The Summer I Turned Pretty, #3
We'll Always Have Summer
by Jenny Han
Contents
Chapter Seventeen
Overview
Belly moves out of her dorm with help from Jeremiah and her father, quietly hiding her engagement. Over lunch, class and money differences surface when Jeremiah orders the priciest steak without noticing the cost. Anika is already thinking bridesmaid dresses, but Belly decides not to tell her father until after her mother.
Summary
Early the next day, Belly packs up her dorm, hides her engagement ring in her purse, and readies to move out. Jeremiah arrives with coffee and donuts for her father, who comes to help. Belly says goodbye to dorm friends, tearing up with Anika, who jokes about coordinating bridesmaid dresses.
At a modest steak restaurant, Belly chooses a cheaper cut while her father orders salmon. Jeremiah orders the most expensive rib eye without checking prices, and Belly privately notes their different attitudes toward money and vows that marriage will mean changing his spending habits.
When asked about summer plans, Jeremiah says he will intern at his father’s company again. Belly says she will return to waitressing, planning to work extra hard with the wedding approaching. When the bill comes, her father squints at the total; Belly notices Jeremiah doesn’t, reinforcing the money gap.
During the quiet drive home, listening to Bill Evans, Belly nearly tells her father about the engagement, longing to share the news in this intimate moment. She stops herself, deciding it would be wrong to tell him before telling her mother, and keeps the secret a little longer.
Who Appears
- BellyNarrator; moves out, hides her engagement ring, plans to waitress, withholds news from her father.
- Belly's dadHelps her move, takes them to lunch, quietly bears the bill; shares a reflective drive with Belly.
- JeremiahHelps move out, brings coffee and donuts, orders pricey steak, plans to intern at his father’s company.
- AnikaSays goodbye and mentions bridesmaid dresses, signaling her awareness and support of the wedding.
- LorrieDormmate who says a brief summer goodbye.
- JulesDormmate who suggests hanging out more next year.