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DITW 14-16: Odyssey 11
🕑 Added 2024-05-11 14:15:11 +0000 UTCGabrielle and Samara had both seen him naked. He was sure of it.
They came together to his desk almost first thing in the morning, full of concern and showing nothing that told him they’d seen any humor in what had happened. That must have been an awful morning for them. Waking up to a medical emergency, everyone running around thinking he’d died. They’d cut his clothes off him. Kimmy had bought all new clothes for him to wear home from Peterborough. But while he was unconscious these two nice women he worked with and whose company he enjoyed had seen him at his weakest and most vulnerable. He’d been in frigid water for around twenty minutes. His dick and nut sack must have retreated to the warmth of his belly. His dick and nut sack had spent all day yesterday up in his body, and that was after a whole medical team warmed him with an infusion. He was pale and thin and Gabrielle and Samara had seen someone they should respect reduced to his weakest form. If he’d seen either of them in a similar disposition, would he be able to see them the same way again later? Would seeing one of them with legs splayed after some dipshit misadventure, their labia all shriveled and out in the open, leave no impression? He’d like to think he could be the better person, be above that juvenile, underdeveloped judgment, but deep down knew he’d never escape thinking about it whenever he was with them.
He tried playing it off with humor. “At least I can say I was in a helicopter now.”
Samara palmed her forehead, eyes rolling back like she felt faint. “Oh, my god.”
“Oh, I wasn’t awake though,” he said, like that made it less of a big deal.
Gabrielle said, “I can’t believe you’re here today. That’s wild.”
“Can’t keep a good man down,” he said, first thing rolling off the top of his mind, an inline arsenal of similar bromides shunting into place.
“We were so worried. Sorry we couldn’t make it to the hospital, we—”
“Don’t worry about that,” he said. “I was out, and then I was awake, and then I was going home.”
Samara sat on his desk corner, eyes brimming with wet compassion. “What were you doing out there? Why did you go in the water?”
“You saw that dock. It goes on forever. I woke up in the middle of the night and thought it would be fun to, you know, take a, take a whizz off the end of it.”
Gabrielle smiled at last, shaking her head, looking at him with wonder, and he thought, just maybe, a little bit of admiration. “I’m just glad you’re okay,” she said.
Samara said, “You were almost blue. Your lips were blue.”
He said, “The water was surprisingly refreshing.”
Gabrielle said, “You were there to clear your head,” smiling, but then letting a little kitty cat out of the bag. They also knew why they were at the party that night.
He smiled too, letting her know the reminder of the party’s purpose did not offend or hurt him, leaning back in his office chair and putting his hands behind his head. Samara played with her necklace, brows knit. He said, “I think it’s pretty clear now.”
Both women smiled and then exchanged a look. Gabrielle said, “There are about a dozen women here interested in what’s going on with you.”
He sat forward again, studying them. “What do you mean by that? What is going on with me?”
Gabrielle said, “We don’t even know,” then laughed. “But you should know there are some women here at Swanson who have their fingers crossed.”
“Fingers crossed for what?”
Samara slid off his desk corner and she and Gabrielle sauntered away, Gabrielle saying, “Don’t be coy, Josh. You know you’re a catch.”
*
The elevator doors opened, but she stayed in the cab, eight-thirty Monday morning, back at work. Anything was possible. Anything could have met her past those open doors.
If someone arrested her today or at least summoned her for questioning, she dressed showing power. Tall in Louboutin heels; slim black Prada pant suit; long, black Gucci overcoat; hair back and shining; red lipstick.
There were two competing philosophies, standing in the closet this morning, wondering what to wear. One: if she dressed well, they’d think she’d done it. If she dressed down, maybe they’d think she was too meek to do what Stone Senior accused her of. But, shit, she had done it. She’d stolen money. Better to dress nice because when she dressed nice, she thought different, acted different, and any edge to keep herself out of jail was worth a shot.
The lobby looked as it looked every morning. Tami at her desk, her office with the light off, sounds of