欧宝娱乐

“If you wake up and this is a dream,call me. I'll come running. I swear.”
― Abbi Glines, One More Chance

“There were lots of things in this lifetime that I'd doubted, precious little I'd known for sure. But in that moment, I knew I would save her, or die trying.”
― Red Tash, Troll Or Derby

“After seeing Dylan with the redhead, I sunk deeper into a depression. Even working at Lark鈥檚 house did nothing to distract me. I simply went through the motions. Fortunately, Lark was especially tired and slept most of the day, so she never noticed my bad mood.
Harlow wasn鈥檛 as oblivious as we washed dishes after dinner.
鈥淲hat鈥檚 up, stinky pup?鈥�
I rolled my eyes at her nickname for me. 鈥淣othing.鈥�
鈥淪he doesn鈥檛 want to deal with the leaves,鈥� Jace said from behind us. Our ten year old brother crossed his arms like Dad often did when suspicious. 鈥淪ee, she got spooked last night and bailed on raking the leaves. They ended up blowing around the yard and now she鈥檚 trying to get out of raking them again.鈥�
鈥淭hat鈥檚 not it.鈥�
鈥淪ure, it is,鈥� he said, his dark hair covering his narrowed eyes. 鈥淲hat else could it be?鈥�
Grumpy, I decided to punish him. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about a sexy guy.鈥�
Jace鈥檚 face twisted into horror. 鈥淓ww!鈥� he cried, running out of the room.
Harlow and I laughed at the sound of him telling on me to Mom.
鈥淚n a few years, girls will be all he thinks about,鈥� I said, returning to the dishes.
Harlow leaned her head against my shoulder. 鈥淪exy guy, huh?鈥�
鈥淪houldn鈥檛 you be getting ready for your fight?鈥�
Harlow glanced at the clock. 鈥淵eah. When I get back, I want to hear about the sexy guy making you sigh so much.鈥�
As my sister dressed to go, I finished the dishes and struggled to stop sighing.
I was still grumpy when Dad got home. In this living room, he told Harlow to be careful. She said something and laughed.
When Harlow started fighting at the Thunderdome, she called herself Joy and hid it from our parents. She didn鈥檛 think they鈥檇 approve and she was right. Harlow and I were na茂ve to assume they wouldn鈥檛 find out long before she told them the truth though.
Dad might be a pastor, but he learned about the Lord in prison. As a member of the Reapers, Dad had eyes and ears all over Ellsberg. He likely knew Harlow was fighting before she threw her first punch.
Entering the kitchen, Dad smiled at me. 鈥淪top talking about cute boys around your brother. He has a sensitive gag reflex.鈥�
I laughed as he got himself a beer and joined me at the sink. 鈥淢om said we have leftovers. Mind warming them up for me?鈥�
Shaking my head, I filled a plate and set it in the microwave.
鈥淎re you okay?鈥� Dad asked, frowning at me. 鈥淵ou look worn down.鈥�
鈥淚 had a long day.鈥�
鈥淵ou sure that鈥檚 it?鈥�
We watched each other and I remembered the first time he asked if I was okay. Five years earlier when I was brought to this house and met my new family. I didn鈥檛 remember a lot from that day besides thinking these people were too good to be true. I figured they鈥檇 wait until Kirk was gone then hurt me.
I couldn鈥檛 remember when I knew Dad was a good man who loved me. Not like my real dad loved me. Tad felt the kind of love a person died to protect. I saw the love in his eyes as he waited for his food to finish warming.
鈥淚 wish I was stronger.鈥�
鈥淪o do I,鈥� he said softly. 鈥淓veryone does. They just don鈥檛 admit it. That鈥檚 what makes you so brave. You can admit your fears.鈥�
Even thinking he was full of shit, I smiled. 鈥淭hanks, Dad.鈥�
Taking his plate out of the microwave, he inhaled. 鈥淢om makes the best meatloaf.鈥�
鈥淚 made it.鈥�
Grinning, Dad nudged me with his hip. 鈥淚f you make this meatloaf for the boy you鈥檙e hung up on, you鈥檒l own him.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檒l remember that.”
― Bijou Hunter, Damaged and the Bulldog

