--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Rather than pulling away to walk back to…" description: "\"“Rather than pulling away to walk back to the counter, he brings both his hands to my face and holds me still while he looks at me in silence for sever..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82c/colleen-hoover-124_internal-struggle_rather-than-pulling-away-to-walk-back-to_2184785.jpg" --- # Rather than pulling away to walk back to the counter, he… ![“Rather than pulling away to walk back to the counter, he brings both his hands to my face and holds me still while he looks at me in silence for several seconds. His thumbs brush lightly across my jaw, and he releases a soft breath. His brows furrow, and his eyes close. He presses his forehead to…” quote by Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82c/colleen-hoover-124_internal-struggle_rather-than-pulling-away-to-walk-back-to_2184785.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82c/colleen-hoover-124_internal-struggle_rather-than-pulling-away-to-walk-back-to_2184785.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82c/colleen-hoover-124_internal-struggle_rather-than-pulling-away-to-walk-back-to_2184785.jpg) > ““Rather than pulling away to walk back to the counter, he brings both his hands to my face and holds me still while he looks at me in silence for several seconds. His thumbs brush lightly across my jaw, and he releases a soft breath. His brows furrow, and his eyes close. He presses his forehead to mine, still holding on to my face, and I can feel his internal struggle. “Tate.” He says my name so quietly I can feel his regret in the words he hasn’t even spoken yet. “I like…” He opens his eyes and looks at me. “I like kissing you, Tate.” I don’t know why that sentence seemed hard for him to say, but his voice trailed off toward the end as though he was attempting to stop himself from finishing his words. As soon as the sentence leaves his mouth, he releases me and quickly steps around the partition as if he’s trying to escape from his own confession. I like kissing you, Tate.”” [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A moment of intimacy reveals deep emotional conflict and unspoken regret in a romantic confession. **In simple terms:** A kiss shows hidden struggle and regret. Key Takeaway Acknowledge and communicate feelings honestly. Themes love conflict communication regret intimacy Mood tender anxious reflective Type romantic emotional When to use this quote - romantic confession - relationship tension - personal growth Key Concepts psychology emotional intimacy vulnerability Questions to Reflect On - What fears keep you from fully expressing love? - How can you create safe space for honest confession? A Different Perspective His hesitation shows fear of vulnerability and possible past hurt. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaze/) [Holding Face](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holding-face-1462995/) [Internal struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internal-struggle/) [Kissing Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kissing-tate-4734696/) [Struggle Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle-tate-4734697/) [Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tate/) [Tate Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tate-says-4421594/) ## Related quotes > [“I’m attracted to you, Tate,” he says, his voice low. “I want you, but I want you without any of that other stuff.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/i-m-attracted-to-you-tate-he-says-his-voice-low-i-want-you-but-i-want/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Holding my face with his hands, fingers buried deep in my hair, he stares down at me in the darkness. “It’s always been you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-towle/holding-my-face-with-his-hands-fingers-buried-deep-in-my-hair-he/) [Samantha Towle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-towle/) > [Sandro's holding is face. You can tell from that it's a knee injury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dion-dublin/sandro-s-holding-is-face-you-can-tell-from-that-it-s-a-knee-injury/) [Dion Dublin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dion-dublin/) > [“You're making this really hard for me," he said quietly, holding my face in his hands. "So maybe you should give in." "I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-d-davis/you-re-making-this-really-hard-for-me-he-said-quietly-holding-my-face/) [L.D. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-d-davis/) > [“If being with Tate for a few short months can make that pain bearable enough for you to answer with maybe, imagine what a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/if-being-with-tate-for-a-few-short-months-can-make-that-pain-bearable/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“It's love in general I don't want, Tate. Ever. It's you specifically that I just...want.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/it-s-love-in-general-i-don-t-want-tate-ever-it-s-you-specifically/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Tate : i dont know if i can do this Miles. i dont know if i can follow rule number two, because i suddenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/tate-i-dont-know-if-i-can-do-this-miles-i-dont-know-if-i-can-follow/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“The pain will always be there. So will the fear. But the pain and fear are no longer my life. They're only moments.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/the-pain-will-always-be-there-so-will-the-fear-but-the-pain-and-fear/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Love isn’t always pretty, Tate. Sometimes you spend all your time hoping it’ll eventually be something different. Something better. Then, before you know it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/love-isn-t-always-pretty-tate-sometimes-you-spend-all-your-time/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“As soon as he comes into view, I lose the war. The war I didn't even know I was fighting. It doesn't happen often,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/as-soon-as-he-comes-into-view-i-lose-the-war-the-war-i-didn-t-even/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“It’s been six years, Tate. Believe me when I tell you . . . I’m ready.