--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'll apologize,\" he said, \"for the poor…" description: "\"“I'll apologize,\" he said, \"for the poor timing. And the sorry lack of forethought in not making my interest known. But no' for kissin' you, Leilani. O..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6c/donna-kauffman-2275_baxter-dunne_i-ll-apologize-he-said-for-the-poor-timi_2084126.jpg" --- # I'll apologize," he said, "for the poor timing. And the… ![“I'll apologize," he said, "for the poor timing. And the sorry lack of forethought in not making my interest known. But no' for kissin' you, Leilani. Or, more t' the point, for wantin' to." He stopped, hearing the accent of his childhood creeping back into his words. He smiled broadly then, to…” quote by Donna Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6c/donna-kauffman-2275_baxter-dunne_i-ll-apologize-he-said-for-the-poor-timi_2084126.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6c/donna-kauffman-2275_baxter-dunne_i-ll-apologize-he-said-for-the-poor-timi_2084126.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6c/donna-kauffman-2275_baxter-dunne_i-ll-apologize-he-said-for-the-poor-timi_2084126.jpg) > ““I'll apologize," he said, "for the poor timing. And the sorry lack of forethought in not making my interest known. But no' for kissin' you, Leilani. Or, more t' the point, for wantin' to." He stopped, hearing the accent of his childhood creeping back into his words. He smiled broadly then, to cover how much that little backside had shaken him, knowing full well he was relying on his infamous rapscallion grin that had, from a very young age, gotten him out of countless scrapes and sticky situations. For a very long time, it had been the only thing he'd had going for him. Leilani would not likely be swayed... but it was a defense mechanism he couldn't override at the moment. "It wasn't exactly how I'd imagined it, but I promise you, I'm nothing if not diligent when trying to perfect something new. " She said nothing to that. Keeping the smile in place suddenly took quite a bit of work, so he turned and opened the door. "You imagined kissing me?" He jerked his gaze back to hers, his grin broadening further, without the least bit of calculation this time. "It's been the centerpiece of some of my very best daydreams." He wisely left unspoken the far more vivid ones he'd had at night.”” [Donna Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-kauffman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A nervous narrator uses humor and charm to mask insecurity while confronting romantic desire. **In simple terms:** He hides his anxiety with jokes while trying to kiss. Key Takeaway Be honest about feelings rather than relying on bravado. Themes romance insecurity humor vulnerability Mood nervous hopeful Type narrative conversational When to use this quote - first dates - confessions - awkward moments Key Concepts social dynamics courtship self‑presentation Questions to Reflect On - What does your “defense mechanism” reveal about you? - When is honesty more effective than humor? A Different Perspective Charm can’t fully conceal true emotions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-day/) [Charm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charm/) [Defense mechanism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense-mechanism/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [First kiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-kiss/) [Leilani-and-baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leilani-and-baxter/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Young age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-age/) ## Related quotes > [“He was very tall, with long arms and legs that would be gawky and awkward on anyone else, but were graceful and elegant on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-kauffman/he-was-very-tall-with-long-arms-and-legs-that-would-be-gawky-and/) [Donna Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-kauffman/) > [“A slow grin slid across his face, lighting his eyes with a very different, decidedly wicked glow. For the first time, she could honestly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-kauffman/a-slow-grin-slid-across-his-face-lighting-his-eyes-with-a-very/) [Donna Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-kauffman/) > [“Her breath caught in her chest and she couldn't seem to form words. 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I'll apologize when hell freezes over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-gibson/i-m-not-apologizing-to-anyone-i-ll-apologize-when-hell-freezes-over/) [Mel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-gibson/) > [What about a compromise? I’ll kill them first, and if it turns out they were friendly, I’ll apologize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/what-about-a-compromise-i-ll-kill-them-first-and-if-it-turns-out-they/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“Take them off," I order and without hesitation she removes them and drops them on the floor. She lifts her cami so I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-dominguez/take-them-off-i-order-and-without-hesitation-she-removes-them-and/) [Ella Dominguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-dominguez/) ## More by Donna Kauffman > [“She was every bit of everything he remembered about her, all at once and all at the same time. 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He smiled broadly then, to cover how much that little backside had shaken him, knowing full well he was relying on his infamous rapscallion grin that had, from a very young age, gotten him out of countless scrapes and sticky situations. For a very long time, it had been the only thing he'd had going for him. Leilani would not likely be swayed... but it was a defense mechanism he couldn't override at the moment. \"It wasn't exactly how I'd imagined it, but I promise you, I'm nothing if not diligent when trying to perfect something new. \" She said nothing to that. Keeping the smile in place suddenly took quite a bit of work, so he turned and opened the door. \"You imagined kissing me?\" He jerked his gaze back to hers, his grin broadening further, without the least bit of calculation this time. \"It's been the centerpiece of some of my very best daydreams.\" He wisely left unspoken the far more vivid ones he'd had at night.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Donna Kauffman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-kauffman/i-ll-apologize-he-said-for-the-poor-timing-and-the-sorry-lack-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Baxter-dunne" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-kauffman/i-ll-apologize-he-said-for-the-poor-timing-and-the-sorry-lack-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6c/donna-kauffman-2275_baxter-dunne_i-ll-apologize-he-said-for-the-poor-timi_2084126.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6c/donna-kauffman-2275_baxter-dunne_i-ll-apologize-he-said-for-the-poor-timi_2084126.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6c/donna-kauffman-2275_baxter-dunne_i-ll-apologize-he-said-for-the-poor-timi_2084126.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'll apologize,\" he said, \"for the poor timing. 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