Brodi Quotes & Sayings

Friends don't eat friends' souls. — Brodi Ashton

Cole let me pull him, saying loudly, "Lead on. I like a woman who -"
"Shut up. — Brodi Ashton

Give me your heart," I said.
He tilted his head, leaned forward, watching my eyes the entire time to make sure it was okay, and kissed me lightly on the lips. "You already have it. — Brodi Ashton

So why did you come over?" I said to Max.
He turned around and started walking backward. He spread his arms out wide. "For love!" He had to jerk his hands back in when they got too close to the flames.
Cole broke out in spasms of laughter.
"What is it?"
Cole looked at me. "I brought him over. Ages ago. — Brodi Ashton

I pretended for a moment_ and only for a moment_ that I was the person she was making room for. That the hand she held up reached for me. That the heart thumping in her chest beat for me and me alone. I allowed myself that split second of weakness. — Brodi Ashton

It says 'Bet you were expecting a heart, shaped like a compass ... '" Jack paused and pulled the note off the bow tie. " ... And then he drew a frowny face. — Brodi Ashton

It's just that even though I'm totally old and unhip,I remember what boys in high school were like.Especially the kind like Jack Caputo."
"What kind is that?"
"The kind that doesn't even walk a girl to the door."
I rolled my eyes. "Well,he would have, but he had to go drop off his other dates. There were three of us." My dad finally cracked a smile. "Good night,old man," I said,giving him a hug.
"Wait a sec,honey.Did I do that okay?"
I pulled back. "Do what okay?" It hit me then that this was my first dance since my mom died.I felt a little guilty that I hadn't realized it before. It was just that the night was so perfect. Before he could explain, I said, "Yes.You did great."
"Night,Nikki."
The next morning,I found a note in my jacket pocket.I unfolded it and read two words, written in Jack's handwriting.
Ever Yours. — Brodi Ashton

Nikki - "Where's Cole?"
Jack - "Playing with the ice machine."
I snorted.
Nikki - "I'm going to miss this side of Cole if he ever gets his memory back. — Brodi Ashton

Look,Nik.I can't lose you. We can be partners.With you by my side,and with the band backing us,we could take over. I want you by my side in the High Court?"
"What does that even mean? We'd be ... together? Like, together, together?"
Cole gave a sly smile. "We'd rule hand in hand. And as far as being together, we'd be as together as you'd allow."
Annoyingly,my cheeks got all warm, and I turned away, frustrated at my reaction. I stood and went over to my desk chair to sit down.
Cole chuckled. He pushed himself off the floor and walked closer to me,and the Shade at my shoulder pulled toward him. I wanted to hit it.
"Stay over there," I said.
"Why?" He held his hands up, all innocent-like. "Does my nearness affect you? That's what happens when you spend a century with someone. — Brodi Ashton

Afternoon,Caputo," Cole said.
Jack's face remained a cool mask. "Hello, Cole.Becks."
Cole froze at Jack's casual use of his real name. His arm dropped from my shoulders. I couldn't help but smile.
Jack looked at me. "I'll see you in Mrs. Stone's room, Becks. You're coming, right? Mythology paper?"
I nodded.Just before he sauntered away, Jack winked at me and slapped Cole hard on the shoulder. "See you around, Neal. — Brodi Ashton

In the absence of proof, all that matters is perception. — Brodi Ashton

Never focus on the end. Only focus on your first step. — Brodi Ashton

I told him about how Cole wanted me to return with him.
I told him almost everything. I didn't talk about what had happened just before I left with Cole and I didn't tell him that the Tunnels of the Everneath were coming for me soon. Jack would freak out if he knew I was leaving again, and I didn't want to waste time trying to convince him it was hopeless.
I didn't tell him I'd thought of him every day. That even when every other memory had faded,he never left. — Brodi Ashton

