Thirteen years earlier, Percy packs for Barry’s Bay while Delilah warns her not to let Sam hurt her again. Percy insists Sam is not a loser and reflects on the year since Sam ended their almost-romance, a year in which Percy threw herself into swimming and writing and officially started dating Mason. When Percy arrives at the cottage, she immediately notices tension between Sam and Charlie. That night, Sam gives Percy a thoughtful set of books, reads her latest story in front of her, and asks about Mason. Percy cannot name much that she loves about Mason beyond the fact that Mason wants her, which reveals that Percy still has unresolved feelings for Sam.

The strain worsens during a late-night skinny-dip after work. Charlie, clearly trying to provoke Sam, crudely suggests that Percy join him and Anita and then reveals that Sam told him enough about the previous summer to understand Percy had feelings for Sam. Percy feels exposed and humiliated, because Sam’s private rejection has now become a joke between other people. Sam apologizes and tries to comfort Percy in the lake, holding her and admitting that Percy is driving him crazy, but Percy stops the moment because Sam’s physical desire conflicts with his insistence that they remain only friends.

The next day, Percy angrily tells Sam that his actions do not match his words and that she has spent a year pretending their history never happened because that is what Sam wanted. Sam first asks whether they can go back to normal, but later he comes to Percy’s cottage in the rain to correct himself. In Percy’s bedroom, Sam admits he did want Percy all along and still does. Sam explains that he tried to wait because he thought they should focus on school and protect their friendship, but Percy, afraid of being hurt again and unwilling to betray Mason, tells Sam he must respect that she has a boyfriend.

When Mason, Delilah, and Patel arrive for the holiday weekend, Percy hopes seeing Sam and Mason together will make her feelings less overwhelming. Instead, the visit intensifies everything. Delilah quickly spots the chemistry between Percy and Sam, Sam pointedly praises Percy’s writing and reminds Mason how deeply he knows her, and Mason responds by becoming publicly possessive and sexual with Percy. Sam leaves early, and afterward he grows more reserved. Percy realizes that the emotional distance she asked for is not actually what she wants, and by the end of the summer she breaks up with Mason over the phone.

On Percy’s last day before returning to the city, she and Sam read together on Sam’s bed in their bathing suits. Percy deliberately teases Sam while he studies anatomy, and Sam finally drops his restraint, turning the lesson into flirtation and then touch. He slowly explores Percy’s body, asks permission at each step, kisses her, and tells her he wants to touch her. When Sam asks, “Are we doing this?” Percy says yes. The chapter ends with Percy and Sam finally acting on the desire they have both spent the year denying.