Row Quotes

“Does giving your piece of mind, bring a peace of mind? Or is it better to be silent and let the war inside subside?”
― Anthony Liccione

“Names crowded into his thoughts. Staski. Kiril. Kirigan. Anton. Eryk. An avalanche of memories. He’d been all of them, but who should be become now? He’d had plenty of time to consider such things in the isolation of his glass cell, but now that he was free, truly free to choose, he found that only one name suited. The oldest of them: Aleksander. He had no reason to hide his strangeness anymore. Saints were meant to live forever.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Rule of Wolves

“I don’t like my ducks in a row. I don’t like it when they quarrel.”
― Jarod Kintz, Ducks are the stars of the karaoke bird world

“oBITCHuary: So…

oBITCHuary: I went back and read through our chats. I totally admitted to you that I’m attracted to my shitty boss, didn’t I?

McMonster: Yup.

oBITCHuary: Enjoying the ego stroke?

McMonster: I’d enjoy it more if you aim south. And, you know, use your tongue.

oBITCHuary: I’m never going to be able to look you in the eye.

McMonster: May I suggest other organs that will welcome your attention, then?

oBITCHuary: I’m so terrified I’m going to yield to temptation.

McMonster: Don’t worry, I’m sure I’ll fuck it up before we get to it.

oBITCHuary: WHY are you even interested? You could have any woman in the world.

McMonster: And you’re that woman. Where’s the mystery?

oBITCHuary: I’m completely normal.

McMonster: Respectfully, Cal, you’re not.

oBITCHuary: LOL. I meant average.

McMonster: You’re not that either.

oBITCHuary: What am I, then?

McMonster: If I have a say about it? Mine.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“Borrowing money from a friend,
Always Interrupts the friendship flow,
Especially after missing the payment deadline,
More than two weeks in a row”
― Charmaine J. Forde

“You row, the growing light rearranging your voice, the
rain your lunatic photographer.”
― Chen Chen

“I always try and sit in the last row of the airplane seats for health reasons.”
― Steven Magee, Toxic Altitude

“Is that the only reason you’re helping me?”

“Isn’t it enough?”

“It is. I’m just wondering if there’s something else.”

“No,” he harrumphed. “Wait, yes. Now I remember—I also want to fuck you again.”

I tripped over my own feet, about to dive into the ground. He caught me by the hem of my shirt, jerking me upright.

I’ll always catch you. When have I ever let you take the hit for something, Dot?

“You did not just say that.” I slapped branches out of my way as I regained my balance.

“Did too. Fair warning—I want much more than fucking this time around. I want dates. I want laughs. I want you to be honest with me. All the stuff that freaks you out for some reason. No strings attached. No commitment. Just fun. A perfect do-over.”

“Why do you need a do-over?”

“So my last memory of us won’t be you almost vomiting because we had sex.”

“I almost vomited because your sister caught us!” I shrieked. “Which is exactly why this won’t happen again. You’re high if you think I’m betraying her trust a second time around.”

“Thought you’d say that. I have great news for you.”

“What?”

“She no longer gives a fuck.”

“That’s not tru—”

“It is. Ask her yourself.”

The confidence with which he’d said that made my heart twist like Play-Doh. What had changed between then and now? Why was she okay with us hooking up all of a sudden?

“Why wouldn’t she care?” I asked in a panic.

“Because it no longer matters.”

“How c—”

“Come on, Bitchy. Put two and two together.”

Bitchy.

He’d called me Bitchy.

The rain intensified, knocking on our faces. I skidded to an abrupt stop. A wave of memories crashed into me all at once, nearly knocking me down on my ass. Everything became crystal clear in one swift moment.

Row defending me when Dylan caught us having sex.

Row teaching me how to slow dance in his room before my very first prom because I knew I would be too terrified to ever dance with anyone else and didn’t want to miss out.

Row and I sitting on the hood of his car, in front of an endless ocean, the moon, and the stars. Me saying, “Isn’t it beautiful?” and him answering, “Yes, you are.”

Row being essentially in love with me.

I couldn’t even touch the other revelation right now. It was too much to process.

Bitchy. Bitchy. Bitchy.

McMonster. Selfless, sweet McMonster. Who seemed to know me inside out. Who could read me like an open book. Could it be?
But it couldn’t be.

No. It couldn't.

Not him.

not the shinest boy in Staindrop.

"No more running." I planted my feet on the pavement, clutching my knees, panting. Tears prickled the back of my eyeballs. Row looked on high alert. Neither of us seemed ready to acknowledge the fact that he was McMonster and I was Bitchy.

For the first time since I'd known him, he looked like a boy. Not a heartthrob, not a world-famous chef, not a formidable boss-- just a boy.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“Fine. Want the truth? Here’s the truth: No, I didn’t ‘have feelings’ for you.” He air-quoted the words with a sneer. “I was in love with you. Honest to fucking God, full-blown, snatch-my-heart-out-and-let-you-use-it-as-a-stress-ball in love with you.” He looked disgusted with himself for uttering each word. “And you didn’t give half a shit about me.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“In my dreams, I was someone else. Someone new.”

“Ah, the irony.” He sat back, folding his arms. “In my dreams, you were you. Did Dream Row at least get some NC-17 action?”

“There were a few notable moments.” I coyly collected my wet hair into a high bun. “One of them on a washing machine, even.”

“Were they as traumatic as the real thing?”

“I mean, in one of them I put a red shirt in a cycle full of whites.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“I strongly recommend you remove your hand from my girlfriend’s arm unless you want to play scavenger hunt finding your own fucking fingers on the floor.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“The doormen reached her, about to wrangle her from my arms.

I turned my chilly look their way. “Lay a hand on my girlfriend, and she will be the last thing you touch, since I’ll chop your fingers off with a cleaver.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“As a chef, my future wife ticked all the boxes.

She tasted delicious, just the right balance between sweet and biting.

Most important of all…

She tasted like forever.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply

“I won, didn’t I?” I winked.

“The Christmas gift competition? But, Dot, you’re my biggest win.”

He kissed me long and deep, in a way every girl deserved to be kissed. Many times. By the boy she loved.”
― L.J. Shen, Truly Madly Deeply