Tyler’s mother sends him over to Bethany’s the next day, with a cake, to apologize for the incident at the barbecue. Tyler tells his mom that he can’t go to the Milbury’s house because, “[Bethany] thinks I’m the biggest bag of sh… […] manure in the whole state” (31). Linda explains that the cake was Bill’s idea, so if Tyler doesn’t deliver it, he’ll have to deal with his father. 

In the heat of the day, Tyler notices the cake’s frosting is beginning to slide. He picks up his speed but then worries it will make his armpits sweat. He rehearses in his head what he’s going to say to Bethany, though he can’t settle on anything he likes.

Bethany is unable to walk on her own and her brother has broken her crutches while fake-wrestling with his friends. Bethany and Tyler bond over what a jerk Chip is. Tyler apologizes profusely for the accident and Bethany lets him know she doesn’t blame him. Nonetheless, he apologizes again and she insists that he stop:

[s]he grabbed a handful of my t-shirt and pulled. I sat up on my knees in front of her chair. When she let go of my shirt, her hand brushed my cheek.