Charleigh notices that after their fight at the fish fry event, Alexander is even more interested in sex than usual. She also notices that Nellie seems to be in a better mood and suspects that Nellie must have met a new boy.

Jackson is at home on a Saturday night when he unexpectedly receives a call from Ethan. Ethan suggests that Jackson come to the farm for a drink, explaining that his wife and children are asleep.

Jackson rushes over and meets Ethan at the pond on the farm property. They playfully swim in the pond together, and Ethan kisses Jackson. The kissing turns to caressing and oral sex. Afterwards, elated, Jackson stops at the dive bar where he and Ethan first met. Ginny, the bartender, surmises that Jackson has been with Ethan. She is happy for him but cautions him to be careful.

On Sunday, the day after Ethan’s encounter with Jackson, Jane and her family gather for a religious service, accompanied by Luke. They are also celebrating her 18th birthday. She is delighted that Luke is visiting but is still concealing her romantic relationship with him. When Luke arrived, her father explained that he was going to stay for the summer to help with the woodworking and grow his skills. Jane thinks back to how she immediately began sneaking into Luke’s room at night so the two could fool around.

After she brought Luke to the party with the other teens, she noticed him spending time with Nellie. Jane was not too upset because she trusts Luke, but she later cautions him that Nellie is strange and has been mean to her.

Nellie shows up at the swimming hole. Luke, Jane, Dustin, and Blair are already there. Julia is also there, but not swimming. Nellie immediately begins competing with the other girls for Luke’s attention. She is furious when Blair unties her bikini top, and it comes off, revealing a scar on Nellie’s breast. Blair claims the scar is from breast augmentation surgery, upsetting Nellie further, as the scar is actually from an injury she sustained while hunting with her father.

Nellie takes off, but Luke pursues her and comforts her. They get into Luke’s car and smoke a joint; impulsively, Nellie kisses him and is hurt when he pulls away. Luke awkwardly explains that he is secretly dating someone. Nellie guesses that it must be Jane, but he denies it. She suspects that he must be dating Blair and secretly resolves to win him for herself.

Charleigh is having drinks with a friend at the club when she notices a flyer advertising an event at Abigail’s farm. The event is an opportunity to learn more about Abigail’s oils and products. Charleigh is offended to learn that some of her friends are going, drawn by Abigail’s promises that her products can keep their sexual and romantic lives vibrant.

After coming home from the swimming hole, Jane is increasingly irritated by Luke’s interest in Nellie and frustrated that they must keep their relationship secret. When she confronted him afterwards, Luke insisted that he wasn’t interested in anyone except her.

Jane is also angry because of a confrontation with her mother. Abigail accused Jane of behaving inappropriately and slapped her after Julia reported that Jane was swimming topless. Jane accused her mother of being overprotective because she, Abigail, got pregnant as a teenager. Jane is increasingly resentful of both her mother and sister.

Charleigh notices that Nellie seems much happier than usual. She questions her daughter, and Nellie admits that she has a crush on Luke, explaining that he lives with the Swift family. Charleigh becomes concerned because she doesn’t want to become any more intertwined with the Swift family. Nellie is defensive, explaining that she suspects Luke is dating Blair but vows, “I’m gonna work on him because he’s, like, everything I’ve ever wanted. I have to have him” (239).

Charleigh explains to Jackson that she wants to attend Abigail’s event at the farm; she wants to use it as an excuse to learn more about Luke. She invites him to come with her, and he agrees because he wants an excuse to possibly see Ethan. When they arrive at the farm, they are startled to see quite a crowd there.

Charleigh can barely contain her irritation as she watches Abigail talk about potions, oils, and crystals. When Ethan walks by, the women who are gathered openly gape at him with lust.

Jackson slips away to talk with Ethan, and Charleigh goes to find Luke. She approaches him, introduces herself, and suggests that he take Nellie on a date. Luke politely explains that he has a girlfriend and Charleigh makes him promise not to tell anyone about the conversation. When Ethan and Jackson approach, she hastily drags Jackson away.

