Marie

“I thought you didn’t like animals.”
“I love animals. Where did you get that idea?” Marmie put her paws on his leg, and he picked her up.
“From my dog?”
“That’s a dog? Jeez, I’m sorry. I thought it was an industrial-waste accident.” His long, lean fingers slid through the cat’s fur.
“Slytherin.” She slapped the lid back onto the flour container. What kind of man liked a cat more than he liked an exceptionally fine French poodle?
“What did you call me?”
“It’s a literary reference. You wouldn’t understand.”
“Harry Potter. And I don’t appreciate name calling.”
― Susan Elizabeth Phillips, This Heart of Mine

“You’ll leave me the second it gets too steep, and you’ll leave me with nothing – when I want you like I’ve never wanted anything in life. You’re all I think about, dream about. I get high and low and it’s not about you now, it’s not even about me anymore. I can’t sleep, can’t think, can’t concentrate worth shit anymore and it’s all because I want to be the fucking ‘one’ for you.”
― Katy Evans, Real

“[Kevin and Molly's adorable banter]
"I'm not carrying anything until I see what's on your panties."
"It's Daphne, okay?"
"I'm supposed to believe you're wearing the same underpants you had on yesterday?"
"I have more than one pair"
"I think you're lying. I want to see for myself." He dragged her deeper into the pines. While Roo circled them barking, he reached for the snap on her shorts. "Quiet, Godzilla! There's some serious business going on here."
Roo obediently quieted.
She grabbed his wrists and pushed. "Get away."
"That's not what you were saying last night."
"Somebody'll see."
"I'll tell them a bee got you, and I'm taking out the stinger."
"Don't touch my stinger!" She grabbed for her shorts, but they were already heading for her knees. "Stop that!"
He peered down at her panties. "It's the badger. You lied to me."
"I wasn't paying attention when I got dressed."
"Hold still. I've just about found that stinger."
She heard herself sigh.
"Oh, yeah..." His body moved against hers. "There it is.”
― Susan Elizabeth Phillips, This Heart of Mine

“First, it’s okay to be sad. It’s okay to feel things. Remember that. Second, be a kid for as long as you can. Play games, Travis. Be silly”—her eyes glossed over—“and you and your brothers take care of each other, and your father. Even when you grow up and move away, it’s important to come home. Okay?”
My head bobbed up and down, desperate to please her.
“One of these days you’re going to fall in love, son. Don’t settle for just anyone. Choose the girl that doesn’t come easy, the one you have to fight for, and then never stop fighting. Never”—she took a deep breath—“stop fighting for what you want. And never”—her eyebrows pulled in—“forget that Mommy loves you. Even if you can’t see me.” A tear fell down her cheek. “I will always, always love you.”
― Jamie McGuire, Walking Disaster