Mistakes Were Made Chapter 17 Summary: Breasts, Wolverines, and a Shower Beer

⚠️ 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

Gage Bishop has been actively avoiding Zoey Moody, but her presence above his office is impossible to ignore. He notices a constant stream of visitors to her apartment and a pair of sparkly stilettos left with his assistant Declan. Irritated, Gage confronts Declan, but before he can address the issue with Zoey, a loud thump and a moan from upstairs send him rushing to her door.

He finds Zoey topless, her arms trapped above her head in a twisted, sweat-soaked sports bra. Panicked and nearly suffocating, she begs for his help. Gage struggles with his immediate physical reaction but eventually manages to rip the bra apart, freeing her. Overwhelmed by arousal, he asks to use her shower to cool down. Inside, he masturbates while fantasizing about her, climaxing just as Zoey knocks and offers him a shower beer.

Afterward, they share an awkward conversation. Zoey jokes about the incident, and Gage admits he wants more than sex—a confession that unsettles her. He pins her to the wall to emphasize his seriousness, but she deflects, calling him a good guy and implying she isn’t looking for a relationship. The chapter ends with unresolved sexual tension and the clear acknowledgment that their chemistry is unavoidable.

Key Events

Gage notices Zoey’s apartment activity and finds Declan holding her shoes for sale.
He hears a thump and moan from upstairs and investigates.
Zoey is trapped in a too-tight sports bra, topless, with arms overhead.
Gage attempts a gentlemanly rescue but struggles with his arousal.
He rips the bra apart after scissors are unavailable.
Gage asks to use Zoey’s shower; she agrees.
In the shower, he masturbates, fantasizing about her.
Zoey interrupts with a shower beer offer, causing his climax.
Post-shower, they talk; Zoey teases him about the encounter.
Gage pins her against the wall and admits he wants more than sex.
Zoey deflects, calling him a good guy and emphasizing her independence.

Character Development

Gage: Shows a struggle between self-control and raw desire. Despite trying to be a gentleman, he gives in to biological urges. His admission that he wants more than sex reveals vulnerability and a conflict with his earlier intention to marry someone else.
Zoey: Demonstrates vulnerability and humor. Though she panics, she uses wit to defuse tension. She refuses charity, selling possessions to pay rent, and insists she needs nothing from Gage—underscoring her independence and wariness of emotional involvement.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Control vs. chaos: Gage’s orderly world clashes with Zoey’s unpredictable, messy life. The trapped-sports-bra crisis embodies that clash.
Physical vulnerability: Zoey’s topless predicament and Gage’s loss of control highlight their raw, undeniable chemistry.
The bra as a barrier: The sports bra symbolizes the artificial boundaries they maintain; its destruction brings them physically and emotionally closer.
Domestic intimacy: Zoey’s offer of a shower beer—a casual, familiar gesture—blurs the lines between helpfulness and sexual tension, triggering Gage’s climax.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter marks a major escalation in the Gage–Zoey relationship. It shatters the professional landlord–tenant facade and forces Gage to confront the depth of his attraction. The comedic yet heated rescue scene is a turning point, establishing mutual desire while setting up future conflict—especially since Gage already believes Zoey is not the woman he will marry. The unresolved tension drives the narrative forward.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Gage decide to intervene when he hears a thump from Zoey’s apartment?
Gage heard a muffled screech and immediately feared a disaster involving Zoey and her bald eagle. Despite his plan to avoid her, concern overrides his self-control.
How does Zoey’s reaction to being caught topless differ from Gage’s expectations?
Zoey is mortified but desperately practical, not seductive. She treats the situation as an emergency and urges him to help without hesitation, using humor and direct orders. Her bluntness contrasts with Gage’s stunned arousal.
What does Gage’s shower scene reveal about his internal conflict?
Masturbating in her shower while fantasizing about her shows his lack of discipline around her. He feels pathetic and disrespectful, yet he cannot resist. It underscores the tension between his desire to be a gentleman and his overwhelming physical want.