#fictionedit

books read in 2021  THE INTIMACY EXPERIMENT by rosie danan                      naomi grant - evan rachel wood                      ethan cohen - jake gyllenhaal “so we’re just going to...” “prove everyone wrong?” naomi smiled. “yeah. that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”

“Is that our safe word? Okay.”

everyone is born, but not everyone is born the same. some will grow to be butchers, or bakers, or candlestick makers. some will only be really good at making jell-o salad. one way or another, though, every human being is unique, for better or for worse.

“a part of me is leaving forever yet i’m still here, watching it happen and acknowledging it, aware that i can’t stop or tame it. i watch it for a long time, hoping that when it stops, i’ll stop hurting. of course the hurt outlives the amount of hot water i have in the tank and so i step out of the shower still in pain, physically and emotionally, but clean at least.”

Neither one of us said a word, but our eyes met. And I mouthed you suck. And he whispered back with his pale pink mouth, you suck more. There was another sigh, but it sounded even more resigned. “My eyes work. I can read your lips. Both of them.” I didn’t ignore Coach Lee, but all I’d promised was not to say anything. So I didn’t worry about it when I moved my lips at Ivan again. Eat shit. His tongue tapped at the inside of his cheek. Then he opened his mouth. I’m looking at it. “Whatever we have to do to make this work, remember?” Coach Lee emphasized, obviously still watching us. Ivan and I were both staring at each other as we muttered, “Uh-huh.”

“I have a feeling you haven’t invited me here for kissing. Though it never hurts to ask.” He grinned at my ensemble and rubbed his hands together, mischief sparking like fireworks around him. “You’re dressed for sneaking about Dracula’s castle. Be still my thawing, dark heart. You certainly know how to make a young man feel alive, Wadsworth.”

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

I love you so much that when I sometimes get a look at all the crazy fan mail you get, I think, Well, sure, that makes sense. I want to collect her eyelashes, too.