--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know.” He leaned in and brushed his…" description: "\"“I know.” He leaned in and brushed his knuckles across her cheek. “And you can try and pretend it’s okay. That you’re strong and tough and you don’t ne..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/jaci-burton-2081_burton_i-know-he-leaned-in-and-brushed-his-knuc_1491173.jpg" --- # I know.” He leaned in and brushed his knuckles across her… ![“I know.” He leaned in and brushed his knuckles across her cheek. “And you can try and pretend it’s okay. That you’re strong and tough and you don’t need anyone. That you didn’t need her. But that’s all bullshit. I know it, and you know it.” Savannah stared at Cole. “You’re so pushy. I told you my…” quote by Jaci Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/jaci-burton-2081_burton_i-know-he-leaned-in-and-brushed-his-knuc_1491173.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/jaci-burton-2081_burton_i-know-he-leaned-in-and-brushed-his-knuc_1491173.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/jaci-burton-2081_burton_i-know-he-leaned-in-and-brushed-his-knuc_1491173.jpg) > ““I know.” He leaned in and brushed his knuckles across her cheek. “And you can try and pretend it’s okay. That you’re strong and tough and you don’t need anyone. That you didn’t need her. But that’s all bullshit. I know it, and you know it.” Savannah stared at Cole. “You’re so pushy. I told you my story. Why can’t you leave it alone?” “Have you ever dealt with it?” She’d spent so many years holding it all inside. “I’m here right now, aren’t I? I obviously dealt with my past.” “I’m not talking about surviving it. Yeah, you survived it. But you haven’t let go of it.” He rubbed her arm. “What she did to you mattered. It wasn’t fair.” He was wrong. She was fine. It didn’t matter. She had always shown everyone how strong she was. “Show me how you feel, Peaches.” Her bottom lip trembled. She got up, walked to the window to look outside, staring at the darkness, not really seeing anything but the years falling away, stripping away the cool, confident woman she was now, revealing the scared little girl she once was. She’d vowed to never go back to that place, to never revisit those feelings again, yet here she stood. Cole wrapped his arms around her. She stiffened. “It’s okay to be vulnerable, Savannah, to let someone see you scared.” “I’m not scared. Not anymore.”” [Jaci Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaci-burton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character confronts another about hidden trauma, urging vulnerability and honesty, while the other resists acknowledging pain. **In simple terms:** Confronting hidden pain and encouraging openness. Key Takeaway Allow yourself to be seen, even when it feels unsafe. Themes vulnerability trauma relationships selfacceptance communication Mood anxious hopeful Type dialogue emotional When to use this quote - therapy sessions - conflict resolution - personal growth - relationship counseling Key Concepts psychology emotional intimacy defense mechanisms Questions to Reflect On - What are you protecting yourself from? - How might vulnerability change your relationship? A Different Perspective Denial can block healing and deepen isolation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burton/) [Confident woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confident-woman/) [Little girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-girl/) [Savannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/savannah/) [Win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win/) ## Related quotes > [“Yet she was so sweet. She wasn’t a hard-ass, wasn’t jaded after all that had been done to her. In bed, she was giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaci-burton/yet-she-was-so-sweet-she-wasn-t-a-hard-ass-wasn-t-jaded-after-all/) [Jaci Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaci-burton/) > [“She leaned against him, listening to his strong heartbeat as they cuddled together. Maybe he didn’t say all the right things, and maybe he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaci-burton/she-leaned-against-him-listening-to-his-strong-heartbeat-as-they/) [Jaci Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaci-burton/) > [I think it's okay to be vulnerable and ask for support when you need it. It's something more women have to do because it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goapele/i-think-it-s-okay-to-be-vulnerable-and-ask-for-support-when-you-need/) [Goapele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goapele/) > [Tim Burton - he's not exactly a subtle filmmaker. I mean that in a good way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-duffer/tim-burton-he-s-not-exactly-a-subtle-filmmaker-i-mean-that-in-a-good/) [Ross Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-duffer/) > [These last few years, working with Tim Burton, it's been the best time I've ever had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-d-zanuck/these-last-few-years-working-with-tim-burton-it-s-been-the-best-time/) [Richard D. Zanuck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-d-zanuck/) > [I've worked with Tim Burton five times, and it's just like being part of a family; life doesn't get much better than that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-lee/i-ve-worked-with-tim-burton-five-times-and-it-s-just-like-being-part/) [Christopher Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-lee/) > [Richard Burton is my number one idol. One, because we come from very similar backgrounds and two, because of his fantastic talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/richard-burton-is-my-number-one-idol-one-because-we-come-from-very/) [Aneurin Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-barnard/) > [“Burton’s misfortune was to be born where and when he was, in a city of scars and vice, in an age when the division…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/burton-s-misfortune-was-to-be-born-where-and-when-he-was-in-a-city-of/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [If we had to go live action, I'd hold out for Tim Burton to direct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-foglio/if-we-had-to-go-live-action-i-d-hold-out-for-tim-burton-to-direct/) [Phil Foglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-foglio/) > [Richard Burton is one of my heroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shand/richard-burton-is-one-of-my-heroes/) [Mark Shand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shand/) > [I want to be in a Tim Burton movie so bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilla-crawford/i-want-to-be-in-a-tim-burton-movie-so-bad/) [Lilla Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilla-crawford/) > [Whenever anybody asked me, 'Who is your number one director to work with?' I would always say Tim Burton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-purnell/whenever-anybody-asked-me-who-is-your-number-one-director-to-work/) [Ella Purnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-purnell/) > [Richard Burton came from the same town as me, so I thought I'd follow my nose, and follow my luck. I think I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/richard-burton-came-from-the-same-town-as-me-so-i-thought-i-d-follow/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [Tim Burton, let's face it: he's into stitches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-asbury/tim-burton-let-s-face-it-he-s-into-stitches/) [Kelly Asbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-asbury/) > [I was a window dresser for Burton's once. What really put me off was the area manager coming round and saying, Charles, I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/i-was-a-window-dresser-for-burton-s-once-what-really-put-me-off-was/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) ## More by Jaci Burton > [“I'm an alcoholic, Tara.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaci-burton/i-m-an-alcoholic-tara/) [Jaci Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaci-burton/) > [“I think you should come home with me tonight and we can talk about it," she said "Ready when you are”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaci-burton/i-think-you-should-come-home-with-me-tonight-and-we-can-talk-about-it/) [Jaci Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaci-burton/) > [“Sometimes your world falls apart. And it’s okay for you to let people in and let them see you crumble”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaci-burton/sometimes-your-world-falls-apart-and-it-s-okay-for-you-to-let-people/) [Jaci Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaci-burton/) > [“But I'll still say it, as many times as you need to hear it-I'm sorry, Carolina.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaci-burton/but-i-ll-still-say-it-as-many-times-as-you-need-to-hear-it-i-m-sorry/) [Jaci Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaci-burton/) > [“She should have everything she wants.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaci-burton/she-should-have-everything-she-wants/) [Jaci Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaci-burton/) > [“You. Naked you. Clothed you. Your mouth. Your legs. The way you talk. Arguing with you. Your smile. Every fucking think about you turns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaci-burton/you-naked-you-clothed-you-your-mouth-your-legs-the-way-you-talk/) [Jaci Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaci-burton/) > [“I want to marry you, Jenna. And marriage means a partnership. A partnership means we take the good and the bad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaci-burton/i-want-to-marry-you-jenna-and-marriage-means-a-partnership-a/) [Jaci Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaci-burton/) > [“And I'll try harder to always tell you what I'm feeling.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaci-burton/and-i-ll-try-harder-to-always-tell-you-what-i-m-feeling/) [Jaci Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaci-burton/) > [“She threw her hands in the air. “Of course I was tense. You were kissing and touching me and I was turned on like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaci-burton/she-threw-her-hands-in-the-air-of-course-i-was-tense-you-were-kissing/) [Jaci Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaci-burton/) > [“I love you. I've missed you. I've been so stupid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaci-burton/i-love-you-i-ve-missed-you-i-ve-been-so-stupid/) [Jaci Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaci-burton/) > [“I love you, Savannah.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaci-burton/i-love-you-savannah/) [Jaci Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaci-burton/) > [“She was like his favorite candy - hard on the outside but a soft surprise on the inside.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaci-burton/she-was-like-his-favorite-candy-hard-on-the-outside-but-a-soft/) [Jaci Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaci-burton/) > [“What the hell are you doing, Evelyn?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaci-burton/what-the-hell-are-you-doing-evelyn/) [Jaci Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaci-burton/) > [“It's in our genetics. It's why women are the master species. We give birth and we can walk in heels.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaci-burton/it-s-in-our-genetics-it-s-why-women-are-the-master-species-we-give/) [Jaci Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaci-burton/) > [“A toast to great sex and a man who knows what to do with his cock.