Birthday Girl Quotes

“I want a life I never want to take a vacation from.”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“Time passes by you like a bullet,” he says, “and fear gives you the excuses you’re craving to not do the things you know you should. Don’t doubt yourself, don’t second-guess, don’t let fear hold you back, don’t be lazy, and don’t base your decisions on how happy it will make others. Just go for it, okay?”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“You look at each other like…” “Like?” He swallows, an unusually troubled pinch to his brow. “Like the two of you have your own language.”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“A ship at harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are for.”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“Baby,” he whispers, his hands shaking. “I hope you love me, because I love you like crazy, and I’m going to want you the rest of my life. I tried to stay away, because I thought it was the right thing, but I fucking can’t. I need you, and I love you. This doesn’t happen twice, and I’m not going to be stupid again. I promise.”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“Birthday wishes don’t always come true, so I don’t waste a chance when I blow out a candle.”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“The more you do for someone, the less they do for themselves.”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“I knew you were out there somewhere,” I tell her, quirking a sad smile. “The girlfriends, women I dated, Cole’s mother…. I never wanted to marry anyone, because they weren’t what I was looking for. I had started to think I had my sights set too high, and you didn’t exist.” I clasp the back of her neck and run my thumbs down her throat. “Turns out my dream girl belongs to the one person it would kill me to hurt.”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“We don't need food to survive this life as much as we need our hearts broken at least once. But the best part is, the first break is always the worst. It'll never feel this bad.”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“I always wish for the same thing, and every day it comes true.”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“The birthday girl and her wishes. She’ll always be a part of me.”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“But no one’s better off without you.”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“My hands were on you, too,” she says.
And then she pulls the door open and walks out, closing it gently behind her.
I stare after her, the empty space making me suddenly want her back.
“Don’t say things like that,” I mumble to an empty house.
If I know you want it, too, how will I be able to resist you?”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“But it also makes me wonder…. If my heart will never break this badly again, then will I love anyone like I loved Pike Lawson?”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“But nowadays," she keeps going, "we don't hold a woman responsible for a man's behavior.”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“Time passes by you like a bullet," he says. "and fear gives you the excuses you're craving to not do the things you know you should. Don't doubt yourself, don't second guess, don't let fear hold you back, don't be lazy, and don't base your decisions on how happy it will make others. Just go for it, okay?”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“We need lies to survive sometimes, because the truth hurts too much.”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“It’s hard to find that one person who speaks your language.”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“Pike is proof that we learn when we’re forced to and maturity is more the result of experience than age,”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“An image of my son’s innocent, little girlfriend wearing this flashes in my head, and I round my eye, rearing back a little. “Fuck. I’m gonna go to hell.”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“The back of my neck breaks out in a sweat, and I’m getting nervous. Why is he just standing there, staring at me? “What do you want?” I press, my tone curt.

He opens his mouth but then closes it swallowing.

“Pike, Jesus—”
“The day you left,” he blurts out, and I stop.

I wait, listening as a look of fear crosses his eyes.

“The house was so empty,” he continues. “Like a quiet that was never there before. I couldn’t hear your footsteps upstairs or your hairdryer or anticipate you walking into a room. You were gone. Everything was…” he drops his eyes, “gone.”

A ball lodges in my throat, and I feel tears threaten, but I tense my jaw, refusing to let it out.

“But I could still feel you,” he whispers. “You were still everywhere. The container of cookies in the fridge, the backsplash you picked out, the way you put all my pictures back in the wrong spot after you dusted my bookshelves.” He smiles to himself. “But I couldn’t rearrange them, because you were the last to touch them, and I wanted everything the way you had it.”

My chin trembles, and I fold my arms over my chest, hiding my balled fists under my arms.

He pauses and then goes on. “Nothing would ever go back to the way it was before you came into my house. I didn’t want it to.” He shakes his head. “I went to work, and I came home, and I stayed there every night and all weekend, every weekend, because that’s where we were together. That’s where I could still feel you.” He steps closer, dropping his voice. “That’s where I could wrap myself up in you and hang on to every last thread in that house that proved you were mine for just a little while.”

His tone grows thick, and I see his eyes water.

“I really thought I was doing what was best,” he says, knitting his brow. “I thought I was taking advantage of you, because you’re young and beautiful and so happy and hopeful despite everything you’d been through. You made me feel like the world was a big place again.”

My breathing shakes, and I don’t know what to do. I hate that he’s here. I hate that I love that he’s here. I hate him.

“I couldn’t steal your life from you and keep you to myself, you know?” he explains. “But then I realized that you’re not happy or hopeful or making me feel good because you’re young. You are those things and you’re capable of those things, because you’re a good person. It’s who you are.”

A tear spills over, gliding down my cheek.

“Baby,” he whispers, his hands shaking. “I hope you love me, because I love you like crazy, and I’m going to want you the rest of my life. I tried to stay away, because I thought it was the right thing, but I fucking can’t. I need you, and I love you. This doesn’t happen twice, and I’m not going to be stupid again. I promise.”

My chin trembles, and something lodges in my throat, and I try to hold it in, but I can’t. My face cracks, and I break down, turning away from him. The tears come like a goddamn waterfall, and I hate him. I fucking hate him.

His arms are around me in a second, and he hugs me from behind, burying his face in my neck.

“I’m sorry I took so long,” he whispers in my ear.”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“Now get inside and take off your clothes. I’ve had a whole day to dream up the theme park I’m going to make of your body tonight, girl.”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“Turns out my dream girl belongs to the one person it would kill me to hurt.”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“But the best part is, the first break is always the worst. It’ll never feel this bad again.”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“But I hear her small, sweet voice behind me. “Yes, Daddy.” I blink long and hard, my hand tingling with an urge to give someone a spanking for the first time in my life.”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“I’ll get over him. And very soon, every memory will fade, all his words and how every touch felt. It’ll all fade.”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“Just shut up.”
But he doesn’t. “I’m not saying you should do anything. And that’s why I stepped in and didn’t let you bring her home.”
His tone turns serious.
“All kidding aside, Pike,” he goes on, “she is exactly your type. You shouldn’t be alone with her.”
Yeah.
I know.
I just hope he’s the only person who’s noticed.
“Thanks for the intervention,” I tell him, “but even if I were attracted to her, I’m capable of controlling myself.”
“You’re not seeing yourself from my perspective.” He looks out the front windshield, solemn. “You look at each other like…”
“Like?”
He swallows, an unusually troubled pinch to his brow. “Like the two of you have your own language.”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“But let me tell you something, girl,” she goes on, speaking low and discreet for the few customers in the place. “What you feel for him or anyone else isn’t what you need. This—” she taps my chest over my heart, “what you’re feeling right now—is the best thing that can happen to you. Because when all the pieces of your heart start to come back together, and they will, they’ll be stronger. And much tougher for someone to pierce.”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“How long have you and Dutch been married?” I ask. She sighs. “Fourteen years.” She looks over at me. “And three kids later, I still want to kill him every day, but he makes good spaghetti, so…”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl

“Maturity is more the result of experience than age.”
― Penelope Douglas, Birthday Girl