

Arys raised his head to look at me. His expression took on an intensity that held me transfixed. “I’ve spent over a century knowing I’d likely never know you. I’ve been waiting for you for a hundred years. Being with you is surreal. We were created as one. The moments that bring jealousy and pain, they’re temporary. We are forever.

Are you sure you’re up for that after the wolfsbane?” “Please,” she scoffed. “That may have slowed down a regular shifter, but neither you or I are quite normal, are we? That idiot said he gave us enough to drop a bear. Should have used the elephant dose.

Trina and her consultants will be here by four to start setting up.” “Joy and—what? Who? Trina? Why? What have you done?” “You said no silly games, and no strippers,” Peabody reminded her. “We’re doing the full-out girl party. Champagne, decadent food, body, hair, face treatments. Chick-vids, presents, gooey desserts. Big girl slumber party, followed by champagne brunch tomorrow.” “You mean . . .” The shock was sharp and cruel, a stunner blast against the heart. “Overnight? All night into tomorrow?” “Yeah.” Peabody grinned around her carrot. “Didn’t I mention that?” “I have to kill you now.” “Uh-uh. No games, no strippers. Those were your only rules.” “I’ll find a way to hurt you for this.

A person can’t possibly live without the one person that gave them life.

You reek of lust,” Arys commented. The fresh energy rolled off him and tantalized my senses. “What have you been doing in here without me?

You were always meant to be a monster. I just make you enjoy it.

By not choosing, you have already chosen. Don’t let it be so.

After shedding only as much clothing as required, I climbed onto his lap and rode him like I was running a race and the finish line was in sight.

Crazy people didn’t make the best brawl opponents. They were too unpredictable.

Baggage. We all had it. Mine was starting to get pretty heavy.

Don’t forget, Alexa. I longed for you before you were even born. There is no one deeper under your spell than me.

Anyone who fucks with you is going to be wearing their insides on the outside when I’m done with them.

Whatever Arys had been up to recently, it wasn’t any saner than what I’d been doing. He was losing it, and I was willing to bet he didn’t even realize it. At least I knew I was going mad.

Piercings in his ears, nose and lip revealed his edgy nature. He was casual in faded blue jeans and a black t-shirt that hugged his well-muscled chest in all of the right places. His eyes were a deep, drowning blue. His hair was slightly spiky and bedroom messy with just a hint of the early Elvis style. To say that I found him attractive would be putting it lightly. He was absolutely gorgeous.

This was no exchange of emotion or even mutual respect. It was nothing but ridiculously hot sex between two people who felt nothing for each other. That was what I loved about it. No feelings. No ties. Nothing.

Hava," he said, "do I use you?" "Oh, urg," said Hava. "I knew this was coming." "There was something in what Trina said." "Okay then, do I use you?" said Hava. "When we're at a party and I let you do all the talking while I hide? Or let you carry everything with your big muscles? Or let you distract everyone by looking all handsome and stuffed with valour?" "How do you manage to be so insulting while giving compliments?

Trina, what do you think?” I ask. “Honestly, I could care less what you guys wear, but you’re going to have to run it by Margot and Kristen. They might have their own ideas.” Delicately I say, “Just FYI, it’s ‘I couldn’t care less,’ not ‘I could care less.’ Because if you could, then you are technically caring.” Trina rolls her eyes, and Kitty slides back into her chair and says, “Why are you like this, Lara Jean?” I shove her in the side.

Are you stalking me, asshole?” “Not at all, shit for brains,” he quipped without missing a beat. “I’d rather have my liver eaten by vultures in hell for all eternity than willingly follow you around.” “Since when do you ever do anything willingly?” I fired back. “You’re so far up Shya’s ass, I can’t tell where he ends and you begin.

For the first time I realized that my life was just full of brokenness. I worked in a broken system of justice. My clients were broken by mental illness, poverty, and racism. They were torn apart by disease, drugs and alcohol, pride, fear, and anger. I thought of Joe Sullivan and of Trina, Antonio, Ian, and dozens of other broken children we worked with, struggling to survive in prison. I thought of people broken by war, like Herbert Richardson; people broken by poverty, like Marsha Colbey; people broken by disability, like Avery Jenkins. In their broken state, they were judged and condemned by people whose commitment to fairness had been broken by cynicism, hopelessness, and prejudice.

