"Your freckles are very nice," Henry said. Then, he seemed to realize the words that had just fallen out of his mouth, but it was too late to take them back. So he smiled. Because he meant it, and he could laugh it off, friendly and innocent, just as easily as he'd said it in the first place.

"Anyway, I can get away with being a smart ass much more than I can get away with being belligerent. I've very little stomach for an actual argument. I turn into putty."