Chapter Seventeen: A Mermaid's Enchantment

⚠️ 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

After the coffee shop showdown, Burgess and Tallulah retreat to a rooftop overlooking Fenway. Burgess shares his childhood in Syracuse with a creative-writing professor mother, his rebellious teenage years, and the pain of an absent father. Tallulah reveals that she defended him against a man who called him a "Neanderthal," which sparked her first real act of standing up for herself. She also shows Burgess the stack of postcards she has been sending to her sister for four years—placeholders for the adventurous life she promised but was too afraid to live. The two then drive to Jamaica Pond for skinny dipping. Tallulah immerses herself in the cold water, feeling free for the first time, and teases Burgess from the shore. Back at the SUV, she bargains: if he agrees to see the team trainer about his injury, she will let him look at her breasts. He agrees, and the encounter escalates into mutual masturbation. Burgess climaxes on her, then reiterates that he wants her to formally be his girlfriend before they have intercourse. Tallulah, still conflicted, agrees to attend his hockey game.

Key Events

Burgess recounts his upbringing in Syracuse with his mother, a creative writing professor, and his rebellious youth including a dangerous dare to swim under ice.
Tallulah shares that she called the man in the coffee shop a "motherfucker" and threatened to break his glasses for insulting Burgess.
Tallulah reveals her postcard collection: four years of cards sent to her sister Lara, representing unfulfilled promises to be adventurous.
Burgess tells Tallulah he is proud of her for standing up for herself and for him.
Tallulah confesses she will call her family in Istanbul only after she feels strong enough to be alone without fear.
The pair drives to Jamaica Pond; Tallulah skinny dips while Burgess watches from shore.
A playful exchange about mermaids leads to an erotic negotiation: Tallulah shows her breasts in exchange for Burgess talking to the team trainer.
Burgess masturbates while watching her shake her breasts; Tallulah fingers herself to orgasm; Burgess comes on her.
Burgess refuses penetrative sex, insisting he wants her commitment first. Tallulah agrees to go to his game.

Character Development

Burgess opens up about his fatherless childhood and his mother's efforts. He admits he used to take risks to punish his absent father. For the first time, he articulates his need to be important to Tallulah, not just a hookup partner. His restraint—refusing to have sex despite intense desire—underscores his growing emotional investment.

Tallulah undergoes a pivotal shift. She defends Burgess, finding her voice against a rude stranger. She shares her deepest vulnerability (the postcards and her stalled promise) and physically claims her own pleasure. The skinny dipping scene symbolizes her reclaiming agency; she emerges from the water feeling "alive" and "free of the constraints of trauma." Her playful teasing shows newfound sexual confidence, yet she remains uncertain about full commitment.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Postcards as Placeholders
The ziplock bag of postcards represents Tallulah's stalled journey. Each card is a "placeholder" for the adventures she promised herself but was too afraid to take. The act of showing them to Burgess is a step toward honesty and change.

Water as Rebirth
Jamaica Pond serves as a baptismal element. Tallulah submerges fully and floats, feeling "peaceful" and "free." The water muffles the outside world, allowing her to shed fear and embrace the present moment.

Mermaid Enchantment
The extended mermaid metaphor—Tallulah as the mythical creature who enchants sailors—mirrors her power over Burgess. He admits she would cause him to "crash [his] ship into a million pieces." The theme highlights her growing control and his willing surrender.

Vulnerability Yields Intimacy
Both characters share painful personal histories (his father absence, her trauma) before the physical climax. The emotional rawness deepens their physical encounter, making it more than mere lust.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter Seventeen is the emotional and physical midpoint of the romance. Tallulah's act of defending Burgess flips the script, proving she is not simply the quiet nanny but a fierce protector. The postcard revelation crystallizes her internal conflict and sets up her eventual reunion with her family. Burgess's restraint in the face of overwhelming desire solidifies his character as a man who values genuine connection over gratification. The chapter ends with Tallulah agreeing to attend his game—a small commitment that signals her slow surrender to the relationship. The mermaid motif ties together her seduction and her self-discovery, making this a turning point in both characters' arcs.

Study Questions and Answers

What do the postcards reveal about Tallulah's emotional state, and why is she finally showing them to Burgess?
Answer: The postcards are a four-year stack of messages she sent to her sister Lara, claiming she was having adventures. In truth, she was stalling, too afraid to live the promise she made. Showing them to Burgess indicates she is ready to stop hiding and start truly healing, with his support.
Why does Burgess refuse to have full intercourse with Tallulah despite their intense mutual arousal?
Answer: Burgess wants more than a physical hookup. He tells her that if they have sex without commitment, she will be able to pretend he is unimportant. He needs to be "important" to her and wants her to unlock the door of her heart—not just her body—before he takes her to bed.
How does the mermaid conversation reflect the power dynamics between Tallulah and Burgess?
Answer: Tallulah initiates the mermaid metaphor, positioning herself as the creature who lures sailors off course. Burgess readily admits she would wreck his ship. This inverts the typical power dynamic: the large, dominant hockey player is the one enchanted and vulnerable, while the "mermaid" holds the control.