Arys is notorious in this city for being the kind of guy you tiptoe around if you don’t want to get killed. He has a tendency of making sure everyone weaker than him knows it.” That I could certainly believe. “So, who isn’t weaker than Arys?” His cocky attitude was nothing new to me, but it sounded like a recipe for trouble. Kale fixed me with a serious gaze that betrayed the monster behind his eyes. “For a long time, very few. Since he has been bound to you, nobody.

She can’t be with both of us. Not in the long run. It will come down to you or me. Or possibly neither. Can you handle that? Do you even let yourself think about it? Or are you so lost in the fantasy of finally finding her that you’re blinded to reality?

Come on, Lex. How long can we all keep playing musical beds for before it blows up in our faces? Three is a crowd, and five is just getting downright nasty.” He made a face of disgust. “Not to mention however many lovers Arys has on the side that neither of us know about.

He took one look at my macabre makeup job, and his jaw dropped. “Goddamn, you are hideous. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse.” His reaction brought me a twisted sense of joy. Having him call me a zombie when we were locked up together had definitely inspired my look.

Lovin’ in My Baby’s Eyes” is playing, and Peter takes my hand and leads me out to the lawn. We’ve never danced to this kind of song before. It’s the kind of song where you sway together and make a lot of eye contact and smile. It feels different, like we’re already older versions of Peter and Lara Jean. Across the dance floor, Trina and Kitty and Margot are dancing in a circle, with Grandma in the middle. Haven is dancing with my dad. She catches my eye and mouths, He’s so cute. Peter, not my dad. He is. He is so, so cute. I will never forget tonight, not for as long as I live. One day, if I’m lucky, I’ll tell some young girl all my stories, just like Stormy told me hers. And I’ll get to live them again. When I’m old and gray, I will look back on this night, and I will remember it just as it was. Is. We’re still here. It’s not the future yet.

Jez cackled, throwing more liquor down her throat. “You so need to be cut off,” I murmured softly, but her wildcat ears easily heard me. “And you need to join the party. By the end of the night, this place will be yours.” She shoved a shooter across the table and raised one to match in cheers.

Trina, I never expected to fall in love again. I thought I got my shot, and I was okay with that, because I had my girls. I didn’t realize anything was missing. Then came you.” Ms. Rothschild’s hands are covering her mouth. She has tears in her eyes. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Trina.” Ms. Rothschild starts choking on her candy, and Daddy leaps up off his knee and starts pounding her on the back. She’s coughing like crazy. From his tree Peter whispers, “Should I go do the Heimlich on her? I know how to do it.” “Peter, my dad’s a doctor!” I whisper back. “He’s got it.

Alec took another bite and pushed it to the side of his mouth. “That’s the spirit.” “Do they not teach manners in the army?” Trina asked. “You know, it’s just as easy to take a bite after you say something as right before it.” Alec chomped on his bar. “It is?” He croaked a laugh and little pieces of granola shot out. Which made him roar even harder. He choked out a cough, composed himself, then was laughing all over again. It was such a rare sight to see Alec acting like this, Mark didn’t know how to respond at first. But then he soaked it in, chuckling right along even though he’d forgotten what was funny in the first place. Trina had a smile on her face, and little Deedee was giggling heartily. The sound of it filled Mark up and washed away the doldrums. “You’d think someone farted, the way you’re all getting on,” Lana said with a deadpan look. That sent everyone into an even bigger fit that went on for several minutes, resparked every time it began to die down by Alec making gassy noises. Mark laughed until his face hurt and he tried his best to stop smiling, which made him laugh even harder. Finally it did settle down, ending with one big sigh from the former soldier. Then he stood up.

Your sister is really not loving Ms. Rothschild, huh.” Peter still hasn’t gotten the hang of calling Ms. Rothschild Trina, and he likely never will. In our neighborhood, none of the kids growing up called the adults by their first names. Everyone was Miss or Mrs. or Mr., except for Daddy, who was Dr. “I wouldn’t say Gogo dislikes Trina,” I say. “She likes her; she just isn’t used to her yet. You know how Trina is.” “True,” he says. “I also know how your sister is. It took her forever to warm up to me.” “It wasn’t forever. You’re just used to people liking you from the very first minute they meet you.” I give him a sidelong look. “Because you’re so very charming.” He scowls, because I don’t say it like a compliment. “Gogo doesn’t care about charm. She cares about real.” “Well, now she loves me,” he says, all confidence. When I don’t answer right away, he says, “Right? Doesn’t she?” I laugh. “She does.

