Jules avoids Josh for the next two days, focusing all her attention on Bridget’s wedding festivities. Before the ceremony, she shares a moment with Bridget, Stella, and Ava, both happy and saddened by their growing up. During the televised royal ceremony, she avoids looking at Josh, but ultimately can’t help doing so. They share an intense stare before she forces herself to look away, “before [her] face broadcast to the world what [she] wasn’t ready to admit [herself]” (270).

Josh is desperate to apologize to Jules for crossing boundaries, but he personally wants more. During the wedding reception, Jules avoids Josh’s advances, and he’s overcome with jealousy when she flirts with Asher Donovan, a professional soccer player. Josh pulls Jules aside to apologize for trying to influence her and Ava’s friendship, and admits he’s “tired of pretending [their] arrangement hadn’t evolved into something that couldn’t be constrained by rules” (277). She panics and suggests they date other people. Josh disagrees, unable to bear the thought of sharing her with anyone else.

Four days after the wedding, Jules is in her office at LHAC worrying about how to respond to Josh’s confession. She’s worried he’ll leave her if he learns about her past.