“I stand and hold out my hand. She gives me a skeptical look, but takes it and lets me pull her to her feet. I put my other hand in the air. 'Bronwyn Rojas, I solemnly swear not to murder… — Karen M. McManus Copy Share Image
“So our crew is back to being all girls, and stays that way for the rest of lunch. The only other guy who’d sit… — Karen M. McManus Copy Share
“Sure, sure. No rush, no pressure. It’s entirely up to you, Cooper.” People always say that but it doesn’t feel true. About anything.” — Karen M. McManus Copy Share
“The first seven years of the Joshua tree's life, it's just a vertical stem. No branches," she told me while we were hiking. "It… — Karen M. McManus Copy Share
“She cocks her head at me and adds, "I don't need your commentary if you disagree, by the way." I hold up my hands.… — Karen M. McManus Copy Share
“You don’t think about what’s outside. Or who. Especially if she’s better off forgetting you exist.” — Karen M. McManus Copy Share
“I don't know why it's so hard for people to admit that sometimes they're just assholes who screw up because they don't expect to… — Karen M. McManus Copy Share
“I let myself out and climb onto my bike, putting on my helmet. As soon as it’s clipped tight I push up the kickstand… — Karen M. McManus Copy Share
“Jake still won’t talk to me, and I miss him so much, it’s like I’ve been hollowed out by a nuclear blast and there’s… — Karen M. McManus Copy Share
“That's the kind of person you can get away with killing: someone everybody else wants dead.” — Karen M. McManus Copy Share
“No matter how awful the rest of my life is, my hair still manages to look good.” — Karen M. McManus Copy Share
“You're not going to wither up and die from this, Addy," Ashton lectures me as she shoves me toward the shower. "He doesn't get… — Karen M. McManus Copy Share
“People like to think they're open-minded, but if you toss a tired gender stereotype on their path they'll run with it every time.” — Karen M. McManus Copy Share
“She's a princess and you're a jock," he says. He thrusts his chin toward Bronwyn, then at Nate. "And you're a brain. And you're… — Karen M. McManus Copy Share
