“You’re the reason I’m even in this mess. If it weren’t for you, she wouldn’t have needed a fake boyfriend and my heart wouldn’t be ripped to shreds.”

“I don’t want you to go,” he says. “I know that’s selfish. That’s really fucking selfish. I’m here with my busy shop and my daughter and—” He sighs. “It’s not just the free babysitting. It’s you.”

But Saria walks with purpose, hips swinging wide, boots creating an echo in the garage like a woman ready to kick ass and take names. Except she knows my name and she still isn’t kicking my ass. Only my fucking heart.

But just because something is stupid doesn’t mean it isn’t true.

“Memories can be powerful,” I say, which is true.

I changed my whole look when he left. I lost weight. I dyed my hair. I didn’t want to be the sweet girl next door anymore. I wanted to be the strong woman men want—the opposite of the girl Noah didn’t want.

Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

“Saying it again doesn’t make it true.”

Saying someone’s name gives you unspoken power over them.