Trina stared into her open kitchen cabinets. She was two and a half days into her pre-date-night ritual fast, and she was about to crack. Technically, she wasn’t going out on a date Saturday night, but Juliet was determined to have a man in her bed by the end of the evening. To be honest, Trina wasn’t really looking forward to tomorrow night’s manhunt. Sure, she was desperate for some hot monkey sex, but the thought of a one-night-stand was quickly losing its appeal. She wanted more than just plain, old sex. She wanted romance -- preferably with someone for whom she didn’t have to fast for three days to attract.

Please, don’t take it personally,” I said, shivering even though I felt no chill. “Of course not. I’m sure you dry heave after orgasm with all of your lovers.” The sound of clothing rustling followed his snide remark. A few items hit my back as he tossed them at me. “Here. Get dressed. We have to get this door open.” I reached for my clothes and rose, donning them fast. “Um, Falon, where’s my underwear?” “Oh these?” He forced me to glance over my shoulder to find him twirling my black panties on one finger. “I’m keeping them.

When she returns a few minutes later, the bachelor party is in tow. She gives me a warning look. Don’t act drunk, she mouths. I give her a thumbs-up. Then I jump up and throw my arms around Peter. “Peter!” I shout above the music. He looks so cute in his button-down and tie. So cute I could cry. I bury my face in his neck like a squirrel. “I’ve missed you so, so very much.” Peter peers at me. “Are you drunk?” “No, I only had like two sips. Two drinks.” “Trina let you drink?” “No.” I giggle. “I stole sips.” “We’d better get you out of here before your dad sees you,” Peter says, eyes darting around. My dad is looking through a songbook with Margot, who is giving me a look that says, Get it together. “What he doesn’t know won’t hurt a living soul.” “Let’s go out to the parking lot so you can get some air,” he says, putting an arm around me and hustling me out the door and through the restaurant. We step outside, and I sway on my feet a little. Peter’s trying not to smile. “You’re drunk.” “I guess I’m a weightlight!” “Lightweight.” He pinches my cheeks. “Right. Weightlight. I mean, lightweight.

Alexa, I have never been more alive in all these years than I am right now, with you.” He paused, second-guessing himself, and I turned my face to plant an encouraging kiss in the palm of his hand. “You are the only light in my dark world. All I see is you.” I closed my eyes, the emotion overcoming me in its immensity. His next words came low, barely a whisper. Yet, I heard them as clearly as if they’d been shouted at me. “I love you. You have given back to me everything I thought I’d lost forever.” His voice carried a note of surrender. I opened my eyes to find him staring at me, hope evident in his expression. “How you feel, Arys, it isn’t one sided.” I placed my hand over his, drawing it to my chest where my heart beat steadily. “Don’t say it,” he said, placing a finger over my lips. “You love the white wolf.” Knocking his finger away, I rose up on tiptoes to better look him in the eyes. “I do. And, he has his own place within me. As do you.” He wanted to believe me, but Arys didn’t know how to be loved any better than I had just a few months ago. I understood how hard it was to trust fully. I’d been there. I still was.

I know about Trina. You bitch.” Shoulders hunched, Peabody carefully pinned up murder. “It’s a special night. You’ll look really good, and you won’t have to do it all yourself. We won’t want the NYPSD to fall short of the Hollywood crowd, right? Team pride!” “Rah fucking rah.” “Really, Dallas, it’ll be good, it’ll be chilly, and we’ll look abso-mag by the time . . .” She trailed off again, face lighting up. “We will look mag. And if we take down this killer at the premiere, with cams everywhere, it’ll be all over the screen like the flying baby. And we’ll look completely frosted.” “It’s so good you’ve got your priorities in place, Detective.” “Catching killers, that’s what we do. But if we get to do it at a big celeb event, there’s no downside to looking most totally excellent.