We'd both been stripped of all the evasiveness, all the lies, everything we'd ever kept from each other. Layer by layer, we had given up our defenses and our excuses and our demands for whys and hows, and what was left were two broken beings. Clinging to one last shred of hope. Tethered to each other. — Brodi Ashton

Look, Nik, I know you don't like public scrutiny lately. If you stand off to the side, all mopey and such, without a date, you'll stick out like a nun at a strip club." He leaned in. "Trust me, I've seen one. A nun at a strip club, that is. Everyone was staring at her. — Brodi Ashton

So he earns your undying love by reading a book under a tree?" Cole said dryly. "Why didn't I ever try that approach? I like books and trees. — Brodi Ashton

How come you" - I gasped - "recovered so quickly?"
"I dove."
"What?"
"I don't know how I knew. I think I heard lapping water or something right before we hit. So I twisted around and dove. Whereas you went flat as a pancake on your back."
"You could've told me."
"Yeah, because there was plenty of time for that," he said sarcastically. — Brodi Ashton

" it's the Fiery Furnace."
They just looked at me as if I said "It's a puppy driving a tractor. — Brodi Ashton

I had believed there was no such thing as redemption. I knew now I was wrong. Redemption had not come from grand gestures of dashing bravery. It had not come from successfully completing twelve impossible labors. Instead, redemption transpired from the small, quiet places. — Brodi Ashton

I held the car key out, pointed and ready.
Cole eyed the key. Uh-oh. Is that key loaded? — Brodi Ashton

Are you okay?" I asked, distracted. I wanted back inside the vision.
"Nothing a little mouth-to-mouth won't cure," he said,but he couldn't muster the energy to laugh at his own joke. "You're no good for me,Nik," he said in between gasps.
"What do you mean?"
His breathing slowed a little and he looked up at me. "I can't say no to you. — Brodi Ashton

Recognizing beauty isn't optimism. It's living with your eyes open. — Brodi Ashton

Her emotional layers had the depth of a full symphony.
All I wanted was the bathe in her harmony. — Brodi Ashton

However he'd found his way here, it didn't matter. I knew then that the boy under the tree had to be mine. That floppy hair should be mine to touch. That big, knuckly boy hand should be mine to hold. That gruff voice should be mine to hear, and those ears should be mine to tell all my secrets to. Except for the biggest secret. That I loved him. More than the crush I was dealing with for years. More than I should've loved a best friend. More than he would ever love me back. I was gone for him. — Brodi Ashton

AT NIGHT
My bedroom,as I drift.
Every night,Jack is with me.
He lies down on his side, lengthwise on my bed,and props his head on my pillow. I mirrow his position. He places his hand over mine. I see it,but I don't feel it.We discovered long ago that we can't touch,even in our dreams. I am as much of a ghost to him as he is to me. We are a breath away-and a world apart-from each other.
He doesn't know where he goes when he's not with me.He doesn't think he exists anymore,except for in my dreams.
I think he is right.And I tell him to hang on.I will never stop dreaming of him.
I will find him. — Brodi Ashton

I hadn't learned anything new, except that another one of the Dead Elvises had an affinity for the Shop-n-Go. And Jack officially thought I'd lost my last marble. — Brodi Ashton

Well, what if he's ... old? He's been down here for years. What if he's ninety?" Cole's voice sounded very pleased at the notion.
"I wouldn't care," I said.
"Oh, you wouldn't care if you brought Jack all the way home from the tunnels only to end up sending him off to a rest home? You'd be fine spoon-feeding him mashed peas as long as the two of you were together?"
I grimaced. "Believe it or not, I would. As long as I had him back."
"Kinky." Cole smirked. — Brodi Ashton

I dreamed of you every night. It felt so real. And when I'd wake up the next morning, it was like your disappearance was fresh. Like you'd left me all over again. — Brodi Ashton

Sometimes ... Sometimes our hearts ... crack a little. — Brodi Ashton

I was in the neighborhood," he said, answering the question I was about to ask. His lips twitched. "You know, wandering around, trying to be a hero. — Brodi Ashton

