Cocky Earl Quotes

“when, as we grow older, we discover their imperfections.” “You loved your father.” She stated the obvious. “Tell me one of his imperfections.” “I can’t.” He stiffened. When he went to draw away his hand, she refused to release him. “But he had them.” Charley watched what seemed to be a battle of emotions in his expressions. “You just said that we still love them even knowing they aren’t perfect.” “I cannot dishonor him.” His voice came out gravelly. “Not after precipitating his death.” “Does it dishonor a person to embrace their humanness?” Charley thought about her parents. She had been quite unforgiving where her mother was concerned. Had she merely convinced herself that her mother didn’t love her? “Forgive me.” She was no one to offer any sort of advice. “I’ve forgotten why I brought you out here.” His features softened. “You didn’t come to dinner.” She could hardly tell him that she missed him. Silly, really. Only… He was not at all the person she’d initially taken him to be. Something squeezed her heart at the realization. He was not her enemy. In fact, she was coming to… care for him. As a friend, perhaps? More than a friend? He used his thumb to draw small circles on the back of her hand, making her feel like her limbs had been filled with a warm heavy syrup. “Did you miss me?” His question echoed her own misguided thoughts. “It is fake.” But somehow, she was losing her conviction. “Why do you persist with that?” He tilted his head. “You are courting me so that you can honor the wager you made with my father.” She inhaled a deep breath. “Not because you want to court me.” Her words finally seemed to penetrate his understanding. He nodded but then blinked and shook his head. “No.” A tiny wrinkle appeared between his eyes. “I’m courting you because I want to.” Amazement underscored his words. “But why?”
― Annabelle Anders, Cocky Earl

“she shivered at the outline of his—”
― Annabelle Anders, Cocky Earl