Check & Mate Chapter 18: A Deeper Bond

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Mallory navigates Darcy’s volatile moods while studying Nolan’s chess games obsessively. She matches with Alex on a dating app but rejects him when she realizes she’s thinking about Nolan. The next morning, Easton alerts her to a Vanity Fair article that falsely links her and Nolan romantically. Panicked, Mallory finds Nolan’s address online and shows up unannounced at his Tribeca apartment. She discovers him sick with a high fever. She makes him chicken soup from scratch, and they share an intimate conversation about his family history—including his grandfather’s dementia and genetic testing—and their differing views on sex and connection. They fall asleep together on the sofa. Defne calls to deliver exciting news: Mallory has been selected as a participant in the Challengers tournament.

Key Events

Darcy’s emotional swings test Mallory’s patience (she calls her mom a “dictator”).
Mallory studies Nolan’s games obsessively, analyzing his aggressive, precise style.
On a dating app, she matches with Alex (whom she nearly went to prom with) but quickly rejects him because her thoughts keep drifting to Nolan.
Easton sends Mallory a Vanity Fair article titled “Sawyer Occupies Second at Pasternak Invitational, Draws Koch in Volatile Final Match.”
The article includes a Page Six photo of Mallory and Nolan playing tic-tac-toe in Toronto, fueling romance rumors.
Mallory rushes to Nolan’s apartment after finding his address online.
She finds Nolan feverish, disoriented, and barely upright.
Mallory makes soup from scratch and forces ibuprofen on him.
Nolan reveals that his grandfather developed a fast-progressing form of frontotemporal dementia and that he himself has been genetically tested and cleared.
They discuss the difference between sex as physical pleasure and sex as emotional connection; Nolan admits he doesn’t understand desire well.
Mallory shares that she uses closeness (sharing space, being near) to comfort people she cares about.
She and Nolan fall asleep on his sectional sofa, intertwined.
Defne calls to tell Mallory she has been chosen for the Challengers tournament.

Character Development

Mallory: Shows a deeply nurturing side typically reserved for family. She chooses to stay with Nolan when she could have left, admitting she wants to “be here with him.” Her rejection of Alex confirms her growing emotional attachment to Nolan, even though she resists naming it.
Nolan: Reveals profound vulnerability for the first time—his fear of inheriting his grandfather’s illness, his isolation, his lack of interest in casual sex. The chapter strips away his usual composure, showing a raw, childlike need for care.
Darcy (mentioned): Her teenage anger reinforces the parallel between her and Mallory at that age, highlighting how family burdens shape Mallory’s life.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Caregiving as intimacy: Mallory’s act of making soup and physically tending to Nolan mirrors the way she cares for her mother and sisters. This form of connection becomes more significant to her than sex.
Vulnerability as a catalyst: Nolan’s illness and confession about his grandfather open a door for emotional closeness that competitiveness never allowed.
Media intrusion vs. private life: The false Vanity Fair article forces Mallory to confront how public perception twists reality. Nolan’s refusal to engage with the press underscores his desire to protect what is real.
Sex vs. emotional connection: The conversation on the island explores how two people can want very different things from physical intimacy—Nolan values closeness, Mallory values pleasure—yet both are valid.

Why This Chapter Matters

This is the turning point where rivalry transforms into genuine care. Nolan’s backstory—his grandfather’s dementia, his emancipation, his genetic testing—adds tragic depth to his character, explaining his guardedness. Mallory’s decision to stay shows she now prioritizes Nolan’s well-being over her own self-protection. The final development (the Challengers invitation) sets up the next major plot arc, raising the stakes for both her career and her personal life.

Study Questions & Answers

1. Why does Mallory reject Alex on the dating app?
Mallory realizes she cannot stop thinking about Nolan: how his hands move, the way he murmurs during games, the precise strategies he creates. She knows pursuing a hookup with Alex would be dishonest, so she apologizes and ends the conversation.

2. What does Nolan reveal about his grandfather, and how does it shape his view of chess?
Nolan explains that his grandfather had a fast-progressing form of frontotemporal dementia. Nolan took genetic tests as soon as he was emancipated and learned he does not carry the familial variant. His father, however, blamed chess for the illness, warning Nolan it would “drive him crazy.” Nolan now plays partly as a rejection of that fear.

3. How does the theme of caregiving appear in Mallory’s actions?
Mallory instinctively shifts into caregiver mode: she takes Nolan’s temperature, buys groceries, makes chicken soup, and insists he rest. She admits this is how she shows love for her family—by sharing space and offering practical help—and she extends that same behavior to Nolan without hesitation.