„NEANDERTHAL SEEKS HUMAN” de Penny Reid

Penny Reid este una din scriitoarele mele favorite.
Nu numai că îmi place stilul ei de scriere dar o apreciez pentru personajele ei feminine care nu  se încadrează în standardele de frumusețe actuale dar sunt deștepte.

Doar după ce i-am citit „Neanderthal seeks human”, am aflat că Penny a scris-o ca urmare a un pariu dintre ea și o colegă de-a ei (Penny era pe atunci, înainte să devină scriitoare cu acte în regulă, biomedical researcher). Și asta doar ca să-i demonstreze colegei din laborator că poate să scrie povești de dragoste excitante.

Pasajul ales de mine, este declarația de dragoste (super realistă) dintre Janie și Quinn. 

„- I’m afraid that we’re moving too fast and that this is just infatuation.

– I don’t know what this is.
He breathed in as though he was going to continue, but then he paused. Finally, his words deliberate and cautiously crafted, Quinn said,
– I think about you all the time. And I can’t guarantee that this isn’t infatuation because sometimes I think it has to be. But… I don’t think of you as perfect.

– Oh… ok.
My eyelashes blinked in rapid succession, and my brain started compiling the list of all my imperfections.
– Is it because of my height? My seepage of trivial facts? My granny panties?

– No, listen. That’s not… If this was just infatuation, then I would, we would become disillusioned at some point, yes?

I nodded, and I was sure it was unconvincing.

– I don’t have misconceptions that you’re flawless. And you don’t have any illusions about me.
I know that life, in general, terrifies you; I know that you are frequently oblivious to the obvious, and I know that you are completely irrational at times.
And all that drives me crazy. You drive me crazy.
But, in spite of how totally nuts you are, I wouldn’t change anything about you.

I pressed my lips together and started biting the inside of my cheek. I bravely met his pointed stare. 
– You think I’m totally nuts?

He nodded and sighed.
– Yes. And I… can’t stop thinking about you. Janie…

I sighed.
– Yes

– What are you thinking?

His voice was a whisper, his breath against my cheek. My eyes fluttered open and I licked my lips, wanting his mouth on mine, driven to mad honesty. 
– I love you.
I sensed rather that saw his self-satisfied smile.

– Good.”

Kindle, 2015