Book Lovers

Fame comes with money,” I point out. “Money’s helpful.”

“Fame also comes with people telling you whatever they think you want to hear.”

I’m used to rats—most run away at the sight of a person, and the rest basically just hold out tiny hats to beg for bits of pizza.

She wonders whether what comes next could ever live up to the expectations.

She doesn’t know. You never can.

She turns the page
anyway.

For anyone who wants it all,” she begins, “may you find something that is more than enough.”

“I know,” he says. “I can read you like a book.”

You let me love you as much as I know I can, for as long as I know I can, and you have it fucking all.

“That’s a face.”

“I’ve always had one, Stephens,” he says. “Fairly disappointing you just noticed.”

“You’re in books. Of course you don’t have a life. None of us do. There’s always something too good to read.”

Another “universal truth” Austen could’ve started Pride and Prejudice with: When you tell yourself not to think about something, it will be all that you can think about.

“We should go in separately. So he doesn’t know we’re together.”

“Right,” I say. “That will make it easier to knock him out and empty his pockets. What should our signal be?”