Chapter 22: Rhys – The Wedding Reception Escalation
⚠️ 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
The chapter opens with a text exchange between Rhys and Tabitha: she jokes about his cat allergy, and he replies that he is undergoing “exposure therapy.” Rhys reflects on Tabitha’s backless dress, the kiss they shared, and her habit of driving him crazy—getting a cat, ditching him on a bowling team, and now wearing a dress that makes casual touch impossible without feeling her bare skin.
At the Bighorn Bistro reception, the small group includes Ford and Rosie, West and Skylar, and Bash and Crazy Clyde. Rhys keeps his hand on Tabitha’s bare back throughout dinner. They speak with Tabitha’s parents, Paul and Lisa, who seem determined to make the day happy despite Erika’s absence. Paul tells a story about Tabitha’s first disastrous lemon chicken dish. When her parents ask about the honeymoon and Rhys’s job, Tabitha casually invents that he is a stuntman—even joking that he is called when Jason Momoa is too scared. Rhys feels uneasy about lying but doesn’t correct her.
After the parents leave, Tabitha’s teasing escalates. She slips her hand under his jacket, pokes his side, and asks, “What’s wrong, husband? You look like you can’t decide whether you want to kill me or fuck me.” Rhys responds by sliding his hand down her back, breaching the dropped hemline, and hooking his fingers under the side of her underwear. He tells her, “Nothing fake about how wet you are right now.” Tabitha reminds him the marriage is fake, then presses her thigh between his legs, kisses him just beside his mouth, and walks away—leaving Rhys alone, aroused, and thinking thoughts about his wife that he admits were not there days ago.
Key Events
- The chapter opens with flirtatious texts about Rhys’s cat allergy and Tabitha’s dress.
- At the reception, Rhys repeatedly touches Tabitha’s bare back.
- Tabitha’s parents quiz the couple about the honeymoon and Rhys’s profession.
- Tabitha lies that Rhys is a stuntman.
- Tabitha teases Rhys with a sexually charged question (“kill you or fuck me”).
- Rhys slips his hand down Tabitha’s dress and tugs her underwear.
- Tabitha counters by pressing against his erection and kissing him near his mouth.
- She walks away, leaving Rhys aroused and reflecting on his changing feelings.
Character Development
Rhys is shown wrestling with his growing physical attraction to Tabitha. He is protective of his privacy, uncomfortable lying about his job, and unaccustomed to losing control. The chapter reveals his inner conflict: he wants her but knows the marriage is a sham. His final admission that his thoughts have shifted signals emotional vulnerability.
Tabitha demonstrates her quick wit and comfort in public deception, easily inventing a stuntman story. She also takes charge in their flirtation, turning the tables on Rhys when he gets too bold. Her confidence grows throughout the evening, though the undercurrent of the “fake” arrangement remains clear.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Fake vs. real is central: the wedding seems real to others, but both characters repeatedly acknowledge its falseness. Yet Rhys’s claim that her arousal is “nothing fake” blurs the line. Privacy and lying appear when Rhys avoids revealing his true job; Tabitha’s lie protects his privacy but also distances them from honesty. Teasing as a language of desire drives their interaction, masking genuine emotion with playful barbs.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter marks a turning point in Rhys and Tabitha’s relationship. Their physical tension peaks, and Rhys admits that his feelings are shifting in ways they were not days earlier. The public setting heightens the stakes, forcing them to navigate the charade while their real attraction surfaces. The chapter sets up the inevitable confrontation between the fake arrangement and their growing emotional connection.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Tabitha lie to her parents about Rhys being a stuntman?
She invents the story on the spot to protect Rhys’s privacy, knowing he dislikes discussing his work. Her joke about “touring male stripper” shows she also enjoys the power of keeping his real identity hidden. -
How does Rhys’s internal reaction to the flirting differ from his outward behavior?
Outwardly, Rhys plays along with the banter and escalates the physical touch. Inwardly, he is distracted, aroused, and unsettled by his desire. He admits his thoughts about Tabitha have changed, which conflicts with the logical understanding that the marriage is temporary. -
What does the final scene reveal about Rhys’s emotional state?
After Tabitha walks away, Rhys is left alone with a “raging hard-on and a brain full of thoughts about my wife that I swear weren’t there mere days ago.” This signals that his feelings are moving beyond mere physical attraction, creating emotional stakes in the fake marriage.