Summary

Sam and Ben met up in Friday Harbor. Ben invited Sam out for lunch, because she guessed “he wanted to sleep together” (170). She did not like when he “acted almost like a boyfriend,” as she “had enough to deal with” (171). They chatted for a bit about the bear and Madeline, and went to buy bear spray together. Sam could not afford it, and Ben did not offer to buy it for her. He also hesitated when she asked to borrow money. She knew he was better off than her. He also knew her mom was sick, although she had not shared all the details. Feeling annoyed, Sam started an argument. Ben insisted that she was overreacting, but Sam said they had “wasted enough time together” already (179).

Home was tense that night. Already annoyed with Ben, Sam felt even more irritated by Elena’s...