Quotes from Pushing the Limits

Katie McGarry ·  392 pages

Rating: (105.2K votes)


“The worst type of crying wasn't the kind everyone could see--the wailing on street corners, the tearing at clothes. No, the worst kind happened when your soul wept and no matter what you did, there was no way to comfort it. A section withered and became a scar on the part of your soul that survived. For people like me and Echo, our souls contained more scar tissue than life.”
― Katie McGarry, quote from Pushing the Limits


“I love you enough to never make you choose.”
― Katie McGarry, quote from Pushing the Limits


“It doesn't get better," I said. "The pain. The wounds scab over and you don't always feel like a knife is slashing through you. But when you least expect it, the pain flashes to remind you you'll never be the same.”
― Katie McGarry, quote from Pushing the Limits


“Luke used to give me butterflies. Noah spawned mutant pterodactyls.”
― Katie McGarry, quote from Pushing the Limits


“Because growing up means making tough choices, and doing the right thing doesn’t necessarily mean doing the thing that feels good.”
― Katie McGarry, quote from Pushing the Limits



“If you’re scared, tell me. If you need to cry and scream, then do it. And you sure as hell don’t walk away from us because you think it would be better for me. Here’s the reality, Echo: I want to be by your side. If you want to go to the mall stark naked so you can show the world your scars, then let me hold your hand. If you want to see your mom, then tell me that too. I may not always understand, but damn, baby, I’ll try.”
― Katie McGarry, quote from Pushing the Limits


“I saw the world in black and white instead of the vibrant colours and shades I knew existed.”
― Katie McGarry, quote from Pushing the Limits


“Her eyes met mine again. “So what does this mean for us?”
I lowered my forehead to hers. “It means you’re mine.”
― Katie McGarry, quote from Pushing the Limits


“I gazed into her beautiful green eyes and her fear melted. A shy smile tugged at her lips and at my heart. Fuck me and the rest of the world, I was in love.”
― Katie McGarry, quote from Pushing the Limits


“We’d read about sirens in English this fall; Greek mythology bullshit about women so beautiful, their voices so enchanting, that men did anything for them. Turned out that mythology crap was real because every time I saw her, I lost my mind.”
― Katie McGarry, quote from Pushing the Limits



“I've already lost a piece of my mind. I can't trust you with what's left.”
― Katie McGarry, quote from Pushing the Limits


“Are you ready to take the ACT on Saturday?' my father asked.
Did chickens enjoy being put on trucks labeled KFC? 'Sure.”
― Katie McGarry, quote from Pushing the Limits


“Sometimes when you see the line, you think it's a good idea to cross it--until you do.”
― Katie McGarry, quote from Pushing the Limits


“I wrote about the person I love most, my older brother, Noah. We don't live together so I wrote what I imagine he does when we're not together."
"And what is that?" prodded the stout man.
"He's a superhero who saves people in danger, because he saved me and my brother from dying in a fire a couple of years ago. Noah is better than Batman." The crowd chuckled.
"I love you, too, lil'bro.”
― Katie McGarry, quote from Pushing the Limits


“I watched you battle against the worst memory of your life and I watched you win. Make no mistake, Echo. I battled right beside you.”
― Katie McGarry, quote from Pushing the Limits



“Wrapping my arms around her, I walked her backward into the brick. “Tell me you chose me, Echo.”
She licked her lips. Those green eyes smoldered, calling me to her. “I chose you.”
― Katie McGarry, quote from Pushing the Limits


“It's like I have this large black hole in my brain and it's sucking the life out of me. The answers are in there so I sit for hours and stare. No matter how hard and long I look, I only see darkness.”
― Katie McGarry, quote from Pushing the Limits


“I must have killed a lot of cows in a past life for Karma to hate me this much.”
― Katie McGarry, quote from Pushing the Limits


