Corr stood here," Sean says wonderingly. "I would've died. He didn't have to stay." For a moment, I see that it doesn't matter that he didn't win. The fact of Corr's loyalty is a bigger thing than the ownership of him.

His lips tasted cool and sharp, peppermint, winter, but his hands, soft on the back of my neck, promised long days and summer and forever.

is this fragile love/ a way/ to say/ goodbye

We sat like that for a long while, and when we stood up, all my sad things were in boxes, and Beck was my father.

Hello, Grace's parents. I'm Grace's boyfriend. Please notice the chaste distance between us. I am very responsible and have never had my tongue in your daughter's mouth.

Grace,” I said, very softly. “Say something.” Sam,” she said, and I crushed her to me.

It occurred to me then that I was the opposite of my father. Because I was very, very good at destroying things.