Every Summer After

Percy hopes Sam will change his mind about their relationship over the Thanksgiving break. When he doesn’t, she makes things official with Mason, who has begun school at the University of Toronto. She wears her silver bracelet to Christmas with the Floreks, which Sam notices, forcing Percy to tell him about the relationship. Percy busies herself with school, swim-team practice, and Mason over the rest of the school year. Before Percy leaves for the cottage, Delilah reminds her not to let Sam mess with her head over the summer.

There is a palpable tension between Charlie and Sam this summer. When Charlie hugs her hello, he whispers to her that his brother is an idiot. When Percy asks Sam about Charlie’s comment, he refuses to elaborate. Percy gives Sam a short story she has written, and he gives her some secondhand horror novels. As they both settle down to read, Sam asks Percy what Mason thinks of her writing, but she hasn’t shared it with him yet. Percy feels her stories are too personal to share with Mason, but she trusts Sam. When he asks her what she likes about Mason, Percy retorts that Mason likes her back.

Percy works at the Tavern again over the summer, and she, Sam, and Charlie continue their ritual of skinny-dipping in the lake after shifts. One night, Anita, Charlie’s older girlfriend, joins them. Charlie teasingly flirts with Percy and asks her to join him and Anita; he says that he can’t imagine anyone not falling over themselves to be with Percy. As Charlie and Anita leave, Percy is upset to realize that Sam told Charlie about kissing her. Sam insists that Charlie dragged the truth out of him after finding out about Percy and Mason over Christmas. Sam asks Percy if he can hold her and says that she is driving him crazy; Percy responds that Sam is confusing her and leaves.

Percy and Sam head out on the raft together the next morning, and he apologizes for his behavior the night before, but Percy points out that his actions and words constantly contradict each other. She has done a good job of keeping things normal, but he hasn’t. Later, when Charlie flirts with her again in front of Sam, Percy snaps at him to stop, as she’s sick of all the joking around.

Sam comes by the next morning after his run and apologizes once again. He was trying not to ruin their friendship, but he’s ruined things anyway. He doesn’t want to confuse Percy, and he doesn’t want to wait anymore. Percy is thrilled but asks him to respect the fact that she has a boyfriend, who will be arriving at the cottage the following week.

Mason, Delilah, and Patel arrive at the cottage and come to the Tavern for dinner, where Percy is working the evening shift. Things are a little awkward, especially when Delilah insists that Sam comes to say hello to the table. Delilah invites him over after the shift. When Percy gets home, the other three are already drunk. Sam joins them shortly but is uncomfortable watching Mason get cozy with Percy. Delilah notices this and brings up Percy’s writing; Mason is surprised to learn that Sam has been reading Percy’s stories for years, while he still hasn’t read any. Mason becomes territorial and starts kissing Percy, so Sam leaves.

Sam keeps his distance from Percy while the other three are at the cottage and remains reserved even after they leave. Percy doesn’t want Sam to restrict his feelings for her, so she breaks up with Mason over the phone a week before summer break ends. The day before Percy is due to leave for home, she and Sam read together on Sam’s bed. Percy begins flirting with him, and the two finally give in to the tension between them and become sexually intimate—though they stop short of full intercourse.

After much internal debate, Percy messages Chantal and then cries in the shower; she is disgusted with herself for seemingly taking advantage of a vulnerable Sam. When Percy arrives at the funeral later, Taylor is already beside Sam. Percy remains wary around him, especially because he shut down quickly after they had sex.

Charlie and Sam both speak at the funeral. Sam talks about how his parents were best friends since kindergarten, started dating in the ninth grade, and were married straight out of high school; they were lucky to have recognized their one true love from the start.

The wake is held at the Tavern, and Percy heads to the back to help out in the kitchen. She overhears Sam talking to Jordie and Finn, who are berating him for considering getting back with Percy. They remind him that he was a mess after they broke up the first time and that it took him years to get over her.

Percy has a panic attack and tries to rush out, but she runs into Charlie, who brings her into the kitchen. Sam helps her calm down. Charlie asks her about the panic attack, and Percy reveals that she started having them 12 years ago.

Sue finds out about Sam and Percy’s intimacy because of the hickey on Sam’s neck. Percy begins driving up to Barry’s Bay on free weekends to spend time with Sam. Before Percy’s first trip, Sue calls Percy’s parents to inform them that the young couple have begun a “physical relationship,” and she makes Sam promise Percy’s mother that he will be respectful. Percy’s parents don’t address it with her, but her mother slips a box of condoms into her bag, with a note that reads, “Just in case.”

Sam prepares to apply to Queen’s in Kingston University, where Delilah and Jordie also hope to go. Percy is going to the University of Toronto, where her parents teach. She is slightly worried because her college is three hours away from Sam’s, and she wonders how the distance will affect them. Sam and Percy spend Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks together, following which everyone gets accepted into the colleges of their choice. Sam invites Percy to prom. Percy feels sad about their upcoming four years apart, but Sam promises her that it will pass quickly, and that they still have all summer together.

Percy attends Sam’s graduation, where he is valedictorian. At the dance that follows, he breaks the news to Percy that he has been accepted into an intensive workshop for premed students and must leave for college in three weeks. Time passes quickly, and the day before Sam leaves, Percy does her annual swim across the lake; it is her fastest time yet. As the two talk after her swim, Percy reveals that she feels like she is being left behind; she is also resentful and hurt that Sam didn’t tell her about the program earlier. However, Sam reassures her and promises that they will talk all the time.

Charlie is surprisingly sweet and helpful in Sam’s absence, checking up on Percy often to see how she is doing. Percy is a mess—especially when she doesn’t hear from Sam for an entire week. Her texts to him go unanswered, and there is no response when she calls the landline in his room. Charlie sees Percy moping and asks why she is upset. He asserts that if he were in Sam’s place, he would have called her immediately. Sam takes for granted that he and Percy are meant to be together, but Charlie disagrees. Sam already messed things up once by instigating Percy’s decision to date Mason; if he doesn’t try harder this time then someone else will.