You have games on there?" he asks. "Yeah," I answer for her. "She's become a checkers fanatic. Shelley, show him how it works." While Shelley slowly taps the screen with her knuckles, Alex watches, seemingly fascinated. When the checkers screen comes up, Shelley nudges Alex's hand. "You go first," he says. She shakes her head. "She wants you to go first," I tell him. "Cool." He taps the screen. I watch, getting all mushy inside, as this tough guy plays quietly with my big sister. "Do you mind if I make a snack for her?" I say, desperate to leave the room. "Nah, go ahead," he says, his concentration on the game. "You don't have to let her win," I say before leaving. "She can hold her own in checkers." "Uh, thanks for the vote of confidence, but I am tryin' to win," Alex says. He has a genuine grin on his face, without trying to act cocky or cool.
Simone Elkeles
Related How can I judge?" she said at last. "To me, he is a hero. To the world a monster." She let her head ... ROBERT FANNEY He then kissed her. It was a very long time before he let her go. When he did, she looked... EVA IBBOTSON She came towards me with a juicy gash between her legs that smelled like my best friend's sister" DAVE MATTHES What does Éloa mean?” He narrowed his gaze, answered her literally. “It’s the name... SARAH MACLEAN What do you want to show me?" "Nothing, really. I just want to be alone with you for a mi... RAINBOW ROWELL Wow, hi,’ Eight says, and when he speaks it’s with his own voice. It’s him. It’s ... PITTACUS LORE He wants a fifteen thousand pound settlement." "Fifteen thousand!" "He says you're a great... DEEANNE GIST Everything ok here ?" Ryan grunted urging her with a hand on her lower back. "He thinks yo... SUZANNE WRIGHT You starting to feel hope yet?" Viola asks, her voice curious. "No," I say, fuddling my noise. ... PATRICK NESS I'm coming back into focus when Caesar asks him if he has a girlfriend back home. Peeta hesitates, t... SUZANNE COLLINS Peter?” He couldn’t look at her. Instead, he stared down at his poisoned arm. “... SARAH BLAKLEY-CARTWRIGHT When Kai fell silent, she risked a glance at him. He was staring at her hands [which she always hold... MARISSA MEYER I lead Paco through the house. We pass Shelley in the family room looking at some magazine. "Shelley... SIMONE ELKELES Where's Shelley?" I ask, scanning the room. "Playing checkers, as usual," Georgia says, pointin... SIMONE ELKELES She murmured, "You're unfinished." "Aye, precisely." "I need to go." When she moved t... KRESLEY COLE Now he felt temper snapping at the nerves. “If you can’t be comfortable in the house while I’m... J.D. ROBB I believe in you, my darling. I believe in you." He closed his eyes. And when he opened th... ELIZABETH HOYT I want you,” she said. “Naked.” His nostrils flared as if he was soaking in the sc... NALINI SINGH This hand says you spend the rest of your life with me," he said, holding out his left hand, "and th... MELINA MARCHETTA When you've lived as long as I have," he said, eyes heavy-lidded but definitely on her, "you learn t... NALINI SINGH Fletcher appeared beside her. He peered at the baby. "Can it do any tricks yet?" "I'm sti... DEREK LANDY He leaned forward to inspect her closer. "Is that all hair?" ... Sudden, overwhelming pan... MARISSA MEYER For Lucie," Peter said quietly, the flame of a gilded saint's candle fluttering in his hand." "... SARAH BLAKLEY-CARTWRIGHT For the Wife Beater's Wife With blue irises her face is blossomed. Blue Circling to ... BRUCE WEIGL Clay, did you ever love me?" I'm studying a billboard and say that I didn't hear what she said.... BRET EASTON ELLIS Peter..." He straightened, his back to her like a wall. Then, slowly, he turned his face toward... SARAH BLAKLEY-CARTWRIGHT After a steadying breath, Aislinn turned to Keenan. "I'm sure you can figure out lunch