Cole. Know this now. I will never forget what you've done for me. Never. Do you hear me?
He nodded, but I could see he was crumbling, as if finding Jack would put an end to everything he wanted. Because it would. I placed my hands on either side of his face and brought his lips to mine in a light kiss. — Brodi Ashton

Epic love dies epically. — Brodi Ashton

Do you feel that?
This heart is yours. It belongs to you. It beats only for you. And somewhere out there is a heart without a home, and it beats for me, and we're not giving up until we find it. — Brodi Ashton

You know the Everneath?"
"Uh, yeah, I think I'm familiar with it."
"Good. Because I'm going to destroy it. I'm taking the whole. Damn. Thing. Down. Are you with me?
"Always. Forever. — Brodi Ashton

Tell me, friend," Jack said, his fingertips grazing mind as people shuffled past us in the hallway. "Is there more for us?"
I looked at my feet. "There's everything for us. — Brodi Ashton

There is no evil. There is no good. There is only life, and the absence of life. — Brodi Ashton

He held me back just enough so I could see his face, and his determined frown. You meant for this life.
With me. — Brodi Ashton

If I could feed off Cole without our lips touching ...
If I could feed off Cole from across the room ... even better.
From across the Earth ... best. — Brodi Ashton

Cole: " There's the old Nik. No 'how do you do', no talk of the weather. Just a good swift kick to the balls."
Nikki: "A kick to your balls is an option? — Brodi Ashton

Faith?" The word popped out before I could think about it. "Faith in what? A higher power? The gods? The universe?" My voice cracked at the end, and I realized what this whole thing had done to my faith, if I'd had any to begin with. I realized that the thought of a higher being in charge of all this made me angry. — Brodi Ashton

So,Jules gets a smile,huh?"
I could feel his eyes on me,waiting for a response. He hadn't tried to talk to me since that first day,and his voice directed at me again did strange things to me.Made my stomach flutter. Of course, Jack had always had that power over me.
I kept my eyes down,but I couldn't stop my lips from turning upward.
"I see that," he said.Jack always saw everything. — Brodi Ashton

There's no such thing as 'epic love'. But there is such a thing as 'epically bad decisions based on something believed to be love, but is most likely lust. — Brodi Ashton

I trusted you," my voice shaky with anger and exhaustion.
"I know," Cole said simply. "And now I have all of eternity to earn your forgiveness. — Brodi Ashton

I want my heart. I'll trade you for it. I'll give you anything. Almost anything". He tilted his head forward in a challenging way.
"Give me you"
"Anything else". Cole raised an eyebrow.
"You think I care about anything else?"
I looked down at the floor.
"Where's my heart" I said.
"You're always asking the wrong question. — Brodi Ashton

Heroes don't exist. And if they did, I wouldn't be one of them. — Brodi Ashton

I closed my eyes and let the music take over, and when I opened them, Cole was watching me. As our eyes met, he didn't look away, and he didn't try to hide where his attention was.For some reason I was determined not to look away first, and before I knew it I'd gravitated to the stage. People turned to look at me,as if the momentary bond between us was visible,and I couldn't take the attention.I finally turned away. — Brodi Ashton

Because ... it'll make everything worse ... If you don't feel- — Brodi Ashton

He took a deep breath and held out his hand. "We got off to a bad start, but you're obviously a friend of Becks's."
Cole stared at his hand,stumped. He looked at me like, What the hell am I supposed to do with this? I'd never seen him so baffled.It was almost comical.
Then the second-to-last thing that I ever would have anticipated happened. Cole took Jack's hand and shook it. "I'm Neal."
"Jack." Jack briefly glanced sideways at me. "I'll try not to hit you again."
Cole and Jack, shaking hands. I covered my eyes with my fingers,wondering when the world had officially tipped over onto its side.When I lowered my hand, they were both looking at me.I'd had enough awkward.
"Let's go," I said, tugging on Jack's arm.
Cole frowned and looked away. "Take care of our girl," he muttered sarcastically. — Brodi Ashton

