First Lie Wins

Content Warning: This section of the guide refers to misogyny, gambling, substance dependency, and terminal cancer.

Evie Porter is on the verge of moving in with her boyfriend of two months, Ryan. She struggles through a dinner party attended by Ryan’s female friends. Evie is uncomfortable with the friends’ lines of questions, one of which has Evie admitting that she met Ryan when he helped her change a flat tire. Evie reveals to the reader that she gave herself the flat in order to attract Ryan. After the guests leave, Ryan tells Evie that he feels the introduction to his friends went well, but Evie knows the women will only want to know more about her in the future. This prospect makes her uncomfortable.

Evie schedules movers to come to her apartment on Thursday. This annoys Ryan because he has a mysterious work engagement on Thursdays that will keep him from helping. Evie arrives at her apartment, which is entirely empty. The movers arrive. Evie unpacks some of the boxes to make it look like she’s been living in the apartment and is now preparing to leave.