Chapter 23

Allie and Dean arrive at a Manhattan club with Beau and Joanna, using Dean’s “Heyward” name for VIP access. In conversation, Joanna needles Beau about Sabrina, prompting Dean to reveal a sophomore-year scandal: he unknowingly benefited from a TA he was sleeping with, received inflated grades, and was later exposed by classmate Sabrina. Dean’s attempt to accept an F was rebuffed due to his father’s connection, leaving him with a B+ and resentment toward unearned privilege.

Allie invites her high school best friend Dillon and Dillon’s linebacker boyfriend, Roy, to join them. The group bonds quickly, and Dean is physically affectionate with Allie, drawing Beau’s teasing. Dean takes Allie to dance, using his “STAG” move, and the whole group spends hours on the floor. As Joanna departs for rehearsal and Dillon and Roy leave when Dillon gets tipsy, Beau becomes increasingly drunk.

Concerned about strict parents at Beau’s home, Allie and Dean decide to bring him to Dean’s Heyward Plaza penthouse to sleep it off. Inside the opulent space, Beau crashes, and Dean surprises Allie by cueing up season two of her favorite French soap, Solange, which he had the concierge source.

While watching, Dean’s casual touching escalates to a discreet sexual encounter on the couch as Beau dozes nearby. Allie climaxes, but Beau reveals he’s awake and jokingly proposes a threesome. Allie firmly refuses, and Dean playfully bids Beau good night, ending the scene with boundaries clearly set.