The Do-Over

“Why would I wait for fate to lend a hand, when I had two perfectly capable hands of my own?”

Emilie’s assertion here against fate underscores her belief in absolute control over her life and the events that transpire. Her perspective in this quote reveals her initial reluctance to embrace uncertainty or relinquish control. Her focus on personal agency suggests an over-reliance on self-control, which paradoxically blinds her to unforeseen opportunities or more authentic experiences. Emilie’s insistence on doubting fate over the capabilities of her hands exemplifies her penchant for excessive planning.

“I missed Nick Stark’s oversized jacket as I walked down the empty hallway. I’d been frozen solid since the minute I’d handed it back to him in the parking lot. I knew Josh wouldn’t have anything that utilitarian in his locker—his light-knit navy cardigan was as warm as it’d get—but I was so cold that I’d probably swing by to pick it up.”

Emilie wishing for Nick’s oversized jacket over Josh’s cardigan contrasts the emotional and physical sense of comfort she experiences with each character. Nick’s jacket is comfortable to Emilie in a way she admits Josh’s staple cardigans could never be. This comparison foreshadows Nick’s role as someone who provides greater authenticity and emotional warmth toward Emilie, contrasting with Josh, who fails to provide what Emilie truly seeks in a relationship—evidenced here by his cardigan’s shortcomings.

“It was the day where it was all supposed to happen for me. For once, instead of sadly commemorating the anniversary of my family splitting off into two separate units, I was supposed to feel the rush and say the words. I’d done my homework, I’d found the perfect guy, and today had been earmarked for love.”

The way Emilie talks about her love for Josh is logical and methodical. She refers to their relationship growth as “doing her homework” and implies that the feeling of love she embraces going into Valentine’s Day means they are “earmarked” for love. By framing this step in her relationship as a checklist item, Painter implies that Emilie does not truly love Josh.