The Boyfriend: Chapter 65 Summary & 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
Sydney, still disoriented from the oleander she was drugged with, lies on the floor of Randy’s apartment. She overhears Tom explaining livor mortis to Gretchen, who intends to kill her. Sydney tries to escape but is too weak. Police sirens sound; Tom admits he called the police before entering. Gretchen is furious but then proposes that she and Tom run away together. Tom initially hesitates but ultimately agrees, saying he can’t live without her. Gretchen wants to kill Sydney first, but Tom threatens not to go with her if she hurts Sydney. Gretchen tosses the knife away, and the couple flees together through a secret exit. The police arrive, and Sydney passes out.
Key Events
- Sydney attempts to escape but cannot overcome the effects of the drug.
- Tom reveals he called the police, having intended to stop Gretchen all along.
- Gretchen switches from rage to a desperate plea for Tom to join her on the run.
- Tom agrees to go with Gretchen after she professes she cannot live without him.
- Gretchen prepares to kill Sydney; Tom stops her by making his continued presence conditional on Sydney’s safety.
- Gretchen drops the knife and she and Tom escape through a secret exit.
- Police arrive; Sydney loses consciousness.
Character Development
- Sydney – Despite being incapacitated, she remains mentally sharp, analyzing the situation and weighing escape options. Her final line of thought shows acceptance and a desperate hope that Jake will not blame himself.
- Gretchen (Daisy) – Her true emotional range is revealed: genuine happiness when Tom agrees to stay with her, contrasted with her earlier fake joy with Randy. She is willing to abandon her plan to kill Sydney only when forced by Tom.
- Tom – He grapples with his loyalty to Sydney versus his decades-long connection to Daisy. He calls the police but cannot bring himself to stop her from escaping. His final concession—“no more killing”—shows a moral line he will not cross, yet his phrasing (“well, that’s different”) leaves ambiguity.
- Randy – Dead on the sofa; his role in this chapter is as a corpse that Tom and Gretchen discuss as if he were a prop, underscoring their detachment.
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
- Oleander / Poison – The drug continues to symbolize deceit and slow control; Sydney’s inability to move mirrors her earlier powerlessness in the relationship with “the boyfriend.”
- Lividity / Decomposition – Tom’s lesson on livor mortis becomes a grotesque bonding moment for the couple, highlighting their shared fascination with death and their professional identities.
- Doors & Exits – The front door represents freedom for Sydney (out of reach), while the secret exit through the laundry room symbolizes Gretchen and Tom’s ability to slip away from accountability.
- False Happiness vs. Genuine Emotion – Gretchen’s earlier joy with Randy is revealed to be performative; her real affection shows when she cries and pleads with Tom.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter solidifies the final pillar of the novel’s central relationship: Tom’s complicity. By choosing to run with Gretchen, he abandons his entire life—his career, his identity, and his moral stance. The chapter also raises the stakes for Sydney: she survives only because Tom draws a temporary red line, but the reader is left uncertain whether Gretchen will keep her promise. The police arrival signals the end of the siege but not the end of the story, as the killers remain at large.
Study Questions & Answers
1. Why does Tom agree to go with Gretchen despite having called the police?
Tom’s agreement stems from his unresolved feelings for Daisy—a connection spanning twenty years. He tells her “I can’t live without you either,” showing that his emotional bond overrides his rational decision to involve the authorities. His earlier call may have been an attempt to stop her without having to betray her, but her plea forces him to choose.
2. What does Tom’s condition—“No more killing”—reveal about his character?
Tom still attempts to hold on to a moral code. He wants to be with Daisy but not at the cost of further murders. However, his quick addition of “unless they deserve it” hints at a flexible morality, suggesting he may rationalize future violence to protect their escape.
3. How does Sydney’s perspective shift during this chapter?
Sydney moves from active resistance (trying to sit up, planning to run) to passive survival (hoping Tom’s condition works). Her final thought before passing out is a message to Jake, absolving him of guilt. This shows growth in her acceptance of what she cannot control, while retaining emotional clarity.