You really can't see it, can you?"
"See what?"
"He has a tether too. And it points right at you. — Brodi Ashton

I know he is wrapping my name inside of him, folding it in the blanket of his heart. I know this because I used to do the same thing with his name when I was in the Feed. — Brodi Ashton

You don't really believe there's a good way to say good-bye forever, do you? — Brodi Ashton

My Lady, please! I am indecent.' 'You are,' Jane agreed. 'Not to mention the fact that you are also unclothed. — Brodi Ashton

I didnt tell him I'd thought of him every day. That even when every other memory had faded, he never left. - Nikki — Brodi Ashton

I faced Cole and Max. "Sorry, guys."
I lightly touched the hot poker to Max's back. he screamed and ran forward. Cole looked at him with an amused smile on his lips, then I did the same thing to Cole's back, angling it under the hem of his jacket. He lurched forward.
We ran this way for several long minutes, and eventually I didn't have to prod them as much. — Brodi Ashton

I grabbed the sides of my desk, as if I were about to pick it up and move it. Like a crazy person.
Cole walked over and noticed how I was grabbing my desk.
He raised an eyebrow. I think when Mrs. Stone said to take our seats, she didn't mean literally take our seats. — Brodi Ashton

Jack,do me a favor?" I said.
"Anything,Becks."
"Don't let go of my hand. And if the Tunnels come for me,don't let go until the last moment."
"If the Tunnels come for you,I'll hold on, and they won't be able to take you."
I smiled at the sentiment, even though I knew that no one would be able to hold on. — Brodi Ashton

Find something that reminds you of Jack ... "
"Like what?"
"The two of you were lovey-dovey. Didn't he ever give you.. I don't know ... a heart shaped locket necklace?"
"No."
"A teddy? With a T-shirt that says I LOVE YOU BEARY MUCH?
I rolled my eyes. "No. He wasn't like that. — Brodi Ashton

I waited for you."
"But it's a race. Why did you wait for me?"
"I always wait for you. I'm always waiting for you. — Brodi Ashton

So you're really going to the dance?"
I nodded as I sipped from the mug.
"Alone?"
"Not technically.There should be other people there too."
He raised his eyebrows. "Did my sullen daughter just make a joke?" I smiled as he gave a chuckle. "You always used to make jokes when you were nervous," he said. His smile disappeared and he put a hand on my arm. "Are you nervous?"
He knew me better than I thought. "A little."
"Then why are you doing? I mean, won't most everyone there have dates?" He cleared his throat. "Because Tommy and I have a mean game of Uno planned."
I hugged him. "Thanks,Dad. Wish me luck. — Brodi Ashton

Brother, when you've been here as long as I have, you'll come to discover there are only one or two essential things worth living for. Unique to you and you alone. My honor is one of them for me. I keep my honor by keeping the relic out of their hands. — Brodi Ashton

I pushed against him but he held me tight.
'You're delusional' I said.
'I'm the delusional guy whose going to keep you alive'
There was a fire behind his eyes. I set my jaw.
'You're the delusional guy who killed me in the first place — Brodi Ashton

Heroes are made by the paths they choose, not the powers they are graced with. — Brodi Ashton

It's about how there's no such thing as redemption," I whispered. "How you deserve what you get, and no higher power can save you. — Brodi Ashton

If you stand off to the side, all mopey and such, without a date, you'll stick out like a nun at a strip club. — Brodi Ashton

You've never been in love?"
He let out a quiet breath,and I felt him shake his head. "Easy to say. Harder to feel." He ran his fingers through my hair and tucked a few strands behind my ear. With a light voice, he said, "Out of curiosity, what would you have said if I wanted to..."
"I would've said no."
"Yeah?"
I nodded. "I'm glad you didn't, because that would have been awkward."
His chest shuddered with laughter. — Brodi Ashton

