Annabeth Albert

“He wouldn’t miss me the way I’d miss him. Fuck.”

— Annabeth Albert

“Please don’t let us lose this. Breathing”

— Annabeth Albert

“They’re like your spirit animal or something, huh?”

— Annabeth Albert

“I love you. And yes, yes I’ll marry you.”

— Annabeth Albert

“Please let him keep sleeping in here.”

— Annabeth Albert

“You didn’t tell me!” “Son,”

— Annabeth Albert

“You’re getting a new roommate. Now be nice. I’ve heard stories about you.” She wagged a finger at him. Ben”

— Annabeth Albert

“Regrets will eat you alive if you let them. You gotta outrun them. Find something in the now.”

— Annabeth Albert

“What the hell? In my time away from the scene, apparently I’d gotten fucking trendy.”

— Annabeth Albert

“Please don’t let me hurt him. Maddox made that wish even knowing it was impossible. “Wish”

— Annabeth Albert

“But we could probably find something for you to smash.” Like my heart. Ben”

— Annabeth Albert

“The crankiest not-a-couple has made up. It’s a beautiful day.”

— Annabeth Albert

“So I think you should. Date, that is.” “And this is what? Practice?”

— Annabeth Albert

“We’ll go to Napa. I’ll be a better friend. A better man. Just don’t die on me. Maddox’s”

— Annabeth Albert

“I would though. I’d wait for you.” Ben’s eyes were serious as he held Maddox’s gaze. “I want to get this right…

— Annabeth Albert

“His skin felt raw, scrubbed too hard, and he wasn’t even wet yet. The rawness extended to his soul, made him feel…

— Annabeth Albert

“But his joy back then didn’t hold a candle to the happiness welling up in his chest at the sight of Maddox,…

— Annabeth Albert

“I pushed you into something you didn’t want—” “Didn’t say that,” Maddox mumbled. “I’m an adult. I stayed. And I’m not denying…

— Annabeth Albert

“Vanessa helped Maddox get situated on a tall stool with his guitar. And then...Maddox created magic. There was no other word for…

— Annabeth Albert

“Well, being a porn star would break my mama’s heart.” His laugh was even warmer than the soup. I kicked him under…

— Annabeth Albert

“Yeah.” His father looked away. “Couple days ago...they said he wasn’t going to make it. Parents flew down with the sister. What…

— Annabeth Albert

“Transport got in sooner than we thought.” Still in uniform, Ben sounded exhausted and looked worse, dark circles under his eyes. But…

— Annabeth Albert

“Mad?” Ben’s voice was soft and crept past the curtain, past Maddox’s melancholy. “You awake?” Maddox didn’t answer. Couldn’t answer. “So glad…

— Annabeth Albert

“I’m trying here.” Ben leaned forward, all earnest concentration. “You were my best friend, and I used that as a...shield, sort of.…

— Annabeth Albert

“Come meet my friends,” Maddox said when he approached. “Did you like the music?” “You were unbelievable,” Ben said truthfully. “And your…

— Annabeth Albert

“This good?” Canaan reached for Maddox’s fly. “I wanna suck you off.” “He’s good at it. Let him.” Needing to be closer,…

— Annabeth Albert

“But instead of the electronics, he found lube, condoms, and a modest dildo, all neatly side-by-side, no clutter for Maddox’s toy drawer.…

— Annabeth Albert

“Apollo smiled widely as the orderlies transferred the guy to the bed, and Ben took a second glance. The guy was so…

— Annabeth Albert

“This may be your craziest idea yet, and considering you followed me over the side of a cliff that’s saying something, but…

— Annabeth Albert

“What else am I missing here? What’s in this for you?” “You.” Ben was honest for once, and it seemed to work,…

— Annabeth Albert

“It wasn’t until Maddox said no that Ben realized that he’d wanted the repeat more than he’d wanted to get laid, and…

— Annabeth Albert

“I just don’t think dating’s going to make you as happy as you think. You could wait—” “Ben.” Maddox touched his arm…

— Annabeth Albert

“No. I mean...I think you should date. Date me. We should date.” Maddox dropped the fork, and his jaw followed it on…

— Annabeth Albert

“So he hadn’t kicked the guy out and he’d proceeded to have the worst sex of his life. And for the first…

— Annabeth Albert

“Fell.” Maddox was cold and wet, and had been only vaguely aware of Ben dragging him through the jungle. Bumpy. Ben pleading.…

— Annabeth Albert

“And yeah, if he pushed past his black mood, he could maybe call this fun. Or at least the old him would…

— Annabeth Albert

“Say a prayer for me, Preacher,” Ben said to Maddox, kneeling over him one last time. Then he did the only thing…

— Annabeth Albert

“But Ben wasn’t twelve anymore and, infection or no, he refused to be cowed. “I deserve to know. Don’t keep any other…

— Annabeth Albert

“Last thing Ben wanted was to be pushed into the substance abuse and rehabilitation program when all he really had was a…

— Annabeth Albert

“God, please spare Ben. I don’t care about my sorry self. Just save him. Maddox’s hurried prayer was his last conscious thought.…

— Annabeth Albert