Lauren Asher

the best rewards come with the biggest consequences.

. Because nothing that great is given for free.

Forget kissing her. I could fuck her for standing by me instead of Cal on something like this.
“I don’t like you two ganging up on me.” He rolls his eyes.
She gives his hand a pat. “It’s in your best interest. You hate business talk anyway.”
He sighs. “You’re right. Still fucked up though when you’re my best friend.”
“And he’s my husband. Don’t make me choose between you two.”

“Why else, dearie. Love makes us do silly things,” Juliana intervenes.

“Oh no. We’re just…”

“Seizing the day,” he finishes for me.

I snap. “Right! One day at a time.” I nod at Juliana like that explains every complicated second of my relationship with Rowan.

Juliana wags her finger at us. “You let me know who stops believing the lie first.”

“What can I get you two fine ladies?”
Sophie lifts a brow. “Isn’t it an open bar?”

“Well, excuse me for the inconvenience. Didn’t your mom teach you that it’s not nice to take things from others?”
“Must have missed that lecture. But my mama taught me how sharing is caring, so maybe you need a lesson or two yourself.”

Here I thought my bright personality brought all the boys to the yard.”

all live lies. Some are just better at disguising them. Others hide and never acknowledge them, instead flinching at shadows looming in the corners because they know what lurks there. You’re aware of what you’re doing. You consciously embrace your secrets, becoming one with the issues haunting you.

it doesn’t mean I can’t empathize and feel for you. Life is about learning to share the burden of your problems with others. It might feel all good and dandy now to hide, but secrets have a way of getting to us all. And sometimes the greatest lies aren’t the ones we tell ourselves; they’re the ones we believe time and time again despite all the evidence proving us wrong. So share your secrets or keep them inside. The choice is yours. But just know that shit will eat away at you until you’re shrinking at your own shadow too.

“That’s because you’re the only one losing when you deflect and hide. If you decide not to get close to others, that’s your choice. I’ll keep living my life with the bits and pieces you share. But the real question is, can you live with your ruse for the rest of your life? If you can, then you’re the most beautiful liar I know because the prettiest lies are the ones we tell ourselves.”