A Long Time Coming Chapter 17: Cake Tasting and a Breakup

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

The morning after Breaker’s drunken texts, he and Lia deliberately avoid discussing them and head to a cake tasting with Brian’s mother, The Beave. Brian unexpectedly joins, and tensions rise when The Beave reveals she and Brian have been planning the wedding without Lia’s input and that she considers Lia beneath their status. Breaker defends Lia, and Lia confronts Brian about his failure to support her. She removes her engagement ring, announces the engagement is over, and walks out with Breaker. They celebrate with pizza, hard cider, and a board game, and Breaker receives a text from Brian asking him to pass along a message, which he deletes. Lia reflects on following her heart and crossing off items from her pre-wedding list.

Key Events

Breaker texts his brothers about his foolish drunk messages to Lia and decides to act as if nothing happened.
He picks up Lia for the cake tasting; both pretend the texts were never sent.
At the bakery, The Beave (Mrs. Beaver) and Brian are already present; Brian tries to send Breaker away, but Lia insists he stay.
The Beave announces that she and Brian have taken over wedding planning, including a guest list of three thousand, without Lia’s consent.
Breaker angrily defends Lia, threatening The Beave’s reputation.
Lia confronts Brian about letting his mother disrespect her and about their failing intimacy.
Lia removes her engagement ring, places it on the table, and declares the relationship over.
She steals a slice of chocolate cake and walks out with Breaker, who praises her courage.
They buy pizza and cider, return to Breaker’s apartment, play Plunder, and talk about Lia’s life goals.
Breaker receives a text from Brian asking him to tell Lia to call him; Breaker deletes it without complying.
Lia admits she never truly loved Brian and that his actions didn’t match his words.
Breaker tells Lia he hated Brian only for her sake and that his feelings for her are deeper than friendship.

Character Development

Lia: Undergoes a major transformation in this chapter. She shifts from passive acceptance of Brian’s and his mother’s treatment to assertive self-advocacy. She publicly ends a toxic engagement, reclaims her voice, and chooses her own happiness over societal expectations. Breaker: Demonstrates restraint by not pursuing Lia immediately after her breakup, heeding his brothers’ advice to wait. He shows his loyalty and love by defending her at the tasting and supporting her choices, even when it means biting back his own feelings. Brian: Exposed as weak and complicit in his mother’s disrespect toward Lia. He fails to defend her, revealing his lack of genuine commitment and love. The Beave: Embodies classism and control; she openly admits she wanted Brian to marry someone of higher status and orchestrates wedding plans behind Lia’s back.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Self-advocacy: Lia’s decision to speak up and leave represents a reclaiming of agency; she moves from being a passive participant in her own life to an active director.
The cake as a symbol of choice: Lia’s theft of the chocolate cake—the only flavor she deems decent—mirrors her rejection of the bland, expected choice (vanilla) imposed by The Beave and Brian.
Friendship versus love: Breaker’s internal conflict between being a supportive friend and revealing his romantic feelings illustrates the tension between loyalty and desire.
Denial as a coping mechanism: Both Lia and Breaker initially avoid addressing the drunk texts, using forced cheerfulness and cake-talk to sidestep emotional vulnerability.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is the turning point of the novel. It resolves Lia’s engagement plotline and clears the path for her relationship with Breaker. Her public breakup demonstrates her growth and sets the stage for the central romance to develop without the obstacle of her commitment to Brian. Breaker’s decision to wait before making a move shows his maturity and genuine care, laying the foundation for a healthier relationship.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Breaker decide not to bring up his drunk texts to Lia?
He wants to avoid making the situation more awkward and follows his brothers’ advice to act normal, letting her bring it up if she chooses. He fears pushing her away by forcing a conversation.

2. What specific actions show that Brian does not truly love Lia?
He lets his mother insult Lia without defending her, he makes wedding plans behind her back, he belittles her struggles (“crisis mental”), and he avoids physical intimacy. Lia notes that he says the words “I love you” but never demonstrates love through small, thoughtful acts.

3. How does Lia’s breakup fulfill the goals on her pre-wedding list?
It directly crosses off “defend yourself” (she stands up to Brian and The Beave) and “follow your heart” (she listens to her own doubts and ends a relationship that made her unhappy). It also reinforces the list’s purpose: building confidence and prioritizing her own needs.