His hand touches my waist, steadies me. The touch sends a shock through my body, and all my insides burn like his fingers ignited them. I pull close to him, pressing my body against his, and lift my head to kiss him.

I have discovered that sitting still leaves little spaces for the grief to get in, so I stay busy.

People tend to overestimate my character," I say quietly. "They think that because I'm small, or a girl, or a Stiff, I can't possibly be cruel. But they're wrong.

Politeness is deception in pretty packaging.

I see love developing from friendship. Common ground is a strong basis for friendship. My husband is my best friend and we have a lot in common even though we're admittedly different people. I think it evolves from how I see relationships working. You know, the opposites attract thing happens all the time, but so does the best friends thing. It's just a great kind of relationship in fiction.

The goal of my life isn't just... to be happy. 'Wouldn't it be easier if it was, though?

Everything inside me screams for just one more kiss, one more word, one more glance, one more.