How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Then he smirks at me and says, "I'm sure you've got a perfectly reasonable explanation for why you're carrying a picture of Juli Baker around with you." […]
What was I going to tell him, anyway? That the paper was in my binder because I was trying to hide it from my sister? That would help.
Besides, I didn't want to make up some lame lie about it. I actually wanted to talk to Garrett. I mean, he was my friend, and a lot had happened in the last couple of months that was weighing on me. (9.97, 100-101)
Bryce is weaving himself a web of lies. He's hiding Juli's picture from his sister, and then he starts wondering how he'll explain hiding the picture to Garrett, too. It's a good thing Bryce realizes that it would be better not to lie. Sadly for Bryce, Garrett ends up being a huge jerk about Juli—but at least Bryce makes the right decision not to keep spinning that deceptive little web.
Quote #8
Worse, though, was the way he was acting. Watching my dad chum it up with Juli's dad—it was like seeing him lie. To Mr. Baker, to Juli, to my grandfather—to everybody. Why was he being such a worm? Why couldn't he just act normal? You know, civil? Why did he have to put on such a phony show? This went way beyond keeping the piece with my mother. This was disgusting. (11.35)
Bryce has been trying to be more honest lately—but we can't say the same for his pops. Instead Bryce's dad is just covered in deceit. And when the Bakers come over for dinner, the "phony show" is up and running. Check out how much Bryce hates seeing his father lie. We're thinking that Bryce and his dad definitely have some new issues to work on.
Quote #9
Very quietly my mother said, "For the first time in her life, Patsy is seeing her husband for what he is. It's twenty years and two children late, but that's what she's doing." She gave me a sad smile. "Patsy seems to be going through the same thing you are." […]
While she was gone, I remembered what Chet had said about someone he knew who had never learned to look beneath the surface. Had he been talking about his own daughter? And how could this happen to her after twenty years of marriage? (14.220, 222)
Mrs. Loski is finally seeing the truth about Mr. L, and it isn't pretty. The "surface" has been super deceptive in this book—Mr. L's good looks covered up the fact that he can be really mean and shallow. And the same goes for Bryce. Those blue eyes had Juli smitten even when he acted like a jerk. But now that Mrs. L and Juli know the truth, what should they do with this new information? We're not sure, nut we're super happy Mrs. Baker is there to help these two out.