The Obsession

Kevin Banner visits Xander at his garage apartment to discuss Xander’s growing interest in Naomi. That night, Naomi experiences a terrifying nightmare about her father’s crimes, with Tag providing comfort as she awakens in panic. Naomi gradually begins participating in community life, and she bakes a strawberry torte to bring to Sunday dinner at Jenny and Kevin’s home.

During the dinner, Jenny and Naomi form a deeper connection as they agree to barter Jenny’s furniture refinishing skills for Naomi’s photography. The evening takes a playful turn when Xander initiates a water fight, thoroughly soaking Naomi, who surprises herself by enjoying the friendly chaos. After dinner, Xander invites Naomi to have dinner at his place on Wednesday, and despite her usual wariness, she accepts.

To escape the renovation noise at her house, Naomi hikes through a national forest with Tag, who accidentally knocks her down when a small beagle frightens him. Kevin checks her injuries and reminds her about her dinner date with Xander. At Xander’s apartment that evening, Naomi discovers an extensive and impressive wall of books. As they talk, she tells him about the time she punched an abusive former boss.

During dinner, Naomi’s gaze falls on a book titled Blood in the Ground: The Legacy of