Twisted Hate

Jules stresses over Josh, distracting herself with work. He visits her at LHAC despite promising her space. She is frustrated with and confused by her inability to forgive him. Asher Donovan, the famous soccer player from Bridget’s wedding, calls Jules and invites her out for drinks. She agrees under the heat of Josh’s gaze. At the bar, she is too distracted by thoughts of Josh to converse with Asher. Asher mentions he never wanted to become famous, that “for the longest time, [he] held [himself] back because [he] was afraid [he] didn’t deserve it” (452). Jules realizes she’s holding back from love because she believes she doesn’t deserve it. Josh appears at the bar, and Asher urges Jules to go to him. Josh promises his feelings for Jules are real and forever, and they profess their mutual love.

Josh brings Jules to his house, and for the first time, they have intimate sex; afterward, they cuddle. Josh assures Jules that he publicly sold his painting so Max’s associates won’t target him. They then discuss revealing their relationship to Ava.

Josh and Jules anxiously reveal their relationship to Ava and Alex. Ava thinks they’re joking, but then voices shock. She pulls Josh away for a private conversation, and he admits he would “take a thousand fights with Jules over a thousand easy days with anyone else. Because [he] didn’t want easy. [He] wanted her” (471).

Ava pulls Jules away for a private conversation, leaving Josh and Alex alone. Alex tells Josh that he plans to propose to Ava, and wants his approval. He then asks Josh to be his best man. Josh jokingly plans a bachelor party.

Jules is questioned by Ava, Stella, and Bridget at a local bar. Their joy for Jules’s new relationship makes her feel as though a “huge weight had lifted off [her] shoulders” (481). The women then question Stella, who is still single. During their conversation, a TV reveals news of Max’s death, rumored to be at the hands of a crime ring. Jules shifts her attention back to her friends, admiring how “[they] weren’t eighteen anymore, but [they] were still [them]” (484).

Josh surprises Jules with a trip to see Legally Blonde: The Musical in New York. While in the city, he shows her where his painting ended up—in the private residence of Dante Russo, Christian Harper’s wealthy friend.

Josh arrives at LHAC to find Jules showing the other staff photos of Alex’s proposal to Ava over the weekend. The couple then discuss their own plans for marriage and agree it’s far in the future.

One month later, Jules passes the bar exam and begins work at Silver & Klein; Josh prepares to enter his final year of residency. After paying his medical school loans, he has “enough money from selling the painting to be financially comfortable for decades” (498). To celebrate, he surprises Jules with a trip to New Zealand in four months. They move in together, and four months later, they bungee jump in New Zealand.