The Golden Couple

The narrative shifts to Avery’s first-person point of view. Avery is at Marissa’s gym, scoping out the people to see if she can identify whom Marissa slept with. Avery then goes to Coco, where she finds Matthew talking to Polly. Matthew has a bouquet of roses; he claims that he came to Coco to surprise Marissa—Marissa, however, is at Bennett’s school. That morning, Polly found a note slipped under Coco’s door: “I’m not letting you go so easily” (142). Avery steps outside with Matthew to discuss the note—just then, Marissa arrives. Avery starts their fourth session on the spot. She tells Marissa about the note. Marissa is shocked; Matthew is angry. Matthew suggests that the man could be dangerous. Marissa assures Matthew that the man isn’t dangerous. Matthew asks: “How do you know that? He’s just some random guy, right? I mean, how well could you really know him?” (147). Their conversation is interrupted when Matthew has to leave for work. Avery and Marissa talk alone. Avery confronts Marissa; Avery knows that Marissa is hiding something. When Marissa refuses to come clean, Avery walks away, saying that their sessions are over.