“In a lightning-fast move, he placed both of his hands on the brick wall, caging me with his body. He leaned toward me and my heart shifted into a gear I didn't know existed. His warm breath caressed my neck, melting my frozen skin. I tilted my head, waiting for the solid warmth of his body on mine. I could see his eyes again and those dark orbs screamed hunger .
"I heard a rumor."
"What's that?" I struggled to get out.
"It's your birthday."
Terrified speaking would break the spell, I licked my suddenly dry lips and nodded.
"Happy birthday." Noah drew his lips closer to mine; that sweet musky smell overwhelmed my senses. I could almost taste his lips when he unexpectedly took a step back, inhaling deeply. The cold air slapped me into the land of sober.”
― Katie McGarry, quote from Pushing the Limits


“Not sure how I felt about Antonio and Echo, I linked my fingers with hers. Antonio cocked a surprised eyebrow. Damn straight, bro. I just marked my territory.
― Katie McGarry, quote from Pushing the Limits



“A cold wind swept across the patio, causing me to shiver. Noah shrugged off his black leather jacket and tossed it around my shoulders. "How are you going to tutor me if you get fucking pneumonia?" I cocked an eyebrow. What an odd combination of romantic gesture and horribly crude wording.”
― Katie McGarry, quote from Pushing the Limits


“Please, Noah, I don't want to do this wrong. Tell me how to make you feel good."
He shifted so that his body rested beside mine, his leg and arm still draped over me. I felt small under his warmth and strength.
His chocolate-brown eyes softened. "Being with you feels good. Touching you-" he tucked a curl behind my ear. "-feels good. I have never wanted anyone like I want you. There's nothing you can do wrong when just breathing makes everything right.”
― Katie McGarry, quote from Pushing the Limits


“I've got you. I swear to God, I've got you," said Noah. "Stay with me, Echo."
I wanted to. I wanted to stay with him, but the shouting and screams and glass breaking in my mind grew louder. "Make it stop."
He tightened his grip on my arms. "Fight, Echo! You've got to fucking fight. Come on, baby. You're safe.”
― Katie McGarry, quote from Pushing the Limits


“You scared the shit out of me last night, so forgive me if I don't want to hear fine as an answer."
I rubbed my eyes, hoping it would keep the burning tears away. The warm water of the shower had finally calmed the tears, but the thought of Noah walking away brought them back.
"What do you want to hear? That I'm exhausted? Terrified? Confused? That all I want to do is rest my head on your chest and sleep for hours, but that's not going to happen because you're leaving me?"
"Yes," he said quickly, then just as quick said, "No. Everything but the last part." He paused. "Echo, how could you think I would leave you? How can you doubt how I feel?"
"Because," I said as I felt the familiar twisting in my stomach.
"You saw me lose it. You saw me almost go insane."
The muscles in his shoulders visibly tensed.
"I watched you battle against the worst memory of your life and I watched you win. Make no mistake, Echo. I battled right beside you. You need to find some trust in me ... in us."
Noah inhaled and slowly let the air out. His stance softened and so did his voice.
"If you're scared, tell me. If you need to cry and scream, then do it. And you sure as hell don't walk away from us because you think it would be better for me. Here's the reality, Echo: I want to be by your side. If you want to go to the mall stark naked so you can show the world your scars, then let me hold your hand. If you want to see your mom, then tell me that, too. I may not always understand, but damn, baby, I'll try.”
― Katie McGarry, quote from Pushing the Limits


“Noah's strong hand slipped over my wrist before he entwined his fingers with mine. The sensation of warm flesh against an area I allowed no one to see, much less touch, caused me to shiver. My eyes widened, realizing my mistake. This is what had freaked Ashley out. What had come over me? I never pulled up my sleeves. I spent all my time pulling them down. When had I become...comfortable?”
― Katie McGarry, quote from Pushing the Limits



“Fabulous. This night had shifted from the best to bad to Saw in record time.”
― Katie McGarry, quote from Pushing the Limits


“Baby, you’ve got enough strength and tenacity to take
down drug dealers. You’ll be fine.”
― Katie McGarry, quote from Pushing the Limits


“A warm, tickling touch crashed me back to earth. Maybe it sent me straight to heaven. Either way, it dragged me out of hell.”
― Katie McGarry, quote from Pushing the Limits


About the author

Katie McGarry
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