A few weeks after the ceremony, Alana and Evan host a livestreamed announcement of the Connor Project’s first initiative: a major fundraising campaign to restore the apple orchard. As an image of the orchard flashes on the screen, Evan is surprised to see that it’s in greater disrepair than he imagined. Since the kickoff ceremony, the Connor Project has taken off and become much grander than anything Evan or Alana imagined. Evan’s relationship with Zoe has also deepened, and they go on a date at the park where Evan worked over the summer. Evan reveals that his cast has been removed: “I lower my arm and pull my sleeve down. I don’t want her to inspect it too closely. It’s not a pretty sight, ghostly pale with thick dark hair. I wanted the cast off for so long, but now that it’s gone, I kind of miss it” (218).

Evan tells Zoe the park is named for the family who lived on the land and who perished in a fire. They talk about their respective families, and she invites Evan to her next open mic. Zoe receives a message from her mom, asking if Evan has any more emails from Connor.