Beach Read

January wakes up on the couch, having fallen asleep with Gus during a movie marathon. January makes coffee, meanwhile texting Shadi. Shadi says she’s fallen in love with the guy she’s been pursuing. January is excited for Shadi at first because she feels Shadi is more herself when she is in love, but then January learns Shadi is going to visit the guy’s family for the Fourth of July instead of coming to see January.

While texting Shadi, January receives a reply from Sonya regarding the porch furniture, saying she would happily take it for free but can’t afford to buy it from her, then asking if January is free to talk. January ignores it and agrees for Shadi to come in August instead. Gus wakes, and the two have coffee.

For the next few days, January sells and donates more of the household items and furniture. She and Gus begin use her house as an office and relocate to his house in the evening for relaxing. On Wednesday evening, January finds Gus’s old yearbook, and they wrestle over it while she looks at Gus’s old pictures, Gus’s arms wrapped around her. January fears she’s going to lose control soon.