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaci-burton/a-toast-to-great-sex-and-a-man-who-knows-what-to-do-with-his-cock/) [Jaci Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaci-burton/) [Explore all 184 Jaci Burton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaci-burton/) ## More Burton quotes > [I was a window dresser for Burton's once. What really put me off was the area manager coming round and saying, Charles, I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/i-was-a-window-dresser-for-burton-s-once-what-really-put-me-off-was/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [Tim Burton - he's not exactly a subtle filmmaker. I mean that in a good way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-duffer/tim-burton-he-s-not-exactly-a-subtle-filmmaker-i-mean-that-in-a-good/) [Ross Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-duffer/) > [Tim Burton, let's face it: he's into stitches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-asbury/tim-burton-let-s-face-it-he-s-into-stitches/) [Kelly Asbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-asbury/) > [Richard Burton came from the same town as me, so I thought I'd follow my nose, and follow my luck. I think I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/richard-burton-came-from-the-same-town-as-me-so-i-thought-i-d-follow/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [Whenever anybody asked me, 'Who is your number one director to work with?' I would always say Tim Burton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-purnell/whenever-anybody-asked-me-who-is-your-number-one-director-to-work/) [Ella Purnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-purnell/) > [I want to be in a Tim Burton movie so bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilla-crawford/i-want-to-be-in-a-tim-burton-movie-so-bad/) [Lilla Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilla-crawford/) > [“She leaned against him, listening to his strong heartbeat as they cuddled together. Maybe he didn’t say all the right things, and maybe he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaci-burton/she-leaned-against-him-listening-to-his-strong-heartbeat-as-they/) [Jaci Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaci-burton/) > [Richard Burton is one of my heroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shand/richard-burton-is-one-of-my-heroes/) [Mark Shand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shand/) > [If we had to go live action, I'd hold out for Tim Burton to direct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-foglio/if-we-had-to-go-live-action-i-d-hold-out-for-tim-burton-to-direct/) [Phil Foglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-foglio/) > [“Burton’s misfortune was to be born where and when he was, in a city of scars and vice, in an age when the division…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/burton-s-misfortune-was-to-be-born-where-and-when-he-was-in-a-city-of/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [Richard Burton is my number one idol. One, because we come from very similar backgrounds and two, because of his fantastic talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/richard-burton-is-my-number-one-idol-one-because-we-come-from-very/) [Aneurin Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-barnard/) > [I've worked with Tim Burton five times, and it's just like being part of a family; life doesn't get much better than that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-lee/i-ve-worked-with-tim-burton-five-times-and-it-s-just-like-being-part/) [Christopher Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-lee/) > [These last few years, working with Tim Burton, it's been the best time I've ever had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-d-zanuck/these-last-few-years-working-with-tim-burton-it-s-been-the-best-time/) [Richard D. Zanuck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-d-zanuck/) > [I'm an enormous Tim Burton fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gilroy/i-m-an-enormous-tim-burton-fan/) [Dan Gilroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gilroy/) > [Years ago I met Richard Burton in Port Talbot, my home town, and afterwards he passed in his car with his wife, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/years-ago-i-met-richard-burton-in-port-talbot-my-home-town-and/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) [Browse all 21 Burton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burton/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I know.” He leaned in and brushed his knuckles across her cheek. “And you can try and pretend it’s okay. That you’re strong and tough and you don’t need anyone. That you didn’t need her. But that’s all bullshit. I know it, and you know it.” Savannah stared at Cole. “You’re so pushy. I told you my story. Why can’t you leave it alone?” “Have you ever dealt with it?” She’d spent so many years holding it all inside. “I’m here right now, aren’t I? I obviously dealt with my past.” “I’m not talking about surviving it. Yeah, you survived it. But you haven’t let go of it.” He rubbed her arm. “What she did to you mattered. It wasn’t fair.” He was wrong. She was fine. It didn’t matter. She had always shown everyone how strong she was. “Show me how you feel, Peaches.” Her bottom lip trembled. She got up, walked to the window to look outside, staring at the darkness, not really seeing anything but the years falling away, stripping away the cool, confident woman she was now, revealing the scared little girl she once was. She’d vowed to never go back to that place, to never revisit those feelings again, yet here she stood. Cole wrapped his arms around her. She stiffened. “It’s okay to be vulnerable, Savannah, to let someone see you scared.” “I’m not scared. Not anymore.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jaci Burton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaci-burton/i-know-he-leaned-in-and-brushed-his-knuckles-across-her-cheek-and-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Burton" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaci-burton/i-know-he-leaned-in-and-brushed-his-knuckles-across-her-cheek-and-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/jaci-burton-2081_burton_i-know-he-leaned-in-and-brushed-his-knuc_1491173.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/jaci-burton-2081_burton_i-know-he-leaned-in-and-brushed-his-knuc_1491173.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/jaci-burton-2081_burton_i-know-he-leaned-in-and-brushed-his-knuc_1491173.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I know.” He leaned in and brushed his knuckles across her cheek. “And you can try and pretend it’s okay…” — Jaci Burton", "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": "Jaci Burton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaci-burton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I know.” He leaned in and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaci-burton/i-know-he-leaned-in-and-brushed-his-knuckles-across-her-cheek-and-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaci-burton/i-know-he-leaned-in-and-brushed-his-knuckles-across-her-cheek-and-you/#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 } } ] } ```