without help.... MELISSA MARR Faris turned on him. "Why choose to wear black today, of all days? I know why I'm in black. Why are ... CAROLINE STEVERMER I just want to know—are you rooting for me? Are you hoping I pull this off?" Cath's eye... RAINBOW ROWELL She turned to go back inside the livery stable. The excitement with which she’d entered it le... BONNIE DEE The multicolored kitten snuggled between her breasts. Lucky cat. "I thought ma... CANDIS TERRY I can't see why you should want to dance with me now, when you never have before." The statement was... LISA KLEYPAS Angel clicked on a few more pictures on the screen, and Alex made small talk about the place. Then h... ELIZABETH REYES The Janus Guard will also be out that night,” he said, one hand reaching out to squeeze her should... LESLEY LIVINGSTON Inej turned to go. Kaz seized her hand, keeping it on the railing. He didn't look at her. "Stay", he... LEIGH BARDUGO Papa, do you like my new friend?" Frances Catherine asked when they were halfway across the field. JULIE GARWOOD He started to pull away again but she called his name so he stopped. “Yeah?” “Before... KRISTEN ASHLEY I love my mother. My mother loves my dad. Those two facts are undeniable. JOHNA PASSARO Scott still stares at Sid, then turns to Alice and hands her the Scotch. “We’re going to go see ... KAUI HART HEMMINGS No problem," Gale replies. "I wake up ten times a night anyway." "To make sure Katniss is still... SUZANNE COLLINS My name...my name is Mary. I'm here with a friend.' Rhage stopped breathing. His heart skipped ... J.R. WARD She wondered If I had woken up, would I have smelled his sadness, his desperation, and his detachmen... RACHEL THOMPSON You cold or something?' he said. She strained against him; she wanted to pass clear through him: 'It... TRUMAN CAPOTE I should go," I said thickly. "Let me know when you want to start practice again. And thanks for...t... RICHELLE MEAD Come here,” she says. “No, you come here.” “I said it first.” “Rock paper... MELINA MARCHETTA What were you thinking about just now while you were looking out the window?" To his surprise, ... JUDITH MCNAUGHT Hadrian caught her arm. “You go back and we’ll continue searching.” “I’m not go... SHERRILYN KENYON Abby,” he signed. “Hmm?” “I have a confession to make.” “Okay,” she ... SAMANTHA CHASE All right, my hope—but I am not saying the rest of it—I have something you need to feel.” SHERRY THOMAS As I saw it, all my mother's life, my father held her down, like lead strapped to ... LOUISE GLüCK Hey, Shell-bell," I say, leaning over her and wiping her face with a napkin. "It's the first day of ... SIMONE ELKELES What are you doing?" she asked. Grimacing, he considered returning his mouth to hers and ... LORRAINE HEATH I bought you something" Willows blurts out. "You bought...What?" Willow closes her eyes fo... JULIA HOBAN His face was pale, and he dropped to the floor so that he was half kneeling, half sitting before her... MELISSA MARR If I release you, you won't scream? I'd rather not continue the conversation like this." She sh... JAIME RUSH It’s midnight!” he says frantically, slapping at the door. “Call her. Call your roommate!” COLLEEN HOOVER MY MOTHER GETS DRESSED It is impossible for my mother to do even the simplest... DAPHNE GOTTLIEB You can kiss me if you like," she said. Alex let go of her and turned away. "Thanks, Fion... ANTHONY HOROWITZ Right," Chaol said. "So you're just...memorizing that information now?" "If you're sugges... SARAH J. MAAS I love you," he said. She looked up at him, her eyes shiny and black, then looked away. "... RAINBOW ROWELL Sugar,” Jake said, “I’ve wanted you since the first time you sassed me.” “I wan... TINA LEONARD She chuckled, leaned on him as they headed out of the park. “All in all, it was a hell of a party.... J.D. ROBB I've missed