Just for the Summer

Feeling better, Justin and Emma play with Nerf guns they find in the cottage’s storage closet. When Justin mentions leaving, Emma becomes upset, and Justin asks what they’re doing. Emma realizes she’s terrified of staying because it means “making friends, growing roots” (297). She knows she’ll fall in love with the place, with Justin, and with his family—and never before has she allowed herself to get attached to these things because her childhood with Amber trained her not to. Justin begs Emma to stay, and Emma admits to herself that her metaphorical island is too lonely. Emma and Justin have sex. Emma cries when she realizes that, even though all her cracks have not yet healed, she’s falling in love with Justin.

Maddy returns home to find Emma and Justin cuddling in bed. She ran into Neil and Amber at the airport and caught a ride on Neil’s yacht. A storm is coming, so Neil offers Justin a ride back to his car. Justin is disappointed with Emma’s stiffness and assertion that she needs space. Justin gathers his dog and siblings and returns home.