Chapter 20
Contains spoilersOverview
Scottie panics after an intense make-out during the sensual exercise and calls her friend Denise from a pay phone to process her unexpected attraction to Wilder. At cocktail hour, Sanders assigns Scottie and Wilder a risqué Q&A drinking game that turns flirty and explicit, exposing mutual desire and Scottie’s fear of attachment. Wilder pushes for acknowledgment that the kiss meant something; Scottie deflects, hurting Wilder, and he leaves the table frustrated.
Summary
Shaken by how deeply she felt their make-out during the earlier exercise, Scottie rushes to the main building and begs a counselor for a quarter to use the red pay phone. She calls her friend Denise, breathlessly confessing that the kiss with Wilder was intense and physically arousing, and that she is unexpectedly “crushing” on him. Denise encourages Scottie to allow herself to explore the attraction, noting even Mika wouldn’t mind, but the call drops as Scottie admits she’s afraid of getting attached and then being hurt.
Scottie composes herself and rejoins Wilder by the lake. Wilder tries to open a conversation about the kiss meaning something, but Sanders calls them to cocktail hour. Sanders praises them as the “hottest couple” and seats them at a table with food, strong rum cocktails, and a custom card game where each answered question requires a drink.
The Q&A turns sexual immediately. Scottie admits her fantasy is climaxing while a partner is inside her, which Wilder pointedly blames her ex Matt for not fulfilling. When asked his porn preference, Wilder says he likes sensual, authentic scenes. He confronts Scottie for acting like their kiss meant nothing and says he “felt that…through [his] entire…body.” The questions escalate: Scottie describes how she masturbates; Wilder says he prefers being loud and wants his partner coming on his cock.
Wilder answers that he’d like Scottie in “no” underwear and vividly describes an office-tease scenario culminating in spanking and sex, revealing he has a genital piercing. Scottie is flustered; Sanders briefly checks in, amused by their charged dynamic. Wilder keeps needling Scottie for a genuine reaction, tugging his lip ring and asking where she likes to be kissed; when she evasively says “cheek,” he suggests she prefers oral sex.
The exchange exposes the core tension: Wilder admits he’s being provocative to draw out Scottie after she minimized their kiss, while Scottie retorts that he refused a public fondling earlier. Pressed, Scottie deflects with “maybe it was nothing,” which visibly hurts Wilder. He asks if she truly felt nothing; she backpedals but cannot give a clear affirmation, and Wilder leaves, saying he needs the bathroom, frustrated and stung.
Who Appears
- Scottie Price
narrator; panics over her attraction to Wilder, confides in Denise, flirts during the Q&A but downplays the kiss, which hurts Wilder.
- Wilder
Scottie’s fake husband; wants acknowledgment the kiss mattered, engages in explicit Q&A, reveals a genital piercing, grows frustrated when Scottie minimizes their connection and leaves the table.
- Sanders Martin
counselor and Ellison’s husband; hosts cocktail hour, assigns the sexual Q&A game, observes their chemistry.
- Denise
Scottie’s friend (new); advises Scottie to explore her crush and reassures her about Mika’s stance before the call drops.
- Camp counselor/receptionist
unnamed (new); gives Scottie a quarter for the pay phone.