The Hating Game

Lucy and Josh leave for the wedding. Lucy is terrified people will find out about their relationship. She’s freaking out about the interview, their romance, and how quickly it’s all moving. Joshua admits her presence this weekend will help him because he made a past mistake, and now it’s going to “sting.”

During the drive, Josh says he stares at her so much because of her beautiful eyes; she says she stares because she wants to know what he’s thinking. He admits he has spent many nights thinking about her. She admits that her erotic dream featured him. As they arrive at Port Worth, she confesses that she had originally lied about having a date; she had had to ask Danny because Josh had said he’d be at the bar too. They reach the Port Worth Grand Hotel and check in.

Josh and Lucy get sexual in the hotel room, and Josh tells her to slow down. She understands his delay tactics have led to her becoming addicted to him. His mother calls him, and he leaves to help her with centerpieces for the wedding. Lucy washes up and reflects that Josh has seen her at her worse. She gets into bed and falls asleep.

Josh and Lucy wake the next morning with little time to spare to get to the wedding. They discuss their ex’s— unlike Josh, Lucy’s ex was short and messy; unlike Lucy, Josh’s ex was tall and blonde. Both were “nice.” Josh says: “It’s why I don’t have a girlfriend. They all trade me in for nice guys’” (266). They wanted him for his looks, but left him when they got to know him.

Lucy admires Josh’s body as they dress for the wedding; he lets her know there have been many women who have wanted him only for his physique. They’ve let him know they didn’t like his personality. Lucy is determined to stop objectifying him. His shirt and her dress are the same color: robin’s egg blue, the same color as his bedroom walls.

At the church, Lucy meets Josh’s parents Elaine and Anthony. Elaine is warm and welcoming; Anthony is aloof. Lucy still doesn’t understand why everyone seems to think the wedding is hard for Josh.

Lucy tries to get Josh to engage more with people and realizes he’s shy. She notices people are talking about them, but Josh distracts her with his touch. They sit at the family table with Josh’s parents and the bride Mindy’s parents and sibling. Elaine makes small talk with Lucy, trying to keep things light. Anthony gives a toast about what an outstanding son Patrick has been, and how proud he is that Patrick maintains the Templeman’s “medical dynasty.” Josh sarcastically thanks his father for the remark. Lucy tries to change the subject, but Anthony finds another opportunity to take a dig at Josh.

Mindy tells Lucy she and Josh dated for a year, assuming she already knew. It all makes sense to Lucy now why Josh brought her as his date. She barely misses catching the bouquet and takes off, heading toward the water. Josh’s mother Elaine comes after her.

Elaine tells Lucy she’s never seen Josh look at a woman the way he looks at Lucy. She tells Lucy: “[Mindy] never challenged Josh. You have since the first day you met him. You make him angry. You’ve never been scared of him. You’ve taken the time to understand him, to get the upper hand in your little office skirmishes. You notice him” (295). Lucy isn’t convinced of Josh’s feelings for her.

Josh approaches and explains that there was never a good time to tell her about Mindy because she would have reacted the way she is doing now; had he told her before she wouldn’t have come. He says he didn’t bring Lucy to show her off to Mindy and others. She storms off and tries to find a bus headed for home. She calls Danny, who had texted a couple times about the work he’s doing for her presentation. Josh is suddenly there. He takes the phone from her and tells Danny not to call her again. Josh and Lucy go into their room, and she tells Josh she’s getting a bus. He stops her and clarifies that Mindy didn’t break his heart; it’s his father who did that. He shares his feelings about being ignored, unwanted, and unloved by him. She decides not to leave after all.