you, Sebastian." "Have you, love?" He unfastened the buttons of her robe, the... LISA KLEYPAS Did she say anything before she died?" he asked. "Yes," the surgeon said. "She said, 'Forgive h... SHERMAN ALEXIE Survive ... Some women survive by creating walls, big walls guarding their heart... IJEOMA UMEBINYUO Did you just tell us you're gay?" Asks Nick "Yes." "Okay," he says. Abby swats him. "What?... BECKY ALBERTALLI What did you call her?" she asks but I don't think it's her real question. "Sunshine," I say, a... KATJA MILLAY How would you like it if I said to you, 'It kills me to say this, but you're actually a tiny bit bea... MELINA MARCHETTA She lends her pen, to thoughts of him, that flow from it, in her solitary. LANG LEAV He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Ye be a sight for sore eyes, lass,” he told her. “But we�... SUZAN TISDALE He spoke to her, though, if only through his verse. One night in the banqueting hall, just before a ... JUDITH JAMES She's hurt and still imagines I'd worry about him for even a second ? I touch her shoulder. Her touc... RICK YANCEY A rape victim...a rape victim who fights...They've been violated, made helpless and afraid. It break... PATRICIA BRIGGS Lily?” She couldn’t see his face, but she knew his eyes were on her. She could feel them. ... JESSICA LEMMON I said, I want to tell you something. She said, you can tell me tomorrow. I had never told... JONATHAN SAFRAN FOER I know you’re in there, Mercedes,” Faye says. “I can see your dirty Converse shoes. You really... LAURIE ELIZABETH FLYNN He's a clever little thing, isn't he?" She leaned in to drop a kiss on the kitten's soft head, ... MICHELLE ZINK Biting her lip to stop her chin from quivering, Alexandra raised her eyes to his. "I think," she whi... JUDITH MCNAUGHT You are real," she said to herself. "Aye." His voice was deep and resonant, a caress in h... J.R. WARD And I'm not sensitive at all, Philip. Just mean." He smiled down at her. "Have you ever co... NORA ROBERTS As he took her hand he gave her all she had been waiting for-- a shiver dow... ATTICUS POETRY I thought it could be something, I mean, eventually." Harrison finally looks at us. "My life I thoug... COURTNEY SUMMERS I am so lonely without you, Aedan," Jane said simply. "You truly want me?" "Mo... KAREN MARIE MONING I'll come back to you," I say. "I promise you, if it's the last thing I do, I'll come back to you."<... PITTACUS LORE He slouches,' DeeDee contributes. 'True--he needs to work on his posture,' Thelma says. 'Y... LAUREN MYRACLE Her phone beeps and she pulls it out again. She frowns. I give her a side-eye. “Everyth... ASHLEY POSTON I was only kidding about the hundred," she says. oh," I say, "what will it cost me?" CHARLES BUKOWSKI Peter," she began. He looked up at her, and she could see the pain in his eyes. "I love you," she sa... SARAH BLAKLEY-CARTWRIGHT Sorry,” he said. “Let me drop the belt-" “No.” She held on when he would have pulled aw... JILL SHALVIS Do you want to marry him?" Peter stopped in front of her, pressing close. "You know I don't." SARAH BLAKLEY-CARTWRIGHT Who do you have to find?” “The boy. My son. Daemon.” Lucivar’s heart clogged his... ANNE BISHOP I want someone to love me for me, faults and all. Someone who cant fall asleep without being he... JOSé N. HARRIS I'll tell you what's wrong!" he roared, "I'm trying to quit smoking!" Then he strode angrily to the ... LINDA HOWARD So, what did you think of the Unseelie Court?" A slow, wicked smile spread on his face. "... HOLLY BLACK Your daughter is ugly. She knows loss intimately, carries whole cities in her belly. ... WARSAN SHIRE H--‐how did we get in the water?” “You were burning. I needed to do something to co... ELISABETH NAUGHTON He grasped her by the wrist , running a thumb along the sensitive skin underneath. "Then let me call... SARAH J. MAAS Her hands brushed Shane's, and he let go of the cards and took hold. And then somehow she... RACHEL CAINE Lia pulled back, moonlight dancing in her dark eyes. “If you’re trying to make me go easy on you... LISA KESSLER What did she say to you?" "Nothing." "Oh, great. I have to try to get you out of this mess... MELINA MARCHETTA
