Love is the central preoccupation of Magnolia Parks, but because the protagonists engage in sexual and romantic encounters with a variety of people, their interactions become increasingly complex and tangled. Within the context of the novel, love is portrayed as being inseparable from sexual attraction, and this dynamic becomes most apparent when Magnolia finds it impossible to have a purely platonic relationship with BJ. Part of the reason for her attachment, at least as she understands it, is that BJ was the first and, for a long time, the only person she had sex with. Although she engages in other kinds of sexual activity with Christian, Julian, and other boyfriends, her love for BJ prevents her from having intercourse with anyone else until her relationship with Tom matures to the point that she trusts him enough to show vulnerability with him. Likewise, BJ recognizes this vulnerability as a sign of Magnolia’s attachment to Tom and fears that she will choose Tom instead of him. He fears that at some point, Magnolia’s hurt and disappointment over his actions will eventually extinguish her love, while for his own part, BJ feels that his love for Magnolia is permanent.