Helen Hoang

But big life events change people, and the truth is I’m different now. I’m still figuring everything out

was an obsession waiting to happen

Stella sighed and shut her eyes. She didn’t care about being happy. All she wanted at the moment was to feel nothing.

I didn’t mean to pressure you. I just want you happy.”

Stella sighed and shut her eyes. She didn’t care about being happy. All she wanted at the moment was to feel nothing.

She didn’t know how to be semi-interested in something. She was either indifferent . . . or obsessed. And her obsessions weren’t passing things. They consumed her and became a part of her. She kept them close, wove them into her very life. Just like her work.

Shock gave way to rapid-fire, panic-scrambled thoughts. Grandchildren meant babies. And diapers. Mountains of diapers. Exploding diapers. And babies cried, soul-grating banshee wails that even the best sound-canceling headphones couldn’t buffer. How did they cry so long and hard when they were so little? Plus, babies meant husbands. Husbands meant boyfriends. Boyfriends meant dating. Dating meant sex. She shuddered

This girl was different

He hadn’t been this turned on in forever.

But she craved connection so much she hurt with it.

She’d looked at him like she saw no one else.