Expiration Dates

The narrative flashes back again to when Daphne is dating Hugo. They have been dating for a month when he invites her on a weekend trip to Big Sur, a beautiful mountainous area in California known for camping. Daphne worries about the strength of her feelings for Hugo, as she knows that their time is limited to three months. Despite her attempts to maintain distance, she always wants his time and attention, trying to gain his approval and make him laugh. Being with Hugo is like winning a prize, but Daphne knows that she is in danger of heartbreak when she eventually loses him.

They drive to Big Sur in a black Ferrari. Hugo impresses her with the car, his ability to remember how she takes her coffee, and the luxurious inn he books for their weekend. Part of Daphne’s excitement comes from the fact that after a month of dating, they have not yet had sex. Now, they fall into bed together, though Daphne is nervous because she realizes that she is “in deeper than [she] should [be]” (117). Hugo tells her that she is “really special” to him, and she desperately wants to believe it.