Wild Side Chapter 32 Summary & Analysis – Tabitha

⚠️ 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

Tabitha drops Milo off for a camping trip with her grandparents and confronts her mother about the family’s refusal to speak of her deceased sister, Erika. After securing a promise that Milo will be allowed to talk about his mom, Tabitha returns home. She channels her restless energy into renovating the basement guest room for Rhys—buying furniture, sewing curtains, and adding personal photos to make the space warm. That night, she watches Rhys’s wrestling match on TV. She marvels at his performance, flinches at the staged violence, and feels pride and jealousy when a female wrestler allies with him on screen. The chapter ends with Tabitha sending Rhys a text: “I’m proud of you.”

Key Events

Tabitha drops Milo off with her parents for a camping trip. She insists they let Milo talk about Erika and not pretend she never existed. Her mother tearfully agrees.
Tabitha buys a bed frame, nightstands, bedding, towels, and sews curtains for the basement room she originally gave Rhys out of anger.
She decorates the room with a rug, mirror, knickknacks, and photos—including a wedding photo of her and Rhys.
Alone for the evening, she hesitates to watch Rhys’s match but turns it on, torn between excitement and fear of seeing him kiss another woman on screen.
She watches the entire segment: Rhys’s entrance as Wild Side, his in-ring promo targeting a rival named Will, and a two-on-one attack.
Rhys executes a chokeslam (Over the Mountain) and a moonsault off the top rope, making the staged violence look seamless and safe.
A female wrestler (Elle) enters with a chair to help Rhys; she takes his hand and claims him as “my man.”
Tabitha feels reassurance at Rhys’s scowl toward Elle, but also jealousy.
She sends Rhys a text: “I’m proud of you.”

Character Development

Tabitha shows growth by confronting her parents about Erika’s erasure—a direct challenge to the “perfect daughter” role she has played. Her decision to improve the guest room reveals her love language (acts of service) and her desire to care for Rhys. Watching the match, she moves from avoidance to full engagement, and her vulnerable text proves she is willing to risk emotional exposure.
Rhys (off-screen) is developed through his wrestling persona, Wild Side. The chapter highlights the gulf between his public confidence in the ring and his private insecurity. Tabitha notes that he might not realize how loved he is or that both sides of him are part of a “perfectly lovable whole.”
Tabitha’s mother appears briefly but shows a flash of pain when she almost refers to raising two daughters, revealing ongoing grief that the family suppresses.

Themes, Symbols, and Motifs

Grief and Avoidance: Tabitha’s parents cope with Erika’s death by refusing to mention her. Tabitha uses busyness (“busy hurts less”) to avoid sitting with her own grief. The chapter contrasts healthy acknowledgment with painful erasure.
Acts of Service as Love: Tabitha’s renovation of the basement room is a concrete apology and an invitation for Rhys to feel cared for. The details—fresh curtains, photos, a rug—show she wants to provide the stability he lacked.
Dual Identity: Rhys/Wild Side are presented as two halves of the same person. Tabitha sees his performance as thrilling but also recognizes his vulnerability underneath. The wedding ring on his hand during the segment symbolizes the connection between his private and public selves.
Jealousy vs. Trust: Tabitha wrestles with jealousy over the female wrestler’s interaction with Rhys, but she distinguishes between on-screen fiction and her real feelings. The final text message represents trust and support rather than possessiveness.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point in Tabitha’s emotional arc. She stops smoothing over tension with her parents and starts demanding space for her sister’s memory. Her decision to improve the basement room—initially a punishment for Rhys—signals that she is ready to invest in the relationship beyond the practical arrangement. Watching the match humanizes Rhys in a new way: Tabitha sees his talent and his isolation. Her text “I’m proud of you” is the first raw, unsolicited emotional gift she has given him, moving their connection from obligation to genuine affection. The chapter also deepens the theme of grief, showing that both Tabitha and Rhys carry unresolved losses that they will need to face together.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Tabitha redecorate the basement room, and what does this reveal about her feelings for Rhys?
Tabitha redecorates because she regrets being “combative” and wants to apologize. The effort also masks her loneliness while Milo is away. The act demonstrates that her feelings have shifted from anger to care; she wants Rhys to feel welcomed and safe, not relegated to a “dank dungeon.” It is her love language in action.
How does Tabitha’s conversation with her mother about Erika advance her character growth?
Tabitha explicitly asks her mother to stop pretending Erika never existed—a direct break from her usual role as the easy, perfect daughter. By insisting that Milo be allowed to talk about his mom, she prioritizes emotional honesty over family comfort. This shows she is learning to advocate for herself and for the memory of her sister, even when it causes pain.
What does Tabitha learn about Rhys by watching his wrestling match?
She sees his athletic skill and the adoration of the crowd, but also the violence he endures. More importantly, she recognizes that the confidence Wild Side displays does not match Rhys’s private insecurity. This insight makes her feel both proud and protective, and it motivates her to reach out with a message of support—something that, as she notes, she never would have sent two weeks earlier.