Chapter 23 – Diana: Rehearsal, Conflict, and a Friends-with-Benefits Offer
⚠️ 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 (Chronological)
Diana returns home from work on Saturday afternoon expecting to rehearse with Shane, but he is still golfing with Will. While waiting, she catches up on the reality show Fling or Forever, observing the ongoing drama between characters Faith, Ky, Donovan, Leni, and a new woman named Marissa.
Around seven, Shane texts that he is ready. Diana decides to hold their first rehearsal outside on the grass near the tennis courts. She wears black booty shorts and a neon-orange sports bra, bringing her laptop, external speaker, and tripod.
Shane jokes about her girls’ night with Gisele and Will. Diana teases him about texting his ex, but he reveals it was his father—they are close and have long text conversations. Diana finds this heartwarming.
The rehearsal begins. Shane has never danced the cha-cha, though he briefly dated a ballerina. Diana explains the rhythm: slow, quick quick, slow, quick quick. She positions his hands and guides him through the chasse step. Shane struggles with timing and hip movement, looking stiff and frustrated. Diana touches his butt to demonstrate how to roll the hips, comparing dancing to “vertical sex.” Shane jokes about the premise sounding like a bad porn scene. They gradually improve, and Shane’s movements become looser.
Their neighbor Carla interrupts, accusing them of lewd behavior. Diana assures her they are rehearsing for a dance competition. Carla threatens to raise the matter at the HOA meeting. Diana and Shane laugh it off, with Shane calling himself the “wildcard” of the complex.
After thirty minutes, Diana concludes that the cha-cha may not be suitable for the audition video due in a few weeks. She considers switching to the tango, which might be easier for Shane to master in time.
On their walk back, Diana mentions needing to finish watching Fling or Forever. Shane surprises her by revealing he already watched it. He offers to pick up dinner so they can watch together, then suggests they consider a friends-with-benefits arrangement. Diana mockingly declines, inventing a lengthy application process for such arrangements. Shane plays along, but Diana makes clear she is not interested.
As they pass Sweet Birch, Percy suddenly exits the front door. Diana’s anxiety spikes. She tries to ignore him and pulls Shane forward. Percy calls her name, but she refuses to respond. Her throat tightens, and she feels helpless and trapped. She wants to call her father but resolves to handle the problem herself. Once inside the lobby, Shane offers to confront Percy, but Diana says she hopes ignoring him will make him go away. She then lies about having a headache, cancels dinner plans, and retreats to her apartment alone.
Key Events
- Diana and Shane hold their first cha-cha rehearsal outside, but Shane struggles with the dance steps and timing.
- Diana reveals she monetizes her dance videos to help pay for groceries, and Shane agrees to be filmed only if he gets approval of any posted content.
- Neighbor Carla interrupts the rehearsal, threatening to report them for lewd behavior to the HOA.
- Diana decides the cha-cha might not work for the audition and considers switching to the tango.
- Shane proposes a friends-with-benefits arrangement; Diana jokingly refuses.
- Percy appears unexpectedly, triggering Diana’s anxiety. She ignores him and ends the evening early.
Character Development
Diana Dixon shows vulnerability for the first time when she admits she relies on the income from her dance videos. She hates revealing weakness, especially to someone with financial privilege like Shane. Her anxiety around Percy resurfaces—she feels trapped and helpless, yet she refuses to ask her father for help, determined to solve her own problems. This internal conflict between rage and shame continues to define her emotional state.
Shane Lindley demonstrates unexpected patience during the frustrating rehearsal, following Diana’s instructions even when he feels ridiculous. His willingness to be filmed (with veto power) shows his growing trust in Diana. He also reveals a softer side in his close relationship with his father. While his friends-with-benefits proposition is delivered with typical arrogance, it underscores his genuine physical attraction to Diana and his desire for more than their current arrangement.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Performance and authenticity: The dance rehearsal blurs the line between performance for an audience (the video) and genuine interaction between Diana and Shane. Diana’s comment that dancing is “vertical sex” mirrors the fake relationship she and Shane are maintaining for Percy’s benefit, questioning where the act ends and reality begins.
- Financial disparity and independence: Diana’s discomfort in admitting her reliance on video monetization highlights the economic gap between her and Shane. Her attachment to the condo as a “lifelong investment” reflects her need for security and autonomy.
- Trauma response: Percy’s sudden appearance triggers a physical anxiety reaction in Diana—tight throat, light-headedness, loss of appetite. Her instinct to avoid rather than confront shows how the abuse continues to shape her behavior, even though the bruise has healed.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter advances the emotional and physical intimacy between Diana and Shane through the dance rehearsal, which forces them into close contact and requires trust. It also reveals new layers of vulnerability: Diana’s financial pressures and her unresolved trauma, Shane’s hidden patience and family closeness. Percy’s reappearance reintroduces an active threat, raising the stakes for Diana’s safety and for the fake relationship. Shane’s friends-with-benefits offer introduces a new dimension to their arrangement, setting up future romantic or sexual tension.
Study Questions
1. Why does Diana initially choose the cha-cha for the audition video, and what makes her reconsider?
Diana chooses the cha-cha because it is fast and lively, and she believes she can teach Shane the basic steps. However, after seeing how stiff and uncomfortable he is during rehearsal, she worries they will not be good enough in time for the audition deadline. She starts to think the tango might be a better choice for their skill level and timeframe.
2. How does Diana react when Percy appears on the path, and what does this reveal about her emotional state?
Diana immediately tries to ignore Percy, quickening her pace and pulling Shane forward. She feels her throat compress with anxiety—a familiar sensation she hates. This reveals that despite the bruise healing and Percy being blocked, she still feels helpless and trapped. She suppresses the urge to call her father and insists on solving the problem herself, indicating she is struggling with both fear and pride.
3. What is the purpose of Shane’s friends-with-benefits proposal, and how does Diana respond?
Shane proposes a long-term friends-with-benefits arrangement, arguing that since they are already pretending to be attracted to each other for Percy’s sake, they might as well make it real. Diana responds with mockery, inventing a fictional application process and placing him at the bottom of the waitlist. Her refusal signals that she is not yet comfortable blurring the lines further, despite her admitted physical attraction to him.