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SIMONE ELKELES I'm in deep shit Alex, 'cause I think I'd like nothin' better than to wake up with her every mornin'... SIMONE ELKELES If no words come, you can always give him the finger. SIMONE ELKELES Do you play football?' Brandon asks. 'No.' 'Baseball?' 'Nope.' Brandon is on... SIMONE ELKELES How was the kiss with Alex?" "Nice," I say, thinking about how sensual it was. "Actually, Isabe... SIMONE ELKELES I wonder if it's medically possible to be addicted to another human being. SIMONE ELKELES You're so critical. Oh, God, I'd do anything for you to stop blaming me for every little thing that ... SIMONE ELKELES Since you came back from summer break, our entire relationship is about fooling around. We never tal... SIMONE ELKELES Something is happening. I sense a change in the wind…a mutual understanding of each other. I haven... SIMONE ELKELES Did I ever tell you that Alex loves you so much he got your name tattooed all over his body? Hell, h... 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I breathe a sigh of relief as I s... SIMONE ELKELES Hey, mamacitas! How about you ditch those losers and come with us. We'll show you a real go... SIMONE ELKELES Why can't you call me Alex?" I ask, my head down while I stare at the food in front of me. "If ... SIMONE ELKELES Shelley," I say. "You should've let him win. You know, to be polite." Shelley's response is a shake ... SIMONE ELKELES Come here and lie on your stomach. I know how to give Swedish massages. It'll relax you." "You'... SIMONE ELKELES Are you going to dance with me tonight?" I ask. "Hell, yeah." "Colin never wanted to dance... SIMONE ELKELES Forget about that and kiss me," I say. I weave my hands in her hair. She wraps her arms around ... SIMONE ELKELES I lay my fantasy in the backseat of Isa's car and slide in next to her. She snuggles up, using me as... SIMONE ELKELES I'm poor, not homeless. SIMONE ELKELES Don't ever pity me. SIMONE ELKELES Who am I kidding? 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Y cuando lo hayamos hecho compren... SIMONE ELKELES A veces hay que alejarse de la multitud para ser una mejor persona. No siempre es fácil, eso es seg... SIMONE ELKELES —Te diré a lo que es real. Real es que yo estaba en la cárcel durante el último año, quedándo... SIMONE ELKELES Es difícil mantener todo igual cuando las mismas cosas lucen y se sienten diferentes. SIMONE ELKELES Cómo me gustaría poder retroceder al año pasado y empezar de nuevo. La vida no te permite hacer e... SIMONE ELKELES I'll tell you what's real. Real is that I was in jail for the past year, rooming with drug dealers a... SIMONE ELKELES I'm standing here, holding a half a lemon in my hand. I'm speechless, I'm excited . . . I'm a wreck.... SIMONE ELKELES I let it all out--my mom's date,my dad's conversation,my confusion about it all.Caleb doesn't laugh,... SIMONE ELKELES I can't sleep. Too many thoughts running through my useless head. SIMONE ELKELES Being told when to shit, shower, shave, eat, and sleep isn't my idea of paradise. But then again, Pa... SIMONE ELKELES what could i do to make the one i loved love me back ? SIMONE ELKELES It's as if I'm taking away his pain and he's taking away mine. SIMONE ELKELES I wasn't going to kiss you."' 'You weren't?' I look up look up at him. [...] 