Claudia

“If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you.”
― Lyndon B. Johnson

“What?” Sophie asked, wiping under her lashes when she noticed Keefe staring. “Did I smudge it?”

“No, Foster. You look... perfect.”
― Shannon Messenger, Flashback

“The teasing tone faded from his voice, replaced with something that made Sophie very aware of how close they were standing.”
― Shannon Messenger, Flashback

“So,” she mumbled, not sure how to finish that sentence – or what to do with her arms. Or where to stand.

It all felt awkward and weird and wrong-until fits dropped his crutches and gently pulled her into a hug.

“I don’t want to go,” he whispered.

“I don’t want you to either,“ she admitted, hoping her hushed tone hit the thickness of her voice.

She told herself not to pull him tighter so he wouldn’t feel how hard her heart was pounding. But she couldn’t help leaning closer when she realized his pulse felt just as crazy as hers.

She didn’t know what that meant.

But it felt like something.”
― Shannon Messenger, Flashback