How to Fail at Flirting Chapter 35: Naya's Confession to Jake
⚠️ 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
After a few days apart, Jake returns to Chicago. Naya greets him with a playful "Captain Calculus" sign and they become intimate at her apartment. Jake notices she avoids his intense gaze and gently asks why. Naya hesitates but decides to be brave and disclose her past. She reveals a two-year relationship with a fellow professor named Davis, an older respected man who was initially kind but became aggressive and physically abusive. He hit her and mistreated her. When she ended it, he threatened to humiliate her and sabotaged her career by sharing her phone number on a kinky sex website causing harassment. Naya admits she feels ashamed when Jake looks at her, fearing he sees everything. Jake kisses her knuckles and reassures her it is not her fault, vowing to never let her feel helpless again. Naya does not tell him that Davis is now on her tenure committee.
Key Events
- Jake flies into Midway; Naya greets him with a "Captain Calculus" sign.
- They become intimate at her apartment.
- Jake asks why Naya looks away when he looks into her eyes.
- Naya reveals her past abusive relationship with Davis, including physical hitting and emotional cruelty.
- She describes how Davis sabotaged her career by sharing her number and photo on a kinky sex website, leading to harassment.
- Naya admits she feels ashamed and vulnerable under Jake's gaze.
- Jake reassures her it's not her fault and vows to protect her.
- Naya decides not to reveal that Davis is on her tenure committee.
Character Development
- Naya: Shows immense vulnerability by disclosing traumatic past. Her internalized shame and fear of reputation damage are explained. She begins to open up but still withholds critical information.
- Jake: Demonstrates care and emotional support. He refrains from pushing for details, trusts her pace, and offers comfort without judgment.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Vulnerability and Trust: Naya's confession deepens intimacy; Jake's acceptance allows emotional risk.
- Shame and Control: Abuse left Naya feeling controlled and ashamed years later; she fears being seen fully.
- Power Dynamics: Davis exploited professional power to harm Naya's career, echoing earlier workplace anxiety.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a turning point for Naya's emotional arc. She breaks her silence about past abuse, revealing the root of her fears about reputation and vulnerability. It strengthens her bond with Jake while setting up future tension because she withholds the identity of her abuser (Davis) who is on the tenure committee.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Naya look away when Jake looks at her?
Answer: Naya looks away because she feels ashamed and vulnerable under his intense gaze, associating it with her past abusive relationship. -
How did Davis sabotage Naya's career after she ended the relationship?
Answer: Davis shared Naya's phone number and photo on a website for people seeking kinky sex, leading to harassment from strangers and some of her students finding out, damaging her reputation. -
What does Naya decide not to tell Jake at the end of the chapter?
Answer: She decides not to tell him that Davis is on her tenure committee, fearing it would complicate things.