Why are you here, Harley? What is it that you really want from me?” I came away from the wall with my hands balled into fists. He nodded thoughtfully, a slight tilt to his head. “I want to know what Arys has that I don’t. I want to know what is so important that he is willing to destroy anything that dares to threaten you. Clearly he loves you, yet he chooses not to bond you.” Harley’s voice was low, contemplative. “I want to know what joins him to the most powerful werewolf alive.” I stared at him fearfully as if he were mad, which I was pretty sure he was. This was all about what Arys had that he did not. Was it just a vampire’s need to dominate or was there more to it? “All I can tell you is this, whatever Arys and I have, it’s meant to be. It’s bigger than we are and try as I might to find my way out, it is here to stay.” I saw no harm in divulging that much to Harley. I was hoping he would see it for the truth it was and leave me alone.

Peter’s mom told me he was talking about transferring to UNC next year. She wanted me to break up with him before he messed up his life for me.” “Damn! Peter’s mom is kind of a bitch!” “She didn’t use those exact words, but that was the gist of it.” I take a sip of tea. “I wouldn’t want him to transfer for me either…My mom used to say not to go to college with a boyfriend, because you’ll lose out on a true freshman experience.” “Well, to be fair, your mom never met Peter Kavinsky. She didn’t have all the facts. If she had met him…” Trina lets out a low whistle. “She might’ve been singing a different tune.” Tears fill my eyes. “Honestly I regret breaking up with him and I wish I could take it all back!” She tips up my chin. “Then why don’t you?” “I don’t think he’ll ever forgive me for hurting him like that. He doesn’t let people in easily. I think I’m probably dead to him.” Trina tries to hide a smile. “I doubt that. Look, you’ll talk to him at the wedding tomorrow. When he sees you in that dress, all will be forgiven.” I sniffle. “I’m sure he’s not coming.” “I’m sure he is. You don’t plan a man’s bachelor party and then not show to the wedding. Not to mention the fact that he’s crazy about you.” “But what if I hurt him again?” She wraps both her hands around her mug of tea and takes a sip. “You can’t protect him from being hurt, babe, no matter what you do. Being vulnerable, letting people in, getting hurt…it’s all a part of being in love.” I take this in. “Trina, when did you figure out that you and my dad were the real thing?” “I don’t know…I think I just--decided.” “Decided on what?” “Decided on him. On us.” She smiles at me. “On all of it.

Trina, I never expected to fall in love again. I thought I got my shot, and I was okay with that, because I had my girls. I didn’t realize anything was missing. Then came you.” Ms. Rothschild’s hands are covering her mouth. She has tears in her eyes. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Trina.” Ms. Rothschild starts choking on her candy, and Daddy leaps up off his knee and starts pounding her on the back. She’s coughing like crazy. From his tree Peter whispers, “Should I go do the Heimlich on her? I know how to do it.” “Peter, my dad’s a doctor!” I whisper back. “He’s got it.” As her coughing subsides, she stands up straight and wipes her eyes. “Wait. Were you asking me to marry you?” “I was trying to,” Daddy says. “Are you all right?” “Yes!” She claps her hands to her cheeks. “Yes, you’re all right, or yes, you’ll marry me?” Daddy asks her, and he’s only half kidding. “Yes, I’ll marry you!” she screams, and Daddy reaches for her, and they kiss. “This feels private,” I whisper to Kitty. “It’s all part of the show,” she whispers back. Daddy hands Ms. Rothschild the ring box. I can’t quite make out what he says next, but whatever it was, it makes her double over laughing. “What’s he saying?” Kitty asks me, just as Peter says, “What did he say?” “I can’t hear! Both of you be quiet! You’re ruining the video!” Which is when Ms. Rothschild looks over in our direction. Shoot. We all pop back behind our respective trees, and then I hear Daddy’s wry voice call out, “You can come out, guys. She said yes!” We run out from behind the trees; Kitty launches herself into Ms. Rothschild’s arms. They fall over onto the grass, and Ms. Rothschild is laughing breathlessly, her laughter echoing through the woods. I hug Daddy, and meanwhile Peter’s still playing videographer, recording the moment for posterity like the good boyfriend he is. “Are you happy?” I ask, looking up at my dad. His eyes brimming with tears, he nods and hugs me tighter. And just like that, our little family grows bigger.