Chapter Twenty-eight Summary and Analysis
⚠️ 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
Weeks after rumors of departmental cuts surface, Naya joins a tense faculty meeting called by her boss Joe. She later follows him to his office to disclose that she knows Jake, one of the outside consultants. Naya downplays their relationship, calling it “a few dates,” though Joe reassures her it likely does not matter. Joe then shares a troubling detail: Naya’s abusive ex, Davis Garner, may be recruited for a faculty position. Panicked, Naya researches Davis online and discovers he recently lost a high-profile provost selection to a woman, Caroline Rhodes. The news triggers painful memories of his gaslighting and control. To steady herself, she exchanges playful texts with Jake about their upcoming gala date, but a persistent unease lingers as she feels split between fear of Davis and her growing feelings for Jake.
Key Events
- Joe calls a department meeting to discuss the consulting firm’s data review; Anita voices frustration.
- Naya privately tells Joe she has gone on dates with Jake, omitting the seriousness of the relationship.
- Joe reveals that Davis Garner might be recruited to join the faculty, alarming Naya.
- Naya searches online and learns Davis was passed over for the role of provost in favor of a woman.
- She recalls specific instances of Davis’s manipulative behavior, including his criticism of her research and his fabricated feminism.
- Naya receives a text from Jake about dinner choices for the gala and responds warmly, momentarily lifting her mood.
- The chapter ends with Naya acknowledging the tension between her fear of Davis and her feelings for Jake.
Character Development
- Naya Turner: Naya’s internal conflict deepens as she struggles to be fully honest with Joe about her relationship with Jake. Her fear of Davis resurfaces powerfully when she learns he may return, and she actively researches his recent career setback. This shows her still coping with trauma through hypervigilance and compartmentalization. Her ability to smile after texting Jake suggests a fragile hope, but the chapter underscores how Davis’s shadow continues to dominate her emotional state.
- Joe: Joe remains a supportive but somewhat oblivious mentor. He accepts Naya’s vague explanation about Jake and does not press further, revealing both his trust and his failure to notice the full extent of her anxiety. His casual mention of Davis’s potential hiring shows he underestimates how deeply that news will affect her.
- Jake: Although not physically present, Jake’s texts contrast sharply with Davis’s darkness. His playful, caring tone offers Naya a safe escape, highlighting the dichotomy she feels.
- Davis Garner: The chapter fleshes out Davis’s manipulative nature through Naya’s recollections: he publicly posed as a feminist while privately undermining women, and he used silent treatment and cruel criticism to control Naya. His loss of the provost position enrages him and explains his possible return.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Compartmentalization: Naya intentionally separates her relationship with Jake from her work life and hides its seriousness from Joe. She also tries to keep her fear of Davis locked away, but the two forces continually intersect.
- Gaslighting and Power Dynamics: Davis’s history of questioning Naya’s competence and making her repeat his criticisms exemplifies his abuse of power. His alleged feminism was a facade for control. The provost race he lost to a woman emphasizes his resentment toward successful women.
- Trauma Triggers: The mere mention of Davis’s possible return triggers visceral memories—Naya feels his “fingers on my skin” and shivers. The search results revive the shame and self-doubt he instilled in her.
- Texting as Escape: The lighthearted exchange with Jake (choosing steak, the top‑hat joke) provides a brief respite from anxiety, underscoring how love and fear become opposing forces in Naya’s mind.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 28 is a pivotal turning point. Naya’s half‑truth with Joe signals her reluctance to fully trust even her most supportive colleague. The revelation that Davis may return raises the stakes immensely, threatening Naya’s hard‑won stability. Her online research confirms that Davis’s ego has been wounded, which explains why he might seek re‑entry into her life—either to reclaim power or to control someone. The chapter deepens the novel’s central tension: can Naya build a healthy relationship with Jake while her abuser lurks nearby? It also sets up a direct conflict between Naya’s past trauma and her present hopes.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Naya downplay her relationship with Jake when speaking to Joe?
Naya fears that admitting the seriousness of their involvement might create a professional conflict of interest during the department evaluation. She also has not fully defined the relationship herself and is uncomfortable revealing her vulnerability, especially given Joe’s prior support during the Davis scandal. She uses a vague phrase—“a few dates”—to minimize the emotional weight.
2. How does the news about Davis’s failed provost bid affect Naya?
Learning that Davis lost the provost position to a woman (Caroline Rhodes) reinforces Naya’s understanding of his fragile ego. She knows he hates appearing weak, so his attempt to return to her campus likely stems from a need to reassert dominance. The news reopens old wounds, making her physically shiver and recall his gaslighting tactics.
3. What does the text exchange with Jake reveal about Naya’s emotional state at the end of the chapter?
The playful banter (choosing steak, joking about a top hat) shows that Naya can still experience joy and flirtation, but it is a temporary reprieve. She describes the interlude as “momentarily lightened my mood,” yet immediately acknowledges an “uneasiness simmering” inside her. The chapter closes with her recognizing that her feelings for Jake and her fear of Davis are opposing forces, leaving her torn and unsettled.