Chapters 36-40: Summary
As tensions escalate, Jacob and Briana's carefully constructed facade begins to crumble. Misunderstandings, anxiety, and unacknowledged feelings converge, leading to a breaking point that neither of them anticipates. The fallout forces them to confront their deepest fears and desires, setting the stage for a potential, but uncertain, future.
Chapter 36: Her Friend
Dr. Jacob Maddox anxiously awaits Dr. Briana Ortiz and her family for dinner, fixating on Briana's introduction of him to her old friend Levi as just her "friend." This seemingly innocuous word sends Jacob spiraling, questioning the nature of their relationship and Briana's intentions. When Briana arrives with her mother, Rosa, and brother, Benny Ortiz, Rosa's enthusiastic embrace and explicit comments about their sex life only amplify the awkwardness.
Alone for a moment, Jacob feels the ache of their performative relationship, "starved" for genuine affection. He confronts Briana about introducing him as her friend, which she dismisses as a "Freudian slip." She then asks his opinion on telling Levi the truth about their fake relationship, sending Jacob into silent panic as he interprets it as her signaling her availability. The theme of Communication and Misunderstanding emerges as Jacob's internal turmoil remains invisible to Briana.
Chapter 37: Enculado
From Briana's perspective, the drive home is filled with her family's commentary. Benny observes that Jacob never kisses her, and Rosa declares that Jacob is enculado—completely whipped—and loves Briana far more than she loves him. Briana scoffs, believing the opposite is true, a clear instance of dramatic irony.
The conversation shifts to Levi, and Briana mentions plans for drinks. Rosa warns of Jacob's potential jealousy, but Briana dismisses it, certain he won't care because their relationship isn't real. She believes Jacob is not the type to get jealous or socialize with her friends, completely misreading his insecurities and feelings. The chapter ends somberly, with Briana reflecting, "Because this man wasn’t really mine."
Chapter 38: In This Economy?
Back at Jacob's house, the fragile intimacy of their arrangement intensifies his longing. As Briana texts Levi, the constant notifications trigger Jacob's escalating anxiety. He asks about her history with Levi, and she mentions her mother always thought they would marry. When she announces she's going to Levi's for drinks the following weekend, Jacob is consumed by the fear that she is going on a date.
The sound of her phone becomes unbearable. Unable to cope, Jacob abruptly ends their evening, and his Mental Health and Anxiety spirals out of control. He suffers nightmares, engages in compulsive behaviors, and exercises furiously. The next day, Briana's incessant texting continues, and by the time they arrive at his parents' house for the bachelor and bachelorette parties, Jacob is on the verge of a full-blown panic attack.
Chapter 39: Always You
The breaking point arrives when Amy and Jeremiah announce they are having a baby. For Jacob, this news is the final stressor. He mutters his escape phrase, "In this economy?" and flees to the basement, collapsing in hyperventilation. Briana follows and finds him in the throes of a severe panic attack. In a devastating misunderstanding, she assumes his breakdown is about losing Amy.
Overwhelmed by her own love and desperation, Briana climbs into his lap, wraps her arms around him, and repeatedly whispers, "I love you." Jacob clings to her, and the raw emotional intensity ignites. They kiss with frantic energy, and all boundaries dissolve. They have passionate sex, punctuated by Jacob's admission, "Always you…" As the intensity fades, reality crashes down on Briana. Convinced she was merely a distraction for Jacob's heartbreak over Amy, she pushes him away when interrupted by his sister, Jewel. She tells a stunned Jacob that what they did was a mistake and locks herself in the bathroom.
Chapter 40: Whiplashed
Jacob is left in a state of emotional whiplash, unable to reconcile Briana's declaration of love and their passionate encounter with her sudden rejection. He tries to talk to her through the bathroom door, but she tells him to leave for the bachelor party. Realizing he is in no state to go, Jacob tells Jeremiah he had a panic attack and is having problems with Briana, abandoning all pretense.
He calls an Uber and goes home, finding her air mattress deflated—a symbol of their arrangement collapsing. His mind races, questioning whether he misheard her confession. Unable to find clarity, he turns to his established coping mechanism: he sits down to journal, attempting to process the chaos before Briana returns.
Key Events
- Briana introduces Jacob as her "friend" to Levi, triggering Jacob's anxiety.
- Briana's family dinner amplifies the awkwardness of their fake relationship.
- Briana's texting with Levi causes Jacob's anxiety to spiral.
- Amy and Jeremiah announce their pregnancy.
- Jacob suffers a severe panic attack, which Briana misinterprets.
- Briana confesses her love for Jacob.
- They have passionate sex.
- Briana immediately regrets it and calls the encounter a "mistake."
- Jacob leaves the party and finds Briana's air mattress deflated.
Character Development
- Dr. Jacob Maddox: Jacob's anxiety unravels, leading to a full-blown panic attack. He prioritizes his mental health and feelings for Briana over social expectations.
- Dr. Briana Ortiz: Briana confronts the depth of her love for Jacob, but her past trauma causes her to project her fears, sabotaging their connection.
- Rosa Ortiz: Rosa serves as an external voice of truth, correctly identifying Jacob's deep love for Briana.
Themes & Symbols
Themes
- Communication and Misunderstanding: The emotional climax is built on a catastrophic misunderstanding, highlighting the consequences of failing to communicate true feelings.
- Mental Health and Anxiety: Jacob's anxiety is portrayed as a debilitating condition, demonstrating how stressors can accumulate and lead to a crisis.
- Healing and Second Chances: Briana's past trauma resurfaces, causing her to reject Jacob and sabotaging her chance at happiness.
Symbols
- The Deflated Air Mattress: Symbolizes the collapse of their fake relationship and living arrangement.
Key Quotes
"Always you…"
Jacob's gravelly admission during their passionate encounter reveals the depth of his feelings for Briana, even amidst his panic and confusion. This moment underscores that, despite the chaos, his heart belongs to her.
"Because this man wasn’t really mine."
Briana's somber reflection at the end of Chapter 37 encapsulates her deep-seated insecurity and fear that her relationship with Jacob is not genuine. This quote highlights her emotional vulnerability and sets the stage for her later actions.
Significance
These chapters mark the novel's primary turning point and emotional climax, shattering the safe confines of the fake-dating arrangement. The combination of Jacob's panic attack, Briana's confession, their passionate encounter, and her immediate regret dismantles the status quo and forces both characters into a crisis.
Analysis
Abby Jimenez uses dramatic irony and alternating points of view to build tension. The climax is a subversion of romance tropes, with the first sexual encounter driven by desperation and miscommunication rather than pure love. Briana's confession is intended as comfort, while Jacob hears it as validation. The aftermath underscores the novel's exploration of how past trauma shapes present relationships. Jacob's journaling shows his commitment to healthy coping mechanisms.