Summary

A “routine” (63) emerges in Cam’s life in which he cooks for Fern and Jake, drinks excessively, and has sex with random men. Kai’s ghost asserts there is a “cost” (66) to Cam’s promiscuity.

One morning, Diego confesses to Cam that he has been struggling with bullies. He asks Cam not to tell Fern or Jake about this. Fern tells Jake and Cam that the bar’s landlord will be raising the rent. Jake refers to news as a “fucking apocalypse” (75).

Cam accuses TJ of living “like you have something to hide” (77). They discuss TJ’s on-and-off boyfriend, Ian, who is engaged to a woman. At dinner, TJ notices Cam’s fraught relationship with food. TJ suggests that Cam “should talk to someone… And I can help you with that, if you want” (83).

Cam recalls an argument in which Kai told him...