Jessie tries to enjoy the long car ride to the beach with Megan and the Moriarty family, but fails. There’s lots of traffic, and the water at the beach is too cold to play in. Jessie feels frustrated. Unlike Jessie, Megan busies herself building sandcastles and collecting seashells. As they head home, Jessie begins to feel sick at the thought of seeing Evan.

Evan is having a hard time finding his rhythm on the basketball court with Scott Spencer. Evan keeps feeling Jessie’s money in his pocket, reminding him of his immoral decision: “And every time he moved, the envelope slapped against his thigh like a reprimand” (156). As the boys pause to discuss how hot it is, Evan’s friend Jack comes running back to the court, reporting back that his mom said it was okay for the boys to go swimming.

When the boys get to Jack’s house, Evan borrows an old bathing suit and wraps up the clothes he had been wearing into a ball on Jack’s bed. Scott leaves early while the other boys are still in the pool. When Evan returns to Jack’s room to retrieve his clothes, he finds them in disarray and suspects Scott.