LitCharts (2024)

Ari runs past Dante’s house with Legs, even though he’s not sure if Dante is back in El Paso yet. He lets Legs off the leash in the park and thinks that he loves how open she is with her emotions and affection. Dante calls for Ari from the porch and Ari walks over. Dante hugs Ari and then pets Legs. Ari wonders where Dante’s happiness comes from, and whether he has the same kind of happiness inside of him. They remark on all the ways they’ve changed—Ari is muscled with long hair, and Dante is taller than Ari. They reaffirm that they’re friends, and Ari thinks that maybe this summer they’ll do nothing but laugh.

Dante invites Ari in, but Mr. Quintana steps outside and shouts for Mrs. Quintana. They hug Ari, and Ari wants to cry because he feels he doesn’t deserve the affection. He wishes he could be himself and not the guy who saved Dante, but he’s happy to see them anyway. Mrs. Quintana looks younger and more beautiful than ever. Dante asks when he can ride in Ari’s truck and asks Ari to teach him to drive.

Before Ari leaves, Mrs. Quintana pulls Ari aside and asks him to be careful when he lets Dante drive his truck. Ari promises to be careful and says that he’ll disappoint her someday. She kindly says that Ari is too hard on himself and that she missed him. Ari feels as though Mrs. Quintana’s love is a weight, even if she doesn’t mean it to feel that way.