'Nope, t... SIMONE ELKELES No, the next time i kiss you it'll last a long, long time. And then when we're done you're gonna rea... SIMONE ELKELES being afraid to take chances is scarier than actually doing things that challenge you. SIMONE ELKELES the scary part is that people don't realize how much they've changed . SIMONE ELKELES I cry a lot.' 'Yeah? Well I'm gonna change that. SIMONE ELKELES I look down at our knees, slightly touching. Jeans against jeans. Does she notice the heat transferr... SIMONE ELKELES Trust me, he whispers against my lips. Maggie, you're my paradise. SIMONE ELKELES I'm the one who got hit by that car, not you,' I tell him. 'Don't act like you're the victim here. Y... SIMONE ELKELES Why shouldn't I be introspective? We dont' make sense." "Neither do Chocolate and Peanut Butter... SIMONE ELKELES I want to live life on my own terms. But I'm Mexican, so mi familia is always there to guide me in e... SIMONE ELKELES I want to make sure Kiara’s got a boyfriend who has more to offer than a hot bod and a face that c... SIMONE ELKELES You’re not the only one in this relationship who loves a challenge,” he says. “And just s... SIMONE ELKELES Didn't you learn anything from my mistakes?" he asks. Shit, when Alex was in the Latino Blood b... SIMONE ELKELES Girls like you want to cut guy's nuts off and hang 'em from your rearview mirror. SIMONE ELKELES A garter. You’re supposed to take it off and keep it as a memento. K-k-kinda like a trophy fo... SIMONE ELKELES Do I hear a challenge?” she whispers, “Oh, Carlos. You know I can’t resist a challenge. SIMONE ELKELES He opens his window and motions for me to open mine. When I do, he tries to say something. His voice... SIMONE ELKELES Dios mio, I think my brother lost his balls somewhere between here and Mexico. Or maybe Brittany has... SIMONE ELKELES When Brittany walks into Mrs. P.'s class on Friday I'm still thinking about how I'm going to get bac... SIMONE ELKELES Hey, Shell-bell," I say, leaning over her and wiping her face with a napkin. "It's the first day of ... SIMONE ELKELES Kiss me to see if we still have it. 'Cause you own my heart,soul,and everything else in between. SIMONE ELKELES There is one, and only one, thing in modern society more hideous than crime namely, repressive justi... SIMONE WEIL The highest ecstasy is the attention at its fullest. SIMONE WEIL The most important part of teaching is to teach what it is to know. SIMONE WEIL More than in any other performing arts the lack of respect for acting seems to spring from the fact ... SIMONE WEIL For when two beings who are not friends are near each other there is no meeting, and when friends ar... SIMONE WEIL All sins are attempts to fill voids. SIMONE WEIL To be a hero or a heroine, one must give an order to oneself. SIMONE WEIL Every perfect life is a parable invented by God. SIMONE WEIL I can, therefore I am. SIMONE WEIL I'll tell you what freedom is to me: no fear. I mean really, no fear! NINA SIMONE The worst thing about that kind of prejudice... is that while you feel hurt and angry and all the re... NINA SIMONE Did you know that the human voice is the only pure instrument? That it has notes no other instrument... NINA SIMONE Human beings are so made that the ones who do the crushing feel nothing; it is the person crushed wh... SIMONE WEIL There is something else which has the power to awaken us to the truth. It is the works of writers of... SIMONE WEIL Most athletes get intimidated once they see how many fans are out there, but it almost calms me down... SIMONE BILES Physical intimacy is easy. Emotional intimacy is hard. HANNAH SIMONE I have an extended family of close friends, guy and girls. HANNAH SIMONE It's always exciting when you love something and you get the opportunity to share it with more p... HANNAH SIMONE My lashes are so long that if I don't curl them, I'm blind. HANNAH SIMONE Most high-level models that I've ever met are actually well-travelled; they're cultured, and... HANNAH SIMONE