Chapter Thirteen: Tate – Summary and Analysis

⚠️ 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 returning from Thanksgiving, Miles and Corbin joke about the evening. Corbin heads to bed, and Miles invites Tate to his apartment later that night. He steals her number from Corbin’s phone and texts her. When Corbin falls asleep, Tate sneaks over. Miles bought orange juice and condoms. They kiss and move to his bedroom. Their first sexual encounter is intense and brief; Miles struggles to control his excitement. He goes down on her, then they have sex a second time. Afterward, he asks her to lock the door on her way out and goes to sleep. Tate feels a mix of pleasure and embarrassment. She cannot go back to her apartment because Corbin is still awake, so she sits in the lobby and talks to Cap, who guesses she is hooking up with Miles.

Key Events

Miles steals Tate’s number from Corbin’s phone and texts her.
Tate sneaks into Miles’s apartment after Corbin falls asleep.
Miles reveals he bought orange juice and condoms for the night.
They kiss; Miles says, “I forgot how good this feels,” prompting Tate to feel jealous of his past.
Their first intercourse is rushed; Miles apologizes but then satisfies her orally.
During the second round, Miles whispers, “The best thing I’ve ever felt.”
After sex, Miles asks Tate to leave and lock the door behind her.
Tate, unable to return home because Corbin is on the phone, goes to the lobby and talks to Cap.
Cap correctly deduces that Tate and Miles are “hookin’ up.”

Character Development

Tate begins the chapter eager to please Miles but quickly realizes she wants more than just physical intimacy. She notes mentally that Miles’s rule #2 (no future) leaves her with only the present, and the moment after sex she feels embarrassed—not by the act but by how the dismissal makes her feel. Her internal conflict deepens: she acknowledges a small voice warning her to pull away, but a louder voice urges her to enjoy the fun. Her conversation with Cap reveals that she is already emotionally invested, even as she denies falling in love.

Miles is physically passionate but emotionally guarded. He initiates sex with urgency, becomes overwhelmed by Tate’s body (“It’s too much, Tate”), and afterward immediately asks her to leave, giving no hint of affection beyond the physical. His pattern of using sex to avoid intimacy remains intact; he leaves for a nine-day trip right after, underscoring his reluctance to connect on a deeper level.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Rules vs. Desire: Tate repeatedly tests her own limits. She agrees to Miles’s rules but wants to be “a map to his future,” not just an “agenda.” The orange juice he bought becomes a symbol of his thoughtfulness, which makes her want to break the rules.
Power Dynamics: Miles controls the pace of the encounter—he leads, he decides when to stop, he dismisses her afterward. Tate feels at a disadvantage physically and emotionally, which mirrors the imbalance in their arrangement.
Emotional Vulnerability: The chapter contrasts the raw physical intimacy with the emotional distance that follows. Miles cannot make eye contact during intercourse; Tate feels “liquid” compared to his solidity. After sex, she is left alone, highlighting the loneliness that can accompany casual sex.

Why This Chapter Matters

This is the first time Tate and Miles have sex, marking a turning point in their relationship. The encounter establishes their physical chemistry but also makes clear that Miles will not open up emotionally. Tate’s post-sex embarrassment and her conversation with Cap reveal that she is already falling for him, setting up the central conflict of the novel: can she maintain a no-strings arrangement when her heart wants more? The chapter also reinforces the role of Miles’s past trauma—his six-year celibacy and his inability to look forward—as barriers to a real connection.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Tate feel embarrassed after sex, even though she consented? Tate’s embarrassment comes not from the act itself but from how Miles’s casual dismissal afterward makes her feel. She realizes she wanted more than just physical satisfaction; she wanted emotional reassurance. This signals that she is not as capable of simple, no-strings sex as she thought.

2. How does Miles’s behavior during and after sex foreshadow future conflict? Miles’s rush to finish the first time, his inability to make eye contact, and his immediate request for Tate to leave show that he uses sex to release tension but cannot handle the aftermath. His pattern of pulling away emotionally after physical closeness will likely cause pain for Tate as she continues to invest feelings.

3. What does Tate’s conversation with Cap reveal about her state of mind? Cap bluntly asks if she is “fallin’ in love,” and Tate denies it, but her blush and her eagerness to change the subject tell the reader that she is already emotionally attached. Cap’s comment that the boy might actually “smile every now and then” reinforces that Tate hopes to bring Miles out of his shell, a hope that clashes with his rules.