Addicted to You

Wait for me.” The words come out choked and pained. “I need you to wait for me.

No one told me you can love someone and still be miserable. How is that possible?

Le me try to be enough for you.

Promises from Lo are like bars at 2 a.m.--empty.

Cheekbones that cut like ice and eyes like liquid scotch. Loren Hale is an alcoholic beverage and he doesn't even know it.

I love you, but I want to love you enough that I never choose alcohol over you. Not even for a moment. I want to be someone you deserve.

I know what you want, and you don't need to take it. I can give it to you.

I want to live here. In his arms. Where I know it's safe.

She waltzes into the apartment, her Chanel handbag swinging on her arm like a weapon. Rose frightens children, pets, and even grown males with her icy eyes and chilling glares.

You're a permanent fixture in my life. You're not going anywhere.

I’m dirty,” I refute, hot tears brimming. “You don’t want me.” His face twists in pain. “I don’t think that. Neither should you.” His lips graze my neck and then find my ear. “Lil, I want you to ask me. I need you to.” He presses his forehead to my temple, gently edging me closer to the mattress, his hands tight on my hips. I continue to struggle for breath. I know what he wants now. He wants this to be real. So do I. “Help me,” I say, breathlessly.

He's my drug that I gladly consume.

Just repeat this phrase whenever you feel the urge to jump some other guy’s bones.” His mouth brushes my ear. “Loren Hale fucks better.

The fear of losing each other is always stronger than the pain we cause.

I sincerely think that Connor is asexual. Like a sponge. He probably wouldn't even notice if you hit on him.

No means no. I don’t care when you say it, Lily. Once it’s out there, it’s out there. Any halfway decent guy would have backed off.

I hate that I had to pull out my wallet and buy respect.

Three years later and drowning in lies, we’re suddenly prepared to lose everything for the chance at something real.

I glance back at Connor and Rose and realize they’ve been pretty much silent. They just stare at each other for a really, really long time, as though talking through their eyes. “Is this what smart people do?” I whisper to Lo. “They must have some superhuman telepathic power that we don’t have.

I wait for him to say the words, I'm done pretending.

Obviously he wants Nola to think he's an upstanding boyfriend, but the only girlfriend Loren Hale will ever treat well is his bottle of bourbon.

He couldn't want someone like me.

Being called weird by Connor is like a unicorn calling a horse magical.

I needed him to fulfill a desire, one that does nothing but torment me. And he’s reminding me of everything I hate about myself.

Can we only be invited inside if you understand our costumes?” Connor asks. He cranes his neck to look past the host’s shoulder. “Because I think I spot a Sweeny Todd in there, and I know for a fact you’ve never heard of him.

I try to imagine what type of girl Connor would seek, but she seems unfathomable--like a hazy picture with only her brain showing.

Where will I be? What will I be? White empty space fills the void, unsure of what picture to paint.

We’re terrible at so many things—remembering important dates, college, making friends—but the one thing we’ve always been halfway decent at is being together.