The Fall Risk

Seth keeps his shirt on in the pool, but Charlotte has to restrain herself from kissing him. She asks him to peel her orange, and he does. Seth tells her about Gabe and Izzy, and she sees Gabe as “clearing hurdles he doesn’t even know exist […]” (59). Seth wonders aloud about the “hurdles” that prevent him from being with Charlotte, but she doesn’t tell him she fears they are far too high.

Izzy calls and tells Charlotte that one of her neighbors posted a video of them on the landing, and her address is visible in the video. Charlotte races inside, and Seth goes to the neighbor to ask them to take down the video. Charlotte laments being exhausted from having to hide and not being free to live an everyday life. Seth returns, and his shirt is wet from the pool. When he removes it, she sees his chiseled abs and has to gather herself. She says she wishes the stairs wouldn’t return so they could freeze time. Seth knows she isn’t ready to date, but he asks her to consider staying and not running.