Dr. Briana Ortiz and Dr. Jacob Maddox find themselves in an unexpectedly intimate situation when a sudden breeze traps them in Jacob's room at the bed-and-breakfast. As they navigate the close quarters and undeniable attraction, both characters experience profound realizations about their feelings for each other, setting the stage for a complicated and passionate relationship. These chapters mark a significant turning point, as their carefully constructed facade begins to crumble under the weight of genuine emotion.
Chapter 31: Briana
A rogue breeze slams Jacob's room door shut, trapping Briana and Jacob inside. Briana, feigning claustrophobia, secretly panics at the thought of sharing a bed with Jacob. While Jacob calmly assesses the situation, Briana frantically calls Alexis for help, confessing her fear of succumbing to her attraction. Alexis, amused, dubs it Briana’s “‘Only One Bed’ scene.”
Forced into close proximity, Briana and Jacob attempt to distract themselves with get-to-know-you questions. Briana challenges Jacob to share his phone’s search history, expecting him to refuse. To her surprise, Jacob readily agrees, explaining he has nothing to hide. This act of transparency deeply contrasts with her secretive ex-husband. In return, she offers him her phone and password. Jacob's search history reveals his endearing nature: research for their trip, raccoon socks for Alexis’s son, and searches for a new sofa that he wants her help picking out. While looking through his phone, Briana has a profound realization: she is unequivocally in love with him. The chapter concludes with Jacob, his anxiety lessened by Briana's presence, suggesting they share a bottle of bourbon.
Chapter 32: Jacob
Jacob and Briana sit by the fire, drinking bourbon and playing a drinking game. A very drunk Briana confesses her "diabolical secret": after discovering her husband’s affair, she covered their house in glitter and committed acts of petty sabotage. Jacob, charmed rather than horrified, finds her actions justified and endearing. This intimate exchange deepens their connection, leading to more personal revelations. Jacob admits he was initially struck speechless by her beauty and once endured a rainstorm just to continue talking to her on the phone.
As they talk, Jacob has his own life-altering realization, mirroring Briana’s: he is already in love with her. He describes her as a "catastrophic life event," someone who has fundamentally changed him. Overwhelmed, he touches her cheek. Briana, sensing a shift, asks him what this "quiet" means. He replies, "This one's you." In her drunken state, Briana curls up against him and whispers, "I love you," before falling asleep. Heartbroken that she won't remember and may not mean it, Jacob holds her until the fire dies down and then carries her to bed.
Chapter 33: Briana
Briana wakes up with a hangover, a hazy memory of the previous night, and the startling sensation of Jacob’s erection against her thigh. Mortified, she flees the now-unlocked room. At breakfast, she can't decipher Jacob's quiet gaze and worries she revealed too much. The drive home is filled with thoughts of Jacob and her intense attraction to him. She acknowledges her feelings are strong enough to end a marriage, giving her a painful new perspective on her ex-husband's affair. She arrives home to find her mother has flown in from Arizona to care for her and Benny Ortiz before the transplant. Her mother’s loving but overbearing presence immediately fills the house with chaos.
That night, Briana and Jacob discuss maintaining their "living together" lie with her mother in town. Jacob suggests they tell their families he is Benny's kidney donor. After the call, they linger on the line in silence, acknowledging their deep connection. Realizing the lie is too complicated, Briana tells her mother and Benny that Jacob is Benny’s donor and that she is moving in with him that night. Benny is stunned, and her mother begins packing food for Jacob. Briana admits she is "deeply in love" with Jacob for reasons beyond his gift to their family.
Chapter 34: Jacob
Briana arrives at Jacob's house with her luggage, announcing she's moving in for a few months. Jacob is overjoyed, immediately making space for her. His happiness wanes when she reveals her plan to sleep on an air mattress in the living room. As she inflates it, his sister Jewel knocks on the door. In a panic, Briana tries to hide the bulky mattress, creating a comical path of destruction. To cover the mess, they claim they were having wild sex, a lie Jewel readily believes.
