Chapter Seventeen through Chapter Twenty-Two Summary

Chapter Seventeen reveals Declan and Shell are sexually involved, privately, as demanded by Declan. When pressed for who she likes best in the world, Shell is promised a bra by Declan, and she lets him know she is a size bigger than she used to be. The two playfully talk back and forth, with Declan asking Shell to declare him the finest, and Shell asking the same of him. They make love as Shell says what he asks, and she agrees to continue their sessions. Declan does give her funds for a new bra and leaves before she realizes he never told her her loved her. In four months, he has never said anything remotely close. She smiles, and assumes his lack of words is simply a boy thing.

In Chapter Eighteen, Shell collects the...