If losing Sam had taught me anything, it was to seize life-seize everything it had to offer, including the tears, the anger and loss, but most of all, the laughter and the love. To just seize life. Because it was fleeting and it was fickle, and no one, not me or anyone I knew, had another day, let alone another second promised to them.

I'm going to be okay." His eyes held mine as he stepped closer lining his booted feet with mine."Nothing is going to happen to me. I promise.""You can't make that promise," I whispered, searching his gaze intently."None of us can." His hands slid back and he curled his fingers in my loose hair. "I can.

A.Coward," he repeated, and I briefly considered picking up the vase in the center of the island and throwing it at him."Not making a choice is the coward's way out. You love both of them. I get that. But you don't feel the same kind of love for both of them, and the sooner you accept that the better.

But I wasn't done. Staring into eyes that were as bright and beautiful than any tawny jewel, I said what I had never said before. And I said it with every ounce in my being behind it. "I love you, Roth." My voice shook with emotion."I'm in love with you.

It doesn't change anything. He pulled back, moving several feet in the blink of any eye. We need to be friends. Or at least get along to the point where you aren't destroying perfectly good fast food when I open my mouth.

I dare a lot more than that." Roth's skin seemed to thin his face becoming sharp angles."I will not stand for one hair on her head to be harmed. If you want her, you're going to have to come through me.

I got you," Roth, said, propping me up. "Always." Always. The word bounced around inside me like a Ping-Pong ball.

LAYLA: "You boinked Lilith."ROTH: "Boinked?" Roth chuckled under his breath and then said, "God, I love you.

Double crap on a cracker the size of my butt