Darlin' Quotes

“I work for the DEA, Miss Kingsley.”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“Momma stares at me, and for the first time in a long time, I genuinely think she sees me. With a tight smile of resolve, she turns to my daddy and says, “John… call your lawyer. It appears we need to keep a baboon out of jail.”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“Marlow picks up on my apprehension and drops her hand, tone softening, "Sav, the man rode his bike nonstop from California to Alabama to see you." She pauses, tilting her head. "He used fucking glitter for you." She smiles. "Glitter.”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“I hear my name being chanted at the back of the venue. I narrow my eyes, following the husky hoots and hollers until my gaze lands on a sea of leather vests and plaid bandanas. Oh, my Lanta... A sparkly hot pink sign that reads Princess for President is hoisted in the air, and the arms holding it are attached to none other than the Vice-President of one of America's most notorious biker gangs.”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“I did not in a million years think we'd see our boy again.” She sniffles, looking back at Beau. “Satan’s graffiti be damned, I am so glad you’re home.”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“Maybe I ain't a nice girl anymore, momma," I grunt. "Maybe I'm a bad girl. A super bad girl. Maybe I eat processed sugar and drink beer now!" "Take it back!" she snarls. "You take that back!”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“I'd personally prefer to work with Prozac Blondie than Zombie Blondie tonight, okay?”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“Your new...acquaintances," Miguel begins, "they're not good people, Savannah. Their partnership with Los Caballero has resulted in the deaths of many people, and my team is on the precipice of shutting down The Sons for good.”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“You think that I am a member of El Cartel de Los Caballero," he notes quietly. "And while that may be true, it is not all I am." Fear rips through my veins as he reaches into his pocket and hands me a business card. With a thumping heart, I take the card, my vision blurring as I stare at the logo for the Department of Justice. "I work for the DEA, Miss Kingsley." "DEA..." This can't be happening. He's a federal agent? An undercover federal agent? "Mr."—I swallow, throat drying as I read the card—"Ramos...I don't⁠—”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“So you're in school?" Miguel asks as we work on our hamstrings. "Almost done," I say. "I've got one semester left. Starts in September." "What are you taking?" he asks. I roll my eyes. “General Arts. I know, right? Everyone says it’s a useless degree. But my momma said it doesn't matter what I major in 'cause I'm never gonna have to work, so why choose a hard one." Miguel frowns. "Why won't you need to work?" I snort. "Cause us Kingsley women aren't workers, Miguel. We're potential wives. At least that's what I've been told since I was five.”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“What about my safety? He's cartel, Jesse! What if he kidnaps me?" "He's not going to kidnap you. And if he does, you're just annoying enough that he might willingly set you free after a few days," Jesse says, tone low and sour.”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“When I was little, my mom would always drill it into my head that no story worth telling ever came without a set of hurdles." He chuckles to himself, boyish and innocent. "She'd always say, 'Make mistakes, Jesse, or else you'll be forgotten.'" "That must have been nice," I whisper, stones upon stones of weight stacking up on my shoulders. "I was raised to avoid mistakes. I remember one time my momma made me stay at the gym for like three days or something ridiculous like that before a pageant. Couldn't go home until I perfected my routine." I let out an incredulous scoff. "She wouldn't even give me dinner. Almonds and electrolytes. That's all I needed.”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“Whatever," Marlow says as we stop just outside the bar. "Creeps be creeping.”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“I peer over my shoulder and toss him a sassy wink. "I already have a daddy, darlin'." "Yeah," he calls out as I waltz out of the room. "Me." He wishes.”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“This was just sex...right?" Jesse looks at me, dazed and satisfied. "What else would it be?" He licks his dry lips, grinning slightly. "You're still annoying as fuck." He gently slaps my thigh. "But equally sexy.”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“We..." Jesse releases another long breath. "We're so doing that again.”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“His kiss is rough and sloppy and hard, and ho-ly crap, I'm on freaking fire. "It's going to be on my fucking cock." I might need to be rebaptized after this.”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“All of this started when that momma of three introduced me to smut. And now, all I can think about is Jesse's hands all over my body, doing things that would surely ban me from the church.”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“And everyone knows that prolonged eye contact often leads to prolonged heartbreak and other devastating results.”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“I always do things I shouldn't do." He smirks, powering down as he slowly backs away. I collapse on the bed, staring at him with a dumbfounded expression. "If you know me as well as you think you do..." Jesse flicks his tongue seductively across his thumb. Oh my. "You should know that." He grins at my flushed face, satisfied with his handy work. "Keep the leather, babe. I'm starting to like it.”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“You're about as charming as a tick on a ballsack." Jesse blinks, and I make a threatening pinching motion with my fingertips. "Chomp chomp.”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“Beau tenses up. "I'd take a bullet over 'Bama any day of the week.”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“I remember the night Beau ran away. The memory is so vivid, so clear, so painstakingly unforgettable. That night we watched him cross the stage and receive his diploma. We were all so proud. Daddy was the proudest. They awarded his son a full-ride scholarship to the University of Alabama, his own alma mater. Roll Tide! It's all we've ever heard. Beau went to a grad party that night. I dropped him off. It was the last time we hugged. That morning, he was gone.”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“What do you mean found me?" My brother blinks, a frown marring his forehead. "You knew where I was, Savannah." "What?" I sniffle, taken aback. "No...no, I didn't." "Yes, you did," he says, certain. "Momma said she told you." "Momma?" I drop my hand, stomach bubbling with fury. "You've talked to momma?" Beau squints, confused. "Yes⁠—" "When?" I seethe through my teeth. "As soon as I left.”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“like I tell my kids, start off in the deep end, and you'll learn to swim much faster." "Excellent advice, Pip," Marlow snorts, rolling down her window and lighting a smoke. "You're really setting those kids up for a lifetime of success. No, I don't want to smoke that joint, but can I get a line? Nice. Can't wait to visit them in rehab.”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“But Beau wasn't dealt a bad hand," I say, defensive. "He was born into a good family, not a broken family." "Right..." Marlow's face falls as my words sucker punch her in the throat. "And yet we somehow ended up in the same place. Rescued by the same people." She swallows, tone laced with restraint. "Maybe your definition of broken isn't the same as Beau's.”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“I don't know why he'd choose this life," I murmur. "He had so much potential. He could've done anything, and he decided to do this? I don't get it, Marlow, I really don't." "Sometimes, it's not our job to understand," she says. "Sometimes, it's just our job to support.”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“And you're...you're okay with that?" I ask meekly, mindlessly picking up and putting down books as we stroll. "The not knowing?" "I don't have a choice," Marlow says matter-of-factly. "I love him, and this is the life he chose, which means it's the life I'm choosing too.”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“What..." I clear my throat, treading lightly. "What was she like?" Jesse snorts. "She was a handful." He gives me a softened side-eye. "Always had to be right, never took no for an answer, and couldn't cook for shit." "My type of woman." I smile, stroking Jesse's arm in comfort. "I think I would've liked her plenty.”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'

“Andy perks up a brow and glances over at Marlow's table. "Sure Pippa doesn't want a diet coke?" I glower at her. “What's that supposed to mean?" "Come on, Savvy.” Andy chuckles in a heinous tone. "Even you're not that stupid." My jaw locks as I seethe out, “Regular coke is fine. And I don’t think it’s your place to comment on what other people eat or drink. You’re a bartender, Andrea, not a nutritionist.” She rolls her eyes. "Whatever.”
― E.L. Lewis, Darlin'