“This, bellissima ," Nonna began, "is true love story... "The Costas, we were born to the sea and proud, very proud. Son… — Melissa Jensen Copy Share Image
“The Fall Ball," I told her. "Our Halloween dance." "Ah.You have a boy to go with?" "Absolutely.Frankie." She sighed, and perched on… — Melissa Jensen Copy Share Image
“Nonna tucked each of her hands into the opposite sleeve, a wizened Confucius in a leopard bathrobe. "Michelangleo, he goes. For days… — Melissa Jensen Copy Share Image
“You know when I said I didn't need you?" I asked. He lifted one brow. "I was so wrong.I can't find words to express quite how wrong I was." "Try." "Dramatically wrong," I said. "Terribly." "Please." "Okay,terrifically. Horrifically. Catastrophically." I gave him my best meek smile. "Forgivably?" He rolled his eyes. "I should have bought you a thesaurus for Christmas."… — Melissa Jensen Copy Share
“Whatever you want," he said. "Will you please come here now?" I slipped a piece of protective tissue over my drawing and flipped the book closed. A piece of blue scratch paper slid out, the line I'd copied from Edward;s poetry book. "Hey. Translate for me, Monsieur Bainbridge." I set the sketchbook on my stool and joined him on the… — Melissa Jensen Copy Share
“When Sebastian, cearly delighted to be treated like one of the guys, didn't move, Alex bared his teeth. " Depeche-toi! " Sebastian depeched. Alex turned back, all Cheshire cat smile. "No," I said. "No what?" "No,you are not going to teach me all the cool words so I can go to Chamonix and be conversational." "Good." He leaned in so… — Melissa Jensen Copy Share
“I ripped the sketch from the wall. "Liar." Edward looked more ravaged than usual. "That is a terrible word, coming from you." "Yup." "And… — Melissa Jensen Copy Share Image
“I noticed that she left her office door open, too.So she could keep an eye on me, no doubt, in case I decided to grab the andirons and make a run for it. I stood for a minute, taking it all in. Not what I'd expected at all. And Edward hadn't been any help: "Heavens, how should I know what's… — Melissa Jensen Copy Share
“There was no doorman outside Harrison Kinuye's house, just a Phillite senior leaning into a huge stone urn. He extricated himself as I reached the door. "Hey," he greeted me, sending out plumes of condensed breath and beer fumes. "Thought I was gonna heave." "Okay," I said. Apparently,that satisfied them, because he opened the front door for me with a… — Melissa Jensen Copy Share
“I never thought I would see you armed." I was trying for levity. It worked like a lead balloon.” — Melissa Jensen Copy Share Image
“Love is one of two things worth dying for. I have yet to decide on the second.” — Melissa Jensen Copy Share Image
“Okay,three things,and one of them has to be in French." I was back in the weird squashy chair; Alex was flopped on the bed.This time, along with the lemon soda, there were two bags of Doritos on the floor between us. He'd had one waiting. I'd brought one. "I don't think this is what Mademoiselle Winslow had in mind," I… — Melissa Jensen Copy Share
“That's the thing about Willing: There's always someone happy to let you know exactly what your place is.” — Melissa Jensen Copy Share Image
“I think he painted the way he did," I answered, "because he had something perfect with Diana." I braced myself for her next scathing insight and nearly fell over when she reached out to pat my hand. Her wedding ring was a heavy,hammered gold band that could probably pound nails. "Nothing but the occasional espresso is perfect," she said, not… — Melissa Jensen Copy Share
“None were particularly interesting, although I got a kick out of a note from the Philadelphia Zoo suggesting that since the tiger was not entirely reliable around humans, perhaps Mr. Willing would consider a leopard for his painting instead. It had been a pet until the demise (natural) of its owner and would, if not firmly admonished, climb into a… — Melissa Jensen Copy Share