They quickly settle into a comfortable domestic routine. They carpool, shop for a sofa, and spend a weekend at his cabin. At work, their fake relationship amuses their colleagues. Jacob sends Briana flowers after a silly argument and confides in Dr. Zander Reese that his feelings for her are real, admitting that she already turned him down once. The theme of Communication and Misunderstanding is highlighted when their coworker Hector tells Jacob that another man is "making a move" on Briana in a patient room. A surge of jealousy, an unfamiliar feeling, propels Jacob to investigate.
Chapter 35: Briana
From Briana's perspective, living with Jacob is a dream. His home is a sanctuary, and his thoughtful habits make her fall for him even more. She loves their shared life, despite the air mattress. At the hospital, she is delighted when the patient asking for her turns out to be Levi, a childhood friend. They reconnect, discussing their divorces and planning to get drinks.
Jacob interrupts them, claiming he needs a consult. His behavior is slightly odd and possessive, as he lingers before reminding Briana about their dinner plans. After he leaves, Levi comments that Jacob seemed jealous. Briana laughs it off, convinced that Jacob would not feel jealousy for her, especially since their relationship is fake. This moment is steeped in dramatic irony, as the reader knows Jacob's jealousy is real, highlighting the gap between their public performance and their private, uncommunicated feelings.
Key Events
- Briana and Jacob are accidentally locked in his room overnight.
- They exchange phone passwords, revealing their inner worlds.
- Briana and Jacob independently realize they are in love.
- Drunk Briana tells Jacob she loves him, but falls asleep before he can respond.
- Briana's mother arrives, complicating their fake dating arrangement.
- Briana moves in with Jacob to maintain their cover story.
- Briana reveals to her family that Jacob is Benny's kidney donor.
- Jacob experiences jealousy for the first time.
Character Development
- Dr. Briana Ortiz: Briana's attraction evolves into a conscious love for Jacob. His vulnerability breaks down her walls, and she becomes more honest with herself about her feelings.
- From guarded to open: She shares her phone password and admits her feelings to her family.
- From independent to reliant: She finds comfort and sanctuary in Jacob's home.
- Dr. Jacob Maddox: Jacob's affection deepens into profound love, recognizing Briana as transformative. His willingness to share his phone demonstrates his honesty. He experiences jealousy for the first time.
- From reserved to expressive: He admits his feelings to Zander and acts on his jealousy.
- From solitary to domestic: He embraces the routine of living with Briana.
- Benny Ortiz: Benny is grateful for Jacob's donation and protective of Briana, questioning her motives for moving in with Jacob.
Themes & Symbols
- Healing and Second Chances: Jacob’s transparency contrasts with Briana's ex-husband's secrecy, offering her a vision of a healthy, trusting partnership. His openness heals the wounds of her past betrayal.
- Communication and Misunderstanding: Despite honest confessions, a critical misunderstanding persists: both are in love, but neither knows the other feels the same way. Briana misinterprets Jacob's jealousy, highlighting how their fake-dating prevents accurate interpretation.
- Mental Health and Anxiety: Jacob's social anxiety diminishes in Briana's presence, allowing him to be his true self. Her presence provides calm and stability.
- Symbol: The Phone Password: The phone symbolizes one's private life. By sharing his password, Jacob offers unrestricted access to his inner world, symbolizing trust and vulnerability.
Significance
These chapters represent the emotional climax and turning point of the novel. The "forced proximity" accelerates their relationship, pushing them into deep emotional intimacy. The dual realizations of love shift the story's central conflict. The question is no longer if they will develop feelings, but how they will navigate their fake-relationship and external obstacles. Briana's decision to move in with Jacob raises the stakes and makes their eventual "breakup" more painful.
Analysis
Abby Jimenez uses classic romance tropes—"forced proximity" and "only one bed"—as catalysts for character revelations. The dual perspectives in Chapters 31 and 32 create dramatic irony, investing the reader in their emotional journey.
The phone password exchange symbolizes trust, contrasting with the physical lock that traps them. While the antique door represents an external force, the digital access is a conscious choice, signifying a meaningful connection. Jacob's jealousy adds complexity, intensifying the romantic conflict.