chapter seventeen

A few days after sharing Twizzlers at the movies, Jeremiah announces he will teach Belly to drive stick on his day off. Steven warns against it and reminds Jeremiah of their plan to hit the driving range, but Jeremiah chooses Belly, leaving Steven annoyed and a little hurt.

On a quiet back road, they practice with Jeremiah’s old Nevermind CD playing. Their lesson turns playful as they debate what boys like and revisit Jeremiah’s brief history with Taylor. The teasing shifts to first kisses: Jeremiah admits Belly was his best, and Belly reveals he was her first. Jeremiah confesses his own first kiss with Christi Turnduck and makes Belly pinky-promise to keep it secret.

After two hours, Belly starts to get the hang of driving, stalling less and feeling capable. They return home to find Steven gone, likely to the driving range alone.

Upstairs, Susannah and Laurel are watching old movies in the darkened bedroom. Belly pauses, feeling excluded from their effortless, lifelong friendship, then climbs into bed between them. Drawn into their warmth, she feels grateful to Jeremiah for believing in her, newly confident about driving, and comforted by the intimate, family-like closeness.