He paused and let out a little sigh. Then I'm saying it wrong, because it has everything to do with you. I want what Hades and Persephone had, and I can't do it without you. The only time the queen of the Everneath has been overthrown is when an Everliving has found his perfect match. I've spent my whole life - and it's a long one, trust me - looking for my perfect match, and it's you. I knew you were different from the first moment I met you. The first moment you placed your hands on mine. You remember? — Brodi Ashton

Tell me, friend. Is there more for us?"
I looked into his eyes, "There is everything for us. — Brodi Ashton

Nik. All you need to do is wear this tonight, and we'll sell out."
I glanced down at the shirt and then back up at Cole.
"Yeah, I'm sure this is the look you were going for."
"You can make anything look good," he said softly. — Brodi Ashton

I would never kiss you!" The siren's screech brought me back to the Everneath, and I drew away from Cole.
He had a devilish grin on his face, and he turned toward the siren. "I know. But the real Nik would - if it was to save my life." He looked back at me. "Hey, Nik. — Brodi Ashton

It's in your eyes. I've done what I thought was impossible. I made you love me, but not in the way I needed. You love me as your friend. — Brodi Ashton

Nikki - "What does that mean?"
Cole - "It means I am your only sorce of survival."
His face broke out into a wide grin.
"I wish Gavin were here. I'd have him give me a drum roll. — Brodi Ashton

What? What do you want?"
"You, Nik." Cole took a couple of deep breaths. "I want you. Whether we take over the throne or not. I want you in my life, and the only way that will happen is if you become like me. We shared a heart, Nik." He touched his finger to my heart. "Your heart is in me now."
"Not my heart. Just some of my emotions."
"Same thing. It belongs to me. And so I belong to you. — Brodi Ashton

You say you hate me, yet, you use me to stop hurting. — Brodi Ashton

I pushed his hair away from his eyes and took a closer look at his cheek. Maybe there really had been a boy in the street, but I also wouldn't put it past Cole to make one appear,if he had that power.
Jack's eyes opened fully,and he looked at me with half a grin. "You remember the first time I told you I loved you?" His words slurred together.
"Shhhhh.Don't talk.The paramedics are on their way."
"Do you?"
I touched his cheek and he winced. I could almost taste his pain,as if it were a tangible element in the air.I could feel my body hungering for the hurt.It was the first time since I'd Returned that I craved someone else's energy.Even at my lowest point,those last moments in the Everneath,I'd never felt a need for it.Until now.Until I was faced with emotions this strong.
He tilted his head toward me,and I jerked back. The taste in the air became bitter and sweet,a mixture of pain and longing.
"Tell me you remember," he said. "Please. — Brodi Ashton

I shouldn't have come," I said.
"Of course you should've. Otherwise I'd be fending off advances from Mrs. Stone. — Brodi Ashton

I'd never look at a pick again without wondering if it was Cole's heart.
He cocked an eyebrow. But the look in your eyes was murderous. Do you have a thing against guitar picks, or we're you hoping I'd be stupid enough to still carry my heart around with me? — Brodi Ashton

What? No heartbeat? Huh. Funny. Moving on, the bigger problem is why do I have circles under my eyes?' "And he'd say, 'Wait a second. Did you hear me? No heart!' And we'd be all 'Yes, yes, we heard you. But other than missing a major organ, what's wrong with me?' And then he'd go on and on about the whole no-heart thing, and then I would try to distract him by doing that dance I do - you know, the one that looks like the running man. . . . But before I finish my entire routine, the doctor would be texting the CIA to tell them about my lack of heart, and the rounds of involuntary government testing would begin. — Brodi Ashton

I know that look. It comes in the quiet moments, like this one. I know you're thinking that this is all your fault and that I would be better off without you. But here's the thing you need to understand. You are my peace and my home. You are the everything. The pain isn't real. The hearts are. — Brodi Ashton