“Nice hammer,鈥� Harlow said from behind me.
鈥淗ey,鈥� I said, glancing around casually to see if Winnie was with her. 鈥淣ice shiner.鈥�
鈥淵ou should see the other chick,鈥� she muttered. 鈥淐an we talk?鈥�
Setting down my hammer, I followed her away from the other guys. Harlow seemed tense and I worried something was wrong with Winnie.
鈥淭his is awkward and I feel weird coming here like this,鈥� she said, pushing her blonde hair behind her ears. 鈥淎re you dating anyone?鈥�
My breath caught. A fear rose up in my chest at the thought of Harlow wanting to date me. What would that mean for me and Winnie? The look in Harlow鈥檚 eyes calmed my terror. I might as well have been a brick wall based on the lack of attraction she showed.
鈥淣辞.鈥�
鈥淪ome girl was hugging you outside a restaurant. Wasn鈥檛 that a date?鈥�
Frowning, I scratched at my jaw where I forgot to shave that morning. 鈥淭hat was a girl from high school. She might have been into me, but we went out as friends. I鈥檓 not dating anyone.鈥�
鈥淲innie saw you with that girl and she got really upset. I know she鈥檚 not ready to have a boyfriend, but she wants you. Do you want her?鈥�
Playing it cool might be the stud move, but I didn鈥檛 want to be a player. I wanted Winnie. Besides, for the second time in twenty four hours, someone close to Winnie wanted to play matchmaker. 鈥渊别蝉.鈥�
Harlow nodded. 鈥淪he鈥檚 messed up. You know that, right?鈥�
鈥淚 know she鈥檚 fragile, yeah.鈥�
鈥淲innie has a lot of phobias. Not stupid shit for attention, but real chronic problems that won鈥檛 go away because you鈥檙e hot. She鈥檚 been in therapy for years and gotten stronger, but she鈥檒l never be okay.鈥�
鈥淚 understand.鈥�
Harlow bit her lip then nodded again. 鈥淒o you want to take her out to dinner tomorrow?鈥�
鈥渊别蝉.鈥�
Harlow smiled. 鈥淵ou better be chattier than that on the date or else no one will say anything. Winnie likely won鈥檛 say anything all night, but that doesn鈥檛 mean she doesn鈥檛 want to. She just takes a long time to warm up to people.鈥�
I wasn鈥檛 sure what Harlow saw on my face, but she grinned. 鈥淪he really wants to warm up to you, Dylan. Don鈥檛 fuck it up, okay?鈥�
鈥淚鈥檒l do my best.鈥�
When Harlow narrowed her eyes, I was pretty sure she might hit me. 鈥淚 appreciate the way you tried to save us that day. You showed balls and I respect that. With that said, you better be taking this seriously, understand?鈥�
Leaning closer, I stared right into those suspicious eyes. 鈥淣o one makes me feel like Winnie. If she needs to take it slow, we鈥檒l go slow. If she wants to rush into it, we鈥檒l rush. If she needs me to stand on my fucking head and sing the National Anthem, I鈥檒l do it. So yes, I鈥檓 taking this very seriously,鈥� I said, running a hand where short dark stubble took the place of my mohawk. 鈥淚 told Winnie I would wait and I meant it. What you think is me being passive is just patience.鈥�
鈥淥kay,鈥� Harlow said softly. 鈥淵ou know when I came to Ellsberg, I was pretty messed up. My family was dead and I was in this new place with strangers. Winnie took care of me. She became my sister and best friend. I love her like she鈥檚 blood. Nothing personal, but if you hurt her, I鈥檒l have to kill you.鈥�
鈥淔air enough,鈥� I said, grinning.
鈥淪mile all you want, buddy, but I鈥檝e got moves.鈥�
Harlow faked a punch, but I didn鈥檛 flinch. My mind was already focused on tomorrow. I hadn鈥檛 talked to Winnie since the day Nick鈥檚 dad showed up. I hadn鈥檛 seen her close up in weeks. I needed to be close to her even if she couldn鈥檛 do more than hide behind her hair all night.”
― Bijou Hunter, Damaged and the Bulldog

“The crew headed to Tequila Jodi鈥檚 for a celebration. Raven and Vaughn arrived an hour after everyone. They made up for their tardiness by binge drinking a bottle of tequila. Well, Vaughn did. Raven binged on a pitcher of Diet Coke.
鈥淚 might be binging for two!鈥� she announced then sat down to look over the pictures of her niece and nephew.
Harlow showed up with Toni. While her mom joined Jodi at a back table, Harlow made a beeline for Winnie.
鈥淎re you okay?鈥� she asked, studying Winnie鈥檚 face.
鈥淵es. Are you?鈥�
Harlow rolled her eyes. 鈥淵ou know what I mean.鈥�
Winnie glanced at me and I saw such peace in her eyes. When she looked back at Harlow, her smile brightened.
鈥淟ark and the babies are okay. Today is a good day.鈥�
Hugging her sister, Winnie couldn鈥檛 stop smiling.
鈥淎re you drunk?鈥� Harlow asked.
鈥淚鈥檓 happy.鈥�
Harlow studied her sister again and checked her hands for new bruises. 鈥淒o you plan to sleep at home tonight?鈥�
鈥淣o, I鈥檓 staying with Dylan.鈥�
鈥淎ny bad memories about the baby?鈥�
鈥淥nly hopeful thoughts about the future.鈥�
Harlow frowned at me then shrugged. 鈥淚 can imagine you two making a decent looking kid. Your pretty eyes and hair and his鈥� well shaped head. Yeah, it鈥檒l work.鈥�
Running a hand over my head, I laughed. 鈥淢y head shape is helluva sexy.鈥�
Winnie鈥檚 calm infected Harlow who laughed and ordered a soda. The sisters danced with Bailey and Sawyer to Amos Moses. I knew Winnie wasn鈥檛 comfortable showing off in front of people. Whenever she got nervous, she glanced at me and relaxed.
鈥淲edding bells,鈥� Nick said from beside me. 鈥淵ou didn鈥檛 waste any time.鈥�
鈥淪he calms the asshole in me and I calm the broken girl in her. What鈥檚 there to wait for?鈥�
Giving me a grin, Nick shrugged. 鈥淲hen you know, you know.”
― Bijou Hunter, Damaged and the Bulldog

