The Summer I Turned Pretty, #3
We'll Always Have Summer
by Jenny Han
Contents
Chapter Thirty
Overview
Belly avoids Conrad to escape judgment, but practical interactions around food and the house soften their tension. Light teasing and shared groceries evolve into an easy domestic rhythm, contrasting Conrad’s steadiness with Jeremiah’s messiness. The quiet closeness hints at shifting feelings as the wedding looms.
Summary
In Cousins, Belly deliberately keeps her distance from Conrad to avoid hearing more doubts about her wedding plans. She observes Conrad from afar as he keeps busy with surfing, friends, and house repairs, surprising her with how capable and industrious he is.
A chance morning encounter over a Pop-Tart leads to brief friction and then a détente: Conrad makes clear that whatever he buys, Belly can eat, and Belly reciprocates. The next day Belly tries his cereal and fruit, and she notes Conrad’s reliability and neatness, contrasting it with Jeremiah’s habitual messiness.
Motivated to prove she eats healthily, Belly cooks spaghetti and salad for dinner. Conrad does not return in time to eat with her, so she leaves him a plate and goes to bed.
By morning, the food is gone and the dish washed, signaling a quiet, considerate routine forming between them. The domestic ease suggests growing comfort and a subtle rekindling of connection despite Belly’s engagement to Jeremiah.
Who Appears
- BellyNarrator; avoids Conrad’s judgment, manages the house, cooks dinner, notes contrasts with Jeremiah.
- Conrad FisherBusy and capable housemate; sets sharing boundaries, keeps things tidy, and quietly reciprocates Belly’s gestures.