Maybe a ghost is the safest person to talk to. — Brodi Ashton

What happened?" I asked, squinting at his face.
Cole glanced at Max. "I wanted to jump in after you. Max disagreed with the appropriateness of that reaction. And then his face ran into my fist. — Brodi Ashton

To get someone to follow them, a Siren would most likely appear as that person's deepest desire. The thing they wanted most. Cole's had become me, only it wasn't me as the queen, which I assumed would've been what Cole wanted most. It wasn't even me as an Everliving.
It was me, simply as me. — Brodi Ashton

There's no such thing as epic love. — Brodi Ashton

Tell me why you care," I said.
He put his hands on the windowsill. "Because it's you. Despite what you think of me, your pain will always be my pain. — Brodi Ashton

She's dating the school quarterback."
"People date all the time. And they break up all the time."
"Not these two," Meredith said with a snort. "Their love is epic. Everyone at school knows it. He gave up his philandering ways to be with his longtime childhood bestie."
I finally glanced at her sideways. "They're in high school. High schoolers don't philander."
"Jack Caputo does. Or did. — Brodi Ashton

In the moment I faced dying, I finally knew my reason for living. — Brodi Ashton

Find somebody else to entertain you," I said.
"There is no one else."
I turned a page in my notebook and started writing again. "There's always someone else.You've been Feeding off Forfeits for hundreds of years. Get a new one."
"You don't give my job enough credit. It's really hard to convince a girl to follow me. The average pickup lines don't work so well. 'Hey,wanna get coffee? And then spend an eternity getting the life force sucked out of you?' They don't go for it. — Brodi Ashton

Great. There was no scenario in this whole damn thing where Jack didn't come off looking as awesome as the love child of Thor and Optimus Prime. — Brodi Ashton

Sometimes ... " He paused and squeezed his eyes shut. " Sometimes our hearts ... crack a little." -Jack — Brodi Ashton

What was the point of finding something worth living for if my life was no longer in my own hands? — Brodi Ashton

I'm taking the whole. Damn. Thing. Down. Are you with me? — Brodi Ashton

Cole - For the fifth labour what better treat than to sling giant chunks of dung — Brodi Ashton

If there is an afterlife, I want my soul intact. And then maybe I'll see you there.I smiled, somehow calm now that I was facing something inevitable. I was getting the good-bye I'd always wanted. - Nikki — Brodi Ashton

I come here for supplies.The cashier doesn't notice things.
Great.She just admitted she's a shoplifter. — Brodi Ashton

I tell him there'll be an army waiting for him, and your friend is only concerned with the color of their uniforms. What's this really about?"
Max shrugged. "A girl."
I glared at Max. "Dude. Shut up. — Brodi Ashton

I loved him, but I didn't know how to fix all of the things that were broken in our family. — Brodi Ashton

How are you still sane?"
"Who says I am? I only stopped asking myself the escape question when the walls started to answer me."
Shit. — Brodi Ashton

You know I have no power over the balance of the Everneath." He glanced at Jack. "Sorry,bro.Even with your biceps, we can't fight the force of nature. — Brodi Ashton

Stop thinking about it, Nik!"
"What?"
He grinned and shook his head. "You know what. You're looking at my hair like an addict at a crack carnival. Enough already."
" ... I know enough about you to know you won't stop until you get my hair; and at a risk of you taking my scalp with you, I'll go. — Brodi Ashton

I helped pull him up, although I doubted I was doing any of the actual work. Will was staring at me again. He turned away, toward Jack, and whisper-yelled, "I heard Nikki's back."
"Yep," Jack grunted as Will stumbled over the curb. "She is."
"How are you doin' with that news,little bro?"
Jack looked at me when he answered. "Better every day. — Brodi Ashton

In the dark, dank world of the Tunnels, I would call upon this memory. And there would be a flicker of candlelight. If only for a moment. I closed my eyes, as if my eyelids were the levers of a printing press, etching the fibers into my mind. Memories were outside Cole's reach. As long as I held them, memories were mine and mine alone. — Brodi Ashton