“Rolling my eyes, I took Dylan鈥檚 hand and followed Harlow inside. Jace sat in the front of the TV. I knew he was grumpy based on the way he didn鈥檛 look at me.
When I flopped next to him on the couch, he did smile.
鈥淵ou smell like a strip club,鈥� he said, narrowing his eyes at me.
鈥淗ow would you know?鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 not telling you my secrets.鈥�
Shaking my head, I sighed loudly. 鈥淲hy do you make me do this to you? It鈥檚 like you want to suffer.鈥�
Jace knew what was coming, but his escape came too late. I pinned him on the couch and tickled him. Despite his efforts to seem unfazed, he couldn鈥檛 withstand armpit tickling.
While I tormented my laughing brother, Dad and Mom walked out from the kitchen.
鈥淗e missed you,鈥� Mom said as I finally let Jace up.
Catching his breath, my brother leaned next to me on the couch. 鈥淚 miss beating you at videogames.鈥�
鈥淚 miss you beating me too,鈥� I said, kissing his head.
Harlow flopped on the couch next to us and I smiled at the familiar comfort of my family.
Dylan watched us with a slight grin. When he caught Tad and Toni鈥檚 gazes, his smile grew.
Suspicious now, I glanced at Harlow who was busy gluing herself to me. 鈥淎re they up to something?鈥� I whispered. 鈥淎m I going to be embarrassed?鈥�
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know. If you feel embarrassed, I鈥檒l punch Dylan in the crotch and distract everyone.鈥�
Rolling my eyes at her threat, I studied Dylan who grinned at me.
鈥淲丑补迟?鈥� I asked, nervous now.
鈥淪he鈥檚 on to you,鈥� Dad said. 鈥淏etter ask now before she gets squirrely.鈥�
鈥淪quirrely,鈥� Jace snorted. 鈥淪he gets batty too.鈥�
Harlow laughed. 鈥淲innie can do so many animal impressions.鈥�
Ignoring them, I stood up and walked to a still smiling Dylan.
鈥淲丑补迟?鈥�
鈥淲hat happened to patience?鈥�
Without thinking, I reached to pinch my hand. Dylan took both hands then knelt on one knee.
鈥淒on鈥檛,鈥� Harlow blurted, grabbing for me.
Everyone frowned at her. A moment passed where she stared at me in horror. Suddenly, she shrugged. 鈥淚 meant don鈥檛 stop. Go ahead, Dylan.鈥�
The mood in the room shifted back to anticipation. Our gaze focused on Dylan who smiled up at me.
鈥淚 know it鈥檚 been a few weeks. I don鈥檛 care. I love you and you love me, right?鈥�
鈥淚 love you so much.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 not stupid. I know we鈥檒l have problems. We run into issues. When we do, we鈥檒l work them out. We鈥檒l figure them out because we belong together. You believe that, don鈥檛 you?鈥�
鈥淵es,鈥� I whispered, staring into his beautiful dark eyes.
鈥淲inona Todds, you are perfection and I refuse to live without you. Will you marry me?鈥�
My legs turning to jelly, I knelt down too. 鈥淵es,鈥� I whispered, afraid he was about to change his mind. Maybe it was a trick. All these awful things rushed through my mind. I wasn鈥檛 good enough for Dylan. He was going to leave me one day. I didn鈥檛 deserve to be happy when I was so weak.
鈥淵ou love me,鈥� he whispered, pressing his forehead against mine. 鈥淵ou want me to be happy.鈥�
鈥淵es,鈥� I said, tears rolling down my cheeks.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e what I need to survive.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 not really strong yet.鈥�
鈥淚 love you now. I don鈥檛 want to wait. Do you want to wait for me?鈥�
Shaking my head, I looked at my smiling parents then back at Dylan.
鈥淲e鈥檙e in love and planning to live together. We need to make our relationship official, so your daddy won鈥檛 kick my ass.鈥�
Even laughing, I asked, 鈥淵ou want this?鈥�
鈥淚 can give up everything else in my life, but never you. Married or not, you belong with me.鈥�
I exhaled uneasily then smiled. 鈥淵es, I will marry you.”
― Bijou Hunter, Damaged and the Bulldog

“Because what could be more Casablanca? Suddenly Harlow saw that what she鈥檇 always wanted was a man of principle. A man of action. A domestic terrorist. Every girl鈥檚 dream, if she can鈥檛 have a vampire. (Chapter four pg 202)”
― Karen Joy Fowler

“-Snap?
-Shh, Poodle. I'm having a Johnny Castle, Dirty Dancing moment right now.
-Is this a good thing or a bad thing, he asks, bending to lick up my neck
-I carried a watermelon...
-How drunk are you?
-For the love of God, man. I am not drunk!”
― Christina Lauren, Dirty Rowdy Thing