The Love Wager

Content Warning: This section includes sexual content and cursing.

Hallie fears messing up their friendship but equally fears missing out on a chance to make something happen with Jack. She rehearses a speech suggesting they have sex without emotional attachment but thinks, “She felt a hell of a lot more than that, but no way was she going to put it out there” (210). She puts on a long flannel nightgown and knee-high socks, and Jack reacts as if her outfit is provocative. As they climb into bed, Hallie suggests they can have sex, and “it will totally be fine” (213).

Jack is turned on and also disappointed when Hallie delivers her speech about having sex without emotional baggage. He “wanted to drop to his knees and beg her to love him forever” (215), and she’s suggesting that if one or the other of them starts to feel something, they can just stop the physical expression and flip a switch to go back to where they were. She swears she will not “catch feelings” (215) for him. He asks how much she recalls of their hotel night. Hallie recalls every minute, including how he offered to warm up her cold lips with his mouth and how she stopped the service elevator so they could have sex.