Boy Window Chapter 6: The first date

Last time in Boy Window...Liam surprised no one but Amber with a romantic confession. Naturally, this took place after a third act misunderstanding...in act 1. And we possibly found a conflict in Jake's desire to keep them apart. Forward gaily!

Chapter 6

Before we start the recap proper, I want to talk about something odd. I am reading the ebook version. Most of the time, I use my Nook, but for part of this chapter I used my phone. For whatever reason, there is page art for the mobile version but not the tablet version. I have no complaints about this, I just thought it was interesting. Does anyone know why this is a thing?

Anyway...

Amber gets changed out of her wet clothes (thanks again for that Liam) and Liam announces to her dance-mates that they are going on their first date.

“Justin's mouth fell open as he looked from Liam to me several times. 'Date? But...I mean...what? I thought he was your brother's best friend! You don't even like him, Amber; you always say he's a man-whore asshole. Whenever I've spoken to you about how hot he was, you've just said that wouldn't touch his STD ass with a bargepole!”

I kept this whole thing because Justin has a point. Thus far, Amber has expressed a lot of feelings about Liam but almost none of them are really positive. She has valid reasons to distrust him and hate him (you know that whole sexual assault business) but she instead focuses on his being a player. But now she is suddenly twitter-pated and embarrassed that Justin reminded her (and the audience) that she has no reason to like him.

Part of me thinks she is going for a Lizzie/Darcy dynamic. You know, the “They meet. They hate each other, but eventually fall in love” kind. But if that is the case then she is doing it wrong, mainly because neither Lizzie nor Darcy actually hated each other, and what dislike Lizzie had for Darcy was out of misunderstanding. Amber may not dislike Liam for the logical reasons, but her dislike of him is reasonable.

Anyway...

Amber is embarrassed and Liam says

“'It's a lady's prerogative to change her mind'”

I hate this saying. Besides the fact that it is trite, I have never cared much for it. How is it a woman exclusive right to change her mind? Are men and non-binaries not allowed to change their mind? It just rubs me the wrong way.

Amber apologizes, Liam says it's okay because she has said it to his face before. Amber worries that his good guy persona is all an act, and if he will pressure her into sex after a few dates.

“After all, what was the point in even trying if he was just using me for sex, and I wasn't planning on giving it up anytime soon?”

These are all valid points. In another story, I would have absolutely no problem with this at all. However, here it makes a little less sense. Amber is supposed to be a bright girl. She has noted that Liam could easily have sex with whomever he wanted. Then why would he set his cap for her? Does she think he likes a challenge? Does she think he is okay with possibly sacrificing his oldest and best friend for the sake of a one night stand? She can have low self-esteem and still be self-aware. I have a feeling that this is only here so she can question him and he can tell her what any dolt with half a brain already knows.

Liam asks were they should go for lunch. Amber replies with

“'Um... I don't mind, what do you fancy?'”

To which Liam waggles his eyebrows and Amber exclaims in her head that he is sex crazed.

They go to get Chinese. They chat off screen. His leg brushes hers and she jumps

“...but not because of my fear, but because it sent a little jolt through my system, making the hairs on the back of my neck prick up and pulse quicken.”

I have a hard time believing that footsies causes this intense a reaction when you cuddle every night and awake up every morning with his erection to greet you.

Amber decides this is a great time to talk about his sex-pectations, repeating once again that she is broken and has PTSD. She even uses the same words as all the other times. He says he will wait as long as she wants. She questions his resolve, claiming that his track record is proof. He says he was only with those women because he couldn't be with her. And all I can think is that Semisonic said the same thing better, quicker, and with more sincerity.

...still waiting for the reunion

Amber's BFF Kate calls. They decide they are watching Dawn of the Dead for movie night. Amber doesn't like horror films but Liam says he'll snuggle the bad dreams away.

“Had he always been sweet to me, but I was just too prejudiced to see it?”

Okay, I was mildly joking with the Lizzie/Darcy thing. Let's not make this a reality, please.

Kate asks to spend the weekend at Amber's.

“If Kate stayed over that meant that [Liam] couldn't, because she slept in the camp bed on my floor.”

What is a camp bed? Is this a thing where ever this book takes place? Does she mean sleeping bag?

Amber agrees. Liam is mopey, then gleeful when he realizes

“'...you've just agreed to watch a scary ass zombie flick and I'm not going to be there for the next two nights.'”

WTF man? Does Moseley realize that what he is say is “I know you have severe nightmares whenever we sleep apart, and that coupled with the horror film you agreed to watch, partly at my insistence, will give you more nightmares but, teehee, you asked for it.” If her dreams get so bad that she wakes up screaming, then that isn't a joke. Even jokingly saying this is a dick move.

I hate it even more because Amber tries to justify his bitchiness by saying how he could not get comfy without her. Oh no, Liam can't sleep cause he needs someone to cuddle! Get a fucking stuffed animal.

I recommend a Stitch pillow pet

Playfulness happens. Make outs happen. Amber is reassured that he doesn't just want sex because he isn't handsy. Never mind that they are still in the restaurant and that is possibly why he is not frisky. No, when Liam says he seriously cares for her to the point of considering marriage, he is lying to get in her pants. It's when he is not groping her in the middle of a Chinese restaurant that she realizes he may be thinking long term.

Then Liam tells Amber that he needs to have a talk with Jake about this.

“'He's known that I've liked you all this time, but he didn't think that you liked me, so I need to talk to him about us actually dating.'”

I'm sorry what was that? Are you doing something that makes sense Liam? We better put the kibosh on that now.

“'Liam, why don't we just leave that for a while, and then maybe in a couple of weeks, if everything is going well, then we can talk to him together. I mean, we don't even know if it's going to work out, do we?'”

Called it!

Liam is all sad panda cause Amber thinks that he won't survive without cheating. The way they are playing up him cheating, I'm starting to wonder if that will go anywhere. Maybe not actually cheating but like during the reprise of “Big, Blonde, and Beautiful” in Hairspray when Amber's mom tries to seduce Tracy's dad.

Amber feels guilty for offending Liam, but not guilty enough to not stare at his butt as he walks off to the bathroom.

Unfortunately, this has left Amber unattended for more than 60 seconds which can only mean one thing

“He put one hand on the back of my chair and one on the table so I was trapped.”

Ishtar's special undies, where does this girl live? Why is every male in her area a sex offender? This is her waiter by the way. A waiter that probably overheard part of their repetitive conversation about their relationship, or at least saw him smooch her hardcore. I used to work in food service and I knew peeps who hit on guests but you know what? It usually didn't go as far as physically trapping them in the middle of the restaurant. Although, this did happen to me but roles were reversed, and I awkwardly extricated myself from the situation. Amber on the other hand has Liam to save her...again.

“'Her name's touch her again and I'll break your face,' Liam growled possessively from behind me.”

Simon (the waiter) is properly cowed. Liam pays the bill (another reason why a waiter wouldn't do this is because he probably just lost his tip). They leave. Amber is a little panicky. Liam calms her with neck kisses

Amber relaxes and the chapter ends with them holding hands.

At this point, we are about 25% through the book and I still have no idea where this is going. If it isn't about Amber overcoming her abuse and facing her abuser, or about her slowly realizing she has feelings for Liam, what is it about? Moseley keeps playing up the sex angle and Jake's interference, so maybe that will be the conflict. As it stands, there really isn't an antagonist or a clear purpose, and it doesn't seem to be artfully pointless. I guess we will just have to wait and see.