--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pigeon,” he said, panting, “it doesn’t…" description: "\"“Pigeon,” he said, panting, “it doesn’t have to be tonight. I’ll wait until you’re ready.”\" — Jamie McGuire" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caf/jamie-mcguire-215_panting_pigeon-he-said-panting-it-doesn-t-have-t_3114097.png" --- # Pigeon,” he said, panting, “it doesn’t have to be tonight… ![“Pigeon,” he said, panting, “it doesn’t have to be tonight. I’ll wait until you’re ready.” quote by Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caf/jamie-mcguire-215_panting_pigeon-he-said-panting-it-doesn-t-have-t_3114097.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caf/jamie-mcguire-215_panting_pigeon-he-said-panting-it-doesn-t-have-t_3114097.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caf/jamie-mcguire-215_panting_pigeon-he-said-panting-it-doesn-t-have-t_3114097.png) > ““Pigeon,” he said, panting, “it doesn’t have to be tonight. I’ll wait until you’re ready.”” [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Patience can be offered as a compassionate choice when someone isn’t ready for intimacy or commitment. **In simple terms:** Waiting shows care. Key Takeaway Offer time, not pressure. Themes patience compassion relationships Mood gentle hopeful Type advice romantic When to use this quote - romantic dating - friendship - conflict resolution Key Concepts emotional intelligence boundaries Questions to Reflect On - Are you respecting their pace or avoiding your own needs? - How does patience affect trust? A Different Perspective If waiting becomes indefinite, it may stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Panting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/panting/) [Pigeon Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pigeon-said-1009818/) [Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ready/) [Said Panting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-panting-1137310/) [Wait Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wait-ready-377633/) ## Related quotes > [“Shit,” he said, panting and frustrated. “I got rid of them.” “What? All of them?” I breathed. “I thought you didn’t…if I wasn’t with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/shit-he-said-panting-and-frustrated-i-got-rid-of-them-what-all-of/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“There’s another of my favorite things about you,” I said in panting breaths. “What’s that?” Raine asked. “The way your little hand looks trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-savage/there-s-another-of-my-favorite-things-about-you-i-said-in-panting/) [Shay Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-savage/) > [“You probably have a lot of practice,” I said, panting as I snapped my hips against his face. “Is that why you’re so good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-erickson/you-probably-have-a-lot-of-practice-i-said-panting-as-i-snapped-my/) [Megan Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-erickson/) > [“That’s not true. I love you more than my life, Pigeon,” he said, hurt. “That’s exactly what I mean. That’s crazy talk.” “It’s not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/that-s-not-true-i-love-you-more-than-my-life-pigeon-he-said-hurt-that/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“I had never wanted to kiss a girl so much in my life. “Happy birthday, Pigeon,” I said, trying very hard not to press…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-had-never-wanted-to-kiss-a-girl-so-much-in-my-life-happy-birthday/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“ Abs ? What are you, a workout video?" he sneered. "Pigeon?" I said with the same amount of disdain. "An annoying bird that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/abs-what-are-you-a-workout-video-he-sneered-pigeon-i-said-with-the/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“My eyes filled with tears. “Get out.” “Pigeon,” he said, taking a step toward me. “Get OUT!” I said, grabbing the glass from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/my-eyes-filled-with-tears-get-out-pigeon-he-said-taking-a-step-toward/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“View, Pigeon,” he said, mumbling something inaudible before his breathing returned to slow and deep. I couldn’t help but watch him sleep; knowing he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/view-pigeon-he-said-mumbling-something-inaudible-before-his-breathing/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“I fucking love you!” He grabbed each side of my face, slamming his lips against mine. “I love you so much, Pigeon,” he said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-fucking-love-you-he-grabbed-each-side-of-my-face-slamming-his-lips/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“You like Pigeon,” he said defensively. “It’s a dove, an attractive girl, a winning card in poker, take your pick. You’re my Pigeon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/you-like-pigeon-he-said-defensively-it-s-a-dove-an-attractive-girl-a/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“Travis lifted me off the ground, twirling me around. “Happy birthday, Pigeon,” he said with a soft expression. I stared into his warm, brown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/travis-lifted-me-off-the-ground-twirling-me-around-happy-birthday/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“It's a terrible thing, I think, in life to wait until you're ready. I have this feeling now that actually no one is ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-laurie/it-s-a-terrible-thing-i-think-in-life-to-wait-until-you-re-ready-i/) [Hugh Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-laurie/) > [“Saer is a great big poop, and you shouldn't listen to anything he says," I said, panting just a little. "Obviously, he was trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-macalister/saer-is-a-great-big-poop-and-you-shouldn-t-listen-to-anything-he-says/) [Katie MacAlister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-macalister/) > [“That's good," Hunter said, panting. "Keep grinning at your attacker like that and they'll think you're way creepy. And mental." I grinned wider. "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyxandra-harvey/that-s-good-hunter-said-panting-keep-grinning-at-your-attacker-like/) [Alyxandra Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyxandra-harvey/) > [“Okay, if you have to go. I’m not sure what I’ll do with all these women around.” Jealousy spiked in me so fast and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/okay-if-you-have-to-go-i-m-not-sure-what-i-ll-do-with-all-these-women/) [Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/) ## More by Jamie McGuire > [“Really? I'm trying to place you. It seems like we've met before." Did I just issue him a pick up line? Fantastic, I've now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/really-i-m-trying-to-place-you-it-seems-like-we-ve-met-before-did-i/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“It doesn’t matter what or why it is. When it’s good, …it’s beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/it-doesn-t-matter-what-or-why-it-is-when-it-s-good-it-s-beautiful/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“With each step she took that brought her closer to where I stood, my heart pounded harder against my chest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/with-each-step-she-took-that-brought-her-closer-to-where-i-stood-my/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“Travis clenched his eyes shut, and a sinking feeling settled over me. It was agonizing seeing him suffer, knowing that not only was I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/travis-clenched-his-eyes-shut-and-a-sinking-feeling-settled-over-me/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“I know you deserve better than me. You think I don’t know that? But if there was any woman made for me … it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-know-you-deserve-better-than-me-you-think-i-don-t-know-that-but-if/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“I frowned. “I need her more than Jesus does.