The Summer I Turned Pretty, #3
We'll Always Have Summer
by Jenny Han
Contents
Chapter Forty-Nine
Overview
Conrad reels after confessing his love to Belly, fantasizing about running away together despite the looming wedding. Returning home, he’s confronted by Taylor, who accuses him of selfishly destabilizing Belly and warns him to let her go unless he’s certain. Conrad is forced to weigh love against integrity.
Summary
Conrad drives in a daze after telling Belly he loves her, feeling both relief and exhilaration. He convinces himself Belly still loves him, then spirals into doubts about timing, logistics, and the fallout if he tried to take her away the day before her wedding to Jeremiah.
His thoughts turn to regret—if he had spoken sooner, things might be different. He weighs the fantasy of grabbing Belly’s hand and running against the reality of family consequences and uncertainty about where such a choice would lead them.
When Conrad returns to the house, he finds Taylor on the porch. She confronts him about Belly’s swollen eyes and accuses him of repeatedly hurting and confusing Belly. Taylor bluntly warns him not to sabotage the wedding unless he is absolutely certain he wants Belly and will choose her decisively.
Taylor urges Conrad to be the “good guy” Belly believes he is and let her go if he cannot commit fully. Left alone with her words, Conrad questions whether pursuing Belly now would prove him selfish, even as he acknowledges that choosing her would keep her by his side.
Who Appears
- Conrad FisherNarrator; elated after confessing love to Belly, contemplates eloping, then doubts after Taylor’s warning.
- Taylor JewelConfronts Conrad, defends Belly, and demands he back off unless he’s certain; appeals to his better nature.
- Belly ConklinAbsent but central; cried after confrontation with Conrad, torn before her wedding, still tied to him emotionally.
- Jeremiah FisherBelly’s fiancé; his impending wedding heightens stakes as Taylor warns Conrad not to disrupt their lives.