Just for the Summer

Emma and Justin decompress on the yacht where Amber’s belongings are stored. Emma admits to not knowing how long her mother will stay in town, nor where she’s been living for the past few years. When she expresses her wish to always be told the truth because Amber has never been truthful, Justin promises to always tell Emma the truth and vice versa. Emma asks what Justin is thinking, and because he must tell her the truth, he rambles. He admits to liking her and wanting to kiss her, his worry about smelling sweaty, and his dislike for her mother who “is ignoring [Emma] for some guy she just met” (110). He also admires her philosophy of always choosing empathy, even if he can’t do the same with his own mother. When he requests Emma’s thoughts, she admits to feeling embarrassed over the fact that he’s noticed these details about her relationship with her mother and that she strangely likes the slightly sweaty smell of him.

Emma asks about Justin’s mother, but he changes the subject before he can get into their complicated dynamic. Justin asks about Emma’s past relationships, and she admits that nothing has ever been serious enough to continue when her assignment location changes.