Stinger

Maybe having something good and then having to let it go is more painful that never knowing what you're missing

Sometimes, you don't even realize anything is wrong until someone comes along and changes you

I really, really like how you make me feel – like if you looked at me every day, the way you’re looking at me right now, I could do anything, be anything, be more

In life, there are those who save us, both in big ways and in small. Sometimes that means being set free from a dark, windowless room, or being pulled out of a burning building. More often, it means being saved from yourself, and made to finally believe that letting someone love you, isn't just a big lie that you're unwilling to tell.

Tell me you’re mine,” he whispered. “I’m yours. I’ve always been yours,” I breathed out.

Why do you call me Buttercup?

Lose control, baby. Just for a weekend. Let me take charge. I’ll take good care of you, I promise.

She stared into my eyes. “Oh shit. You idiot. You totally did! You fell in love with the porn star!” She groaned, leaning back and sliding down in her chair. “Oh God, this is worse than I thought. When you let loose, you really go all out, don’t you girlfriend? Holy crapola.

Sometimes therapy takes years and years, and sometimes it can happen in one miraculous instant, a lifetime of doubt and self-hatred healed in a moment of astounding love.

She took part of my pain and made it her own. I didn’t want her to hurt, but to share my scars with another human was a relief that I hadn’t even known I needed until I got it.

Sometimes you don’t even realize anything is wrong until someone comes along and changes you, and makes you want more.

What it comes down to is how much heart you have, and how you will give this your all, not because anyone will give you accolades, but on the contrary, because no one ever has, and you don't depend on that for your success. Those guys out there who have been coddled constantly, and cheered for their whole lives, they'll be the first ones to quit when they don't have anyone to depend on but themselves. But not you–because you've never known any different. And that sucks. But in this case, it's your strength. It's your ace in the hole. I'd bet on you, Carson Stinger.

There are many soul-stirring things in this world, but not many as profound as watching the beautiful man you love holding the baby you created together. No, not many.

Let me guess, law student conference?" I started to walk around him, but stopped when I heard the clearly condescending nickname and the amusement in his voice. “Yes, actually. Is there something wrong with that?” “No, not at all. Looks like we’re both here to learn how to be the best at getting people off.

I was being touched by Carson Stinger, Straight Male Performer! No! Yes! Yes! Yes! Three yes’s to one no. Majority rules!

Maybe having something good and then having to let it go is more painful than never knowing what you're missing.

There would be consequences to this weekend, I knew that now and I wasn’t lying to myself anymore. But maybe they wouldn’t all be negative. Maybe I would walk away a better person because of my encounter with this man. Yes, it sure was, life was wild.

I'm the kind of girl who wants to get married in a big, white dress, wearing my grandma's pearls. I want a husband who loves me and is faithful to me. I want him to come home to me every night, and I don't want to have to worry if he's doing his secretary, because he's the kind of man who has too much honor to do that. I want to wait a year and then I want to start trying for the two kids that we'll eventually have, a girl and a boy. And when we have those kids, I do not want, one day, to have to look in their little faces and explain why their daddy is on the internet having relations with everyone from College Honeys to Cougars Gone Wild for money. I want to throw a cartoon themed birthday party at a jump house for my six year old, not mark the occasion by explaining what a "money shot" is. I have a feeling your life goals are somewhat different than mine. And by 'somewhat,' I mean, utterly and completely. Does that explain why it would be a waste of time for both of us to continue being in each other's presence?

No one else has ever made me feel the way you do. Not even close.

If you really search your heart, I think you'll realize that we were never right for each other as more than friends.

Those guys out there who have been coddled constantly, and cheered for their whole lives, they'll be the first ones to quit when they don't have anyone to depend on but themselves. But not you - because you've never known any different. And that sucks. But in this case, it's your strength. It's your ace in the hole. I'd bet on you, Carson Stinger.

Tell me, where did you get your clinical psychology degree from? Oh, that's right. The University of Bullshit.

I'm going to lay it out straight for you here, Carson. And the reason that I'm going to do that is because I have every confidence that it will scare you off badly enough that I can then finish my drink in peace, and we can part as acquaintances who simply have nothing in common." He raised one eyebrow and I joined my hands in my lap, tilting my head as I continued. "I'm the kind of girl who wants to get married in a big, white dress, wearing my grandma's pearls. I want a husband who love me and is faithful to me. I want him to come home me every night, and I don't want to have to worry if he's doing his secretary, because he's the kind of man who has too much honor to do that. I want to wait a year and then I want to start trying for the two kids that we'll eventually have, a girl and a boy. And when we have those kids, I do not want, one day, to have to explain why their daddy is on the internet having relations with everyone from College Honeys to Cougars Gone Wild for money. I want to throw a cartoon themed birthday party at a jump house for my six year old, not mark the occasion by explaining what a "money shot" is. I have a feeling your life goals are somewhat different than mine. And by 'somewhat,' I mean, utterly and completely. Does that explain why it would be a waste of time for both of us to continue being in each other's presence?" Chapter 1

Oh, believe me, you want to know. Why it matters is because someday when Princess is screaming at three in the morning with a loaded diaper, or Junior gets expelled from preschool for punching his classmate, I want to be able to think back to the moment that we created them, and I want to smile and

Also, babe, you play hot secretary for me when I get home at the end of the day, and I'll have no need to do my real one.

Shit, I'm sorry," he finally said. "For what?" I asked, angrily, "the insults or the kissing?" "The insults. Not sorry for the kissing.

Sometimes, you don't even realize anything is wrong until someone comes along and changes you, and makes you want more.

In life, there are those who save us, both in big ways and in small.

Sometimes, you don't even realize anything is wrong until someone comes along and changes you, and makes you want more. In my case, it was a beautiful girl with a plan who shattered the world I thought I knew.