Chapter Two Summary and Analysis: The Au Pair Affair
⚠️ 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
Tallulah meets Burgess at a smoothie shop near his apartment building to formally decline the au pair position. She explains she is nervous about living with a near stranger, and seeing a viral video of Burgess's aggressive hockey hit (breaking another player's nose) prompted her to step back. Burgess is disappointed but sympathetic; he asks about her reasons and she admits her instincts about men have proven unreliable in the past. He explains that his on-ice aggression does not reflect his personal character. Tallulah reveals she has been hiding from something by taking jobs in isolated locations—Antarctica, Mexico, Seychelles—rather than being truly adventurous. Burgess, feeling protective, offers to find her alternative housing through his teammate Sig Gauthier, who has a North End apartment rented to his future stepsister Chloe. He lies about the rent being within Tallulah's budget (seven hundred dollars) and plans to cover the difference himself. Before leaving, he tells Tallulah that if she changes her mind, he will do whatever it takes to make her feel safe living with him, including installing locks on her bedroom door. He calls Sig to discuss using Chloe's spare room, confirming the arrangement.
Key Events
- Tallulah arrives at the smoothie shop ready to quit before even starting the job.
- Burgess catches her watching the viral video of his hit on O'Hanlon.
- Tallulah admits she is impulsive and has a history of misjudging men.
- Burgess explains hockey violence is separate from his real-life personality.
- Tallulah describes her past living situations as hiding rather than adventure.
- Burgess offers to find her a room in his teammate's building, lying about the rent to keep her safe.
- He promises to install locks if she later chooses to live with him.
- Burgess calls Sig Gauthier to arrange the housing for Tallulah.
Character Development
Tallulah: This chapter deepens her backstory. She is not simply an adventurous marine biologist; she has been running from something, using isolated assignments to avoid emotional risks. Her trust issues are rooted in past experiences with men, though the details remain vague. Her impulsivity and self-awareness make her sympathetic, and her decision to prioritise safety over a dream job shows maturity.
Burgess: He emerges as fiercely protective but respectful. He does not pressure Tallulah to stay, but instead offers alternative solutions that do not require her to live with him. His guilt over the viral video is clear, and he takes responsibility for her discomfort. His willingness to pay the rent difference demonstrates his sincerity, and his phone call with Sig reveals his careful vetting of the living situation.
Sig Gauthier: Introduced as a teammate, Sig is protective of his future stepsister Chloe and has a gruff but caring personality. He provides comic relief with his complaints about Chloe's spending and beauty habits.
Lissa (mentioned): Burgess's daughter is described as a sweetheart who is hard to connect with, adding pressure on Burgess to find the right nanny.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Trust and Fear of the Unknown: Tallulah's central conflict is whether to trust Burgess despite the violent video. The chapter examines how past trauma and public persona complicate trust.
Public vs. Private Self: Burgess's on-ice brutality contrasts with his gentle, protective off-ice behaviour. The video symbolises the gap between reputation and reality.
Protection Without Control: Burgess walks a fine line between helping and interfering. He offers options rather than commands, respecting Tallulah's autonomy.
Hiding vs. Adventure: Tallulah reframes her travels as hiding, not bravery. This motif of concealment—behind hair, remote locations, and impulsive decisions—runs through the chapter.
Financial Vulnerability: Tallulah's budget of seven hundred dollars highlights her precarious situation, which Burgess uses to protect her without her knowledge.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter Two establishes the central romantic tension and emotional stakes. It introduces Tallulah's trust issues and Burgess's protective instincts, which will drive their relationship. The housing subplot with Chloe provides a plausible alternative to immediate cohabitation, keeping the characters connected without forcing intimacy. The chapter also deepens Burgess's character by showing his guilt and his willingness to sacrifice for Tallulah's safety, setting the stage for later conflicts and growth.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Tallulah initially quit the au pair position?
Tallulah admits she is nervous about living with a man she does not know well. Seeing the viral video of Burgess's violent hit on O'Hanlon served as a prompt for her to step back and re-evaluate her impulsive decision, given her history of misjudging men.
2. How does Burgess respond to her safety concerns?
He tells her he will do whatever it takes to make her feel safe if she changes her mind, including installing locks on her bedroom door and giving her the only key. He also arranges alternative housing through his teammate Sig, lying about the rent to keep her within her budget.
3. What does Tallulah reveal about her past lifestyle in this chapter?
She describes living in an isolated Antarctic research center, on a boat for a coral reef internship in Mexico, and in Seychelles. She admits these locations were not adventurous choices but rather ways to hide from something, preferring familiar isolation and routine.