After Oliver breaks up with Chiara, Elio suspects that he has been sleeping around with other girls from the town. Elio and Oliver go swimming, and Elio notes that Oliver only has one month left in B. Elio reveals that their beach in B. is where the poet Percy Shelley is said to have drowned himself. Oliver remarks that Elio knows everything, but Elio says he doesn’t know anything about important things. Elio alludes to his feelings for Oliver but in no way says it directly. Still, it seems that Oliver understands him. Oliver wants to avoid the subject and tells Elio they can’t talk about it.

Elio brings Oliver to a berm where it is said Monet used to paint. This is Elio’s treasured secret spot where he reads alone. He wants to share it with Oliver so that one day he can remember the space as a space Oliver inhabited. Oliver creeps closer to Elio and kisses him. Elio kisses Oliver back, but Oliver insists they can’t go any further because they haven’t yet done anything wrong.

At dinner, Oliver and Elio touch feet under the table, giving Elio a visceral physical sensation. But the sensuality of the moment disturbs Elio because of Oliver’s

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