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-frowned-i-need-her-more-than-jesus-does/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“You just asked me to marry you," he said, still waiting for me to admit some kind of trickery. "I know." "That was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/you-just-asked-me-to-marry-you-he-said-still-waiting-for-me-to-admit/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“There's a girl, Dad." He smiled a bit. "A girl." "She kinda hates me, and I kinda..." "Love her?" "I don't know. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/there-s-a-girl-dad-he-smiled-a-bit-a-girl-she-kinda-hates-me-and-i/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“No, it’s a car. The love of my life will be a woman with my last name.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/no-it-s-a-car-the-love-of-my-life-will-be-a-woman-with-my-last-name/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“That morning, lying with the woman I loved, a silent promise was formed in my head. I was going to be a better man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/that-morning-lying-with-the-woman-i-loved-a-silent-promise-was-formed/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“I shut my eyes tight, trying to savor the moment. I knew I would wish for that moment back every day of my life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-shut-my-eyes-tight-trying-to-savor-the-moment-i-knew-i-would-wish/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“I clinked my bottle against his. “To being the only girl a guy with no standards doesn’t want to sleep with.” I said, taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-clinked-my-bottle-against-his-to-being-the-only-girl-a-guy-with-no/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“Can you believe how ridiculous they are? The girls here are shameless," America said. Finch shook his head in awe. "It's Travis. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/can-you-believe-how-ridiculous-they-are-the-girls-here-are-shameless/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“He exhaled with a deep, contented sigh, speaking in a hushed voice. “I love you, Abby. I’m going to make you happy, I swear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/he-exhaled-with-a-deep-contented-sigh-speaking-in-a-hushed-voice-i/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“My room was made up of strange, random things, but then, so was I.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/my-room-was-made-up-of-strange-random-things-but-then-so-was-i/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) [Explore all 854 Jamie McGuire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) ## More Panting quotes > [“Panting, he looked into a face he couldn't see. "What the fuck is your problem?" "I'm bored." With that, she head-butted him right in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/panting-he-looked-into-a-face-he-couldn-t-see-what-the-fuck-is-your/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“If we are not apt to steer our life and engineer our individuality, we become preys of the pecking order or panting cardboard characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/if-we-are-not-apt-to-steer-our-life-and-engineer-our-individuality-we/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [“The heat of late afternoon closed in around us like an animate thing; you could feel it on your skin, warm and moist, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/the-heat-of-late-afternoon-closed-in-around-us-like-an-animate-thing/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [“Panting like a marathon runner at mile twenty, overheated bloodhound, steam engine crawling up the Continental Divide.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-vickers/panting-like-a-marathon-runner-at-mile-twenty-overheated-bloodhound/) [Dennis Vickers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-vickers/) > [And panting Time toil'd after him in vain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/and-panting-time-toil-d-after-him-in-vain/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“Don’t give a fuck if you’re hot, wet and panting or pissed as hell, you’re sleepin’ by me, in my bed, at home.” said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/don-t-give-a-fuck-if-you-re-hot-wet-and-panting-or-pissed-as-hell-you/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [“You probably have a lot of practice,” I said, panting as I snapped my hips against his face. “Is that why you’re so good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-erickson/you-probably-have-a-lot-of-practice-i-said-panting-as-i-snapped-my/) [Megan Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-erickson/) > [“There we were, filled with pure animal need, as he pinned me to the wooden table, and cruelly whipped my naked bottom; the two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-thrust/there-we-were-filled-with-pure-animal-need-as-he-pinned-me-to-the/) [Fiona Thrust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-thrust/) > [Can I view thee panting, lying On thy stomach, without sighing; Can I unmoved see thee dying On a log Expiring frog!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/can-i-view-thee-panting-lying-on-thy-stomach-without-sighing-can-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“It was a few minutes before Helena could stop panting. She dared not read any further, or she’d crash through the connecting door and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-thomas/it-was-a-few-minutes-before-helena-could-stop-panting-she-dared-not/) [Sherry Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-thomas/) > [“Oh Ana!" he cries out loudly as he finds his release, holding me in place as he pours himself into me. He collapses, panting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/oh-ana-he-cries-out-loudly-as-he-finds-his-release-holding-me-in/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [Why do you need to fly so much?” she asked. “If I don’t, it’ll catch up with me.” The words just came out. “What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-oppel/why-do-you-need-to-fly-so-much-she-asked-if-i-don-t-it-ll-catch-up/) [Kenneth Oppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-oppel/) > [“I'm still thinking of you. Even though everything's messed up, I still want you by my side. I still want to be with you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-reed/i-m-still-thinking-of-you-even-though-everything-s-messed-up-i-still/) [J.C. Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-reed/) > [One night she hid the pink cotton scarf from her raincoat in the pillowcase when the nurse came around to lock up her drawers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/one-night-she-hid-the-pink-cotton-scarf-from-her-raincoat-in-the/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“I was panting slightly, thanks to trying to keep up with him. Stupid short legs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/i-was-panting-slightly-thanks-to-trying-to-keep-up-with-him-stupid/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) [Browse all 48 Panting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/panting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Pigeon,” he said, panting, “it doesn’t have to be tonight. 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