Wild Side Chapter 38 (Tabitha) – 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
After a silent, awkward meal together, Tabitha suggests attending Gwen’s yoga class. Rhys asks if she wants to be alone, and Tabitha realizes, for the first time, she doesn’t want to be alone—she wants Rhys with her. They walk to class holding hands. Gwen greets them with a comment about their “newlywed glow” and the sacral chakra. Tabitha jokes about unblocking Rhys’s sacral chakra, sparking a playful exchange that leads to flirtation and a light spank. During the class, Tabitha finds herself distracted by Rhys’s physique and notices other women staring. Instead of jealousy, she feels possessive excitement, deciding to initiate sex when they return home.
Key Events
- Tabitha and Rhys share a meal in a tense but charged atmosphere.
- Tabitha proposes attending Gwen’s yoga class together.
- Rhys asks if Tabitha wants to be alone; she admits she doesn’t.
- They walk hand-in-hand to the studio; Rhys takes her hand to warm it.
- Gwen greets them, referencing the sacral chakra.
- Rhys helps Tabitha remove her coat without her asking.
- Rhys teases Tabitha with a whispered threat and a light slap on her bottom.
- During yoga, Tabitha watches other women looking at Rhys and feels possessive excitement.
- The chapter ends with Tabitha committing to “jump his bones” as soon as they get home.
Character Development
Tabitha: This chapter marks a significant emotional shift. She acknowledges that she doesn’t want to be alone—a departure from her usual independence. Her humor and vulnerability surface when she jokingly claims credit for “unblocking” Rhys’s sacral chakra. Her reaction to other women’s attention reveals a possessive streak, but one that energizes rather than threatens her. She feels a new, smitten thrill in the mundane act of their coats hanging side by side.
Rhys: Rhys shows increasing openness. He admits he sees a therapist, demonstrating willingness to work on himself. His playful side emerges—winking, teasing, and slapping Tabitha’s bottom in a public space. He also displays quiet care by warming her hand, hanging her coat, and asking about her needs. The “many feelings” behind his few words become more visible to Tabitha.
Supporting (Gwen): Gwen’s brief appearance reinforces the story’s light, community-oriented tone. Her focus on sacral chakras becomes a source of humor and a symbol of the sexual reconnection between Tabitha and Rhys.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Vulnerability and Togetherness: Tabitha’s admission that she doesn’t want to be alone challenges her earlier guardedness. It signals the deepening of her emotional bond with Rhys.
- The Sacral Chakra (Motif): Used humorously by Gwen, it becomes a running joke about the couple’s sexual and emotional healing. Tabitha embraces the idea that she “unblocked” Rhys, blending laughter with intimacy.
- Possessiveness vs. Jealousy: Tabitha’s reaction to other women staring at Rhys is not anger but excitement. It highlights her competitive nature and her evolving sense of ownership over their relationship.
- Public vs. Private Intimacy: The yoga class setting forces them to interact in a social space. Their private jokes and touches (hand-holding, the spank) create a shared secret, strengthening their bond.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 38 provides a crucial turning point in Tabitha and Rhys’s relationship after their surprise marriage. It moves them out of awkward silence into genuine play and mutual desire. Tabitha’s internal shift from “mine and yours” to “us” is explicitly articulated. The chapter also balances emotional growth with humor and sexual tension, advancing both the romance and the character arcs. It sets up the next chapter with a clear cliffhanger of physical anticipation.
Study Questions and Answers
1. What does Tabitha realize about her feelings toward Rhys in this chapter? Where does she express this realization?
She realizes she doesn’t want to be alone and that, for the first time, she wants to do everything with him. She expresses this when Rhys asks if she wants to be alone: “I don’t want to be alone.”
2. How does the yoga setting contribute to the dynamic between Tabitha and Rhys?
The public, semi-structured environment of a yoga class forces them to interact under the gaze of others. It allows for playful dominance (the spank), shared humor (the chakra joke), and a display of physical intimacy that makes Tabitha feel possessive and excited. It contrasts their previous private awkwardness.
3. In what ways does Rhys demonstrate emotional growth in this chapter? Provide at least two examples.
Rhys acknowledges he has a therapist, which Tabitha approves of, indicating he is working on his mental health. He also proactively cares for Tabitha—warming her hand, hanging her coat—without being asked, showing increased emotional attunement.