On the drive home, Jackson worries about whether Charleigh could have picked up on the sexual tension between himself and Ethan. Ethan had whispered to him that he wants to meet up as soon as possible. Charleigh explains that Luke has a girlfriend, but that she is still hopeful he will become interested in Nellie. She suspects he is dating Blair and intends to find a way to break them up so that he will be available to date Nellie.

As Ethan instructed, Jackson phones the farm, but Abigail picks up. He passes off the call as being related to referring clients for the furniture business.

When Ethan never returns the call, Jackson drives to the farm and walks to the pond, hoping to run into Ethan there. From a distance, he sees a couple having sex on the dock: He gets closer and realizes it is Abigail and Alexander, Charleigh’s husband. Shocked, Jackson slips away without being seen.

Charleigh calls Jackson and tells him she wants to host a lavish Fourth of July party at her home, even though the holiday is only a few days away. She explains that it will be a good opportunity for Luke to see why it would be advantageous to date Nellie. To ensure that the Swifts (including Luke) attend the party, she wants Jackson to encourage Ethan to think she is considering commissioning furniture.

As the party approaches, Jackson agonizes over whether to tell Charleigh about what he saw. He hasn’t had the opportunity to talk to Ethan, although Abigail readily agreed to attend the party when he called to invite the family. Secretly, Jackson wonders if the affair would spell the end of Abigail and Ethan’s marriage, creating an opportunity for the two of them to be together.

The night before the Fourth of July party, Jane is both resentful and intrigued. When Abigail brought up the party to Ethan, she indicated they should go, since there is a chance that Charleigh might commission some lucrative furniture projects. Ethan agreed and encouraged Luke to help with winning over the Andersen family. This made Jane nervous, since she feared it would bring Luke and Nellie closer together. Ethan and Abigail also decide that Julia needs to stay home and take care of the youngest child, which leaves Julia angry.

An hour before the party, Nellie sets up a secret spot in the woods on the edge of her family’s property. She plans to bring Luke there during the party.

As the guests begin to arrive, Jackson concedes that the setup for the party looks beautiful. He hopes to find a way to be alone with Ethan and tell him what he saw.

Nellie finds Luke talking with her parents. They are both very warm towards him and slip away, leaving the two of them alone. Nellie invites him to go out to the woods with her; Luke explains he needs to spend some time helping Ethan talk to prospective clients, but he will meet her in an hour. She gives him instructions about where to go.

As the party unfolds, Charleigh feels satisfied and proud. She is convinced the party will persuade Luke to break up with Blair and date Nellie instead.

Jackson watches the party, frustrated that he can’t find an opportunity to be alone with Ethan. Since Jackson has noticed Abigail and Alexander openly flirting, it is increasingly urgent to tell Ethan what is going on.

It is almost time to meet Luke in the woods. Nellie slips into her house for a minute and hears strange sounds. She finds her father and Abigail Swift having sex. Before Nellie can slip away, Abigail catches sight of her and seems smug, “like she’s telling me she’s on top, she’s won this” (294).

Jackson sees Nellie storming out of the house, visibly upset. He approaches her, asking if she’s okay. Nellie is rude to him and runs off.

Nellie walks through the woods, trying to process what she saw. She blames Abigail, and by extension, Jane, but she also feels protective of Luke.

Charleigh catches sight of Nellie in tears and is immediately worried about what has happened. Then she sees Luke and Blair walking out of the woods together and infers that Luke and Blair have been hooking up.

Jane is getting ready to leave the party when she also sees Luke and Blair staggering out of the woods, disheveled and giggling. She is furious with Blair.

After seeing Nellie upset, Jackson goes into the house. He sees Alexander and Abigail and considers confronting the former. Instead, he finds Ethan and insists on the two of them walking into the woods together.

Jackson tells Ethan about seeing Abigail and Alexander together. He is surprised by how upset and angry Ethan becomes. Jackson tries to explain that he thought Ethan might want to pursue a relationship, even though he acknowledges the danger of being “out” as a gay man. Ethan becomes very angry and threatens to kill Jackson if he ever tells anyone what happened between them.

The unnamed narrator reveals that the corpse is still not sinking. Panicking, the narrator goes in search of someone who can help them.