Chapter 30: Tabitha – From Flirting to Vulnerability (Wild Side)

⚠️ 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

As Rhys leaves for work, Tabitha is overcome by the dread of missing him. Their relationship has shifted from mutual dislike and a shared love for Milo to something richer—mutual respect tinged with obsession. Alone at home, she watches wrestling out of curiosity and starts a playful text exchange with Rhys about shaving legs, which turns flirty. He admits he isn't allergic to her cat, Cleocatra, and even worries about the cat’s feelings while he’s gone. Later, she sees a televised promo where a female wrestler named Elle claims to have “my man, Wild Side,” sparking jealousy. Rhys assures her the storyline is fake. Their conversation deepens as Rhys opens up about his wrestling career, from high school to training in Mexico and Japan, and the meaning behind his mask. Tabitha feels privileged to know the man behind the persona. They exchange affectionate texts, and Rhys calls her “my girl.” She falls asleep with her phone, his final message a quiet affirmation: “You are.”

Key Events

Rhys leaves for work; Tabitha feels a powerful sense of loss and acknowledges her changing feelings.
Tabitha sends a flirty text about leg shaving, launching a playful back-and-forth that includes Rhys admitting he sleeps with Cleocatra.
Tabitha watches her husband's wrestling show and sees his character’s storyline involving a female partner named Elle, which triggers jealousy.
Rhys immediately clarifies the story is fake and unknown to him beforehand.
Rhys shares intimate details of his wrestling history and the inspiration for his mask, revealing his desire for privacy.
Tabitha expresses feeling special for knowing both Rhys and Wild Side.
Rhys ends the night with a single, vulnerable text: “You are.”

Character Development

Tabitha grows from seeing their arrangement as purely transactional to craving emotional intimacy. Her jealousy over a scripted storyline shows her deepening attachment. She also becomes more open about her curiosity and support for Rhys's world.
Rhys breaks his pattern of emotional reserve. By sharing his past and his mask’s significance—and by openly worrying about the cat—he shows trust and a willingness to be known. The “my girl” text and final “You are” signal his investment in the relationship.
Milo remains off-screen but is mentioned as a bond between Tabitha and Rhys.
Cleocatra (the cat) serves as a symbol of Rhys’s softening; he admits to liking her and worried about her well-being.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Anonymity vs. intimacy: Rhys’s mask represents his public persona; sharing its history with Tabitha is a profound act of vulnerability.
Performance and reality: The wrestling storyline blurs truth and fiction, mirroring the characters’ own uncertainty about the nature of their marriage.
Jealousy as a catalyst: Tabitha’s reaction to Elle forces her to confront her genuine feelings for Rhys.
Small joys: The mundane—texting, a cat, a sandwich—become vehicles for connection.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 30 marks a turning point in Tabitha and Rhys’s relationship. The flirty texts and Rhys’s personal revelations dismantle the remaining barriers between them. For the first time, Tabitha feels fully included in his life, and Rhys demonstrates trust by lowering his guard. The chapter also deepens the world-building around Rhys’s wrestling career, setting up potential conflicts involving his character’s storyline and the mystery of his unmasking. This quiet, intimate chapter solidifies their emotional bond and prepares readers for the challenges ahead.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does Tabitha’s perception of her relationship with Rhys change over the course of this chapter?
She moves from viewing their arrangement as purely for Milo’s sake to acknowledging mutual respect, obsession, and a desire for deeper connection. Her jealousy over the wrestling storyline highlights her romantic investment.

2. What does Rhys’s decision to share his wrestling history and mask’s meaning reveal about his character?
It shows he is willing to be vulnerable with Tabitha, trusting her with parts of himself he keeps hidden from the public. The mask represents his need for privacy, and sharing it is a gift of intimacy.

3. In what way does the cat Cleocatra function as a symbol in this chapter?
Cleocatra is initially a tool for Tabitha to annoy Rhys, but his admission of sleeping with her and worry about her feelings symbolizes his softening toward Tabitha—and toward himself. The cat becomes a shared point of affection.