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/it-s-been-six-years-tate-believe-me-when-i-tell-you-i-m-ready/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Sometimes not speaking says more than all the words in the world. Sometimes my silence is saying, I don't know how to speak to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/sometimes-not-speaking-says-more-than-all-the-words-in-the-world/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Tate: What do you think would make a man never want to experience love again? Cap: I suppose if a man lived through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/tate-what-do-you-think-would-make-a-man-never-want-to-experience-love/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Listen, Tate. I want your mess. I want your clothes on my bedroom floor. I want your toothbrush in my bathroom. I want your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/listen-tate-i-want-your-mess-i-want-your-clothes-on-my-bedroom-floor/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Tate lays her head on my arm, and we both watch her. Our daughter. I love you so much, Sam. I’m looking down at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/tate-lays-her-head-on-my-arm-and-we-both-watch-her-our-daughter-i/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) ## More by Colleen Hoover > [Please don't allow anyone to make you feel less than what you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/please-don-t-allow-anyone-to-make-you-feel-less-than-what-you-are/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Some people they grow wiser as they grow older. Unfortunately, most people just grow older.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/some-people-they-grow-wiser-as-they-grow-older-unfortunately-most/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“You can't get mad at a real ending. Some of them are ugly. It's the fake happily ever afters that should piss you off.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/you-can-t-get-mad-at-a-real-ending-some-of-them-are-ugly-it-s-the/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“I’ve been looking for you my whole damn life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/i-ve-been-looking-for-you-my-whole-damn-life/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“I tilt my head and look at him. He's watching me, but I can't tell what his face is trying to convey. If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/i-tilt-my-head-and-look-at-him-he-s-watching-me-but-i-can-t-tell-what/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [Love and hate, despite their polar opposites, are both feelings that are induced by passion. I can handle that. It's the indifference I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/love-and-hate-despite-their-polar-opposites-are-both-feelings-that/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“We'll either come to a mutual understanding of one another, or he's going to kill me and chop me up into tiny pieces and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/we-ll-either-come-to-a-mutual-understanding-of-one-another-or-he-s/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“We kiss until the alarm sounds off on my phone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/we-kiss-until-the-alarm-sounds-off-on-my-phone/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“The sky is always beautiful. Even when it's dark or rainy or cloudy, it's still beautiful to look at. It's my favourite thing because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/the-sky-is-always-beautiful-even-when-it-s-dark-or-rainy-or-cloudy-it/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Ridge: Oh, and btw, I didn't write that on your forehead. What? I run to the dresser and look in the mirror for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/ridge-oh-and-btw-i-didn-t-write-that-on-your-forehead-what-i-run-to/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“I feel like my maybe someday just became my right now .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/i-feel-like-my-maybe-someday-just-became-my-right-now/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“That's all I need," I say. "Well...I need the lamp. And the astray. And the remote control. And the paddleball game. And you, Dean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/that-s-all-i-need-i-say-well-i-need-the-lamp-and-the-astray-and-the/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Because if you've never felt anything when someone's kissed you, then no one's ever really kissed you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/because-if-you-ve-never-felt-anything-when-someone-s-kissed-you-then/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Tate lays her head on my arm, and we both watch her. Our daughter. I love you so much, Sam. I’m looking down at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/tate-lays-her-head-on-my-arm-and-we-both-watch-her-our-daughter-i/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“I have been entertaining the idea, Sky. Believe me. It’s just a huge step that can’t be undone once it’s taken.” “What if it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/i-have-been-entertaining-the-idea-sky-believe-me-it-s-just-a-huge/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) [Explore all 1,065 Colleen Hoover quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) ## More Gaze quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [“Taylor said a prayer for the man, and apologized out loud. Knowing there was nothing left to do, she turned to leave. As she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/taylor-said-a-prayer-for-the-man-and-apologized-out-loud-knowing/) [J.T. 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His brows furrow, and his eyes close. He presses his forehead to mine, still holding on to my face, and I can feel his internal struggle. “Tate.” He says my name so quietly I can feel his regret in the words he hasn’t even spoken yet. “I like…” He opens his eyes and looks at me. “I like kissing you, Tate.” I don’t know why that sentence seemed hard for him to say, but his voice trailed off toward the end as though he was attempting to stop himself from finishing his words. As soon as the sentence leaves his mouth, he releases me and quickly steps around the partition as if he’s trying to escape from his own confession. I like kissing you, Tate.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Colleen Hoover" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/rather-than-pulling-away-to-walk-back-to-the-counter-he-brings-both/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Gaze" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/rather-than-pulling-away-to-walk-back-to-the-counter-he-brings-both/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82c/colleen-hoover-124_internal-struggle_rather-than-pulling-away-to-walk-back-to_2184785.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82c/colleen-hoover-124_internal-struggle_rather-than-pulling-away-to-walk-back-to_2184785.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82c/colleen-hoover-124_internal-struggle_rather-than-pulling-away-to-walk-back-to_2184785.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Rather than pulling away to walk back to the counter, he brings both his hands to my face and holds me still…” — Colleen Hoover", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Colleen Hoover", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Rather than pulling away to walk...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/rather-than-pulling-away-to-walk-back-to-the-counter-he-brings-both/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/rather-than-pulling-away-to-walk-back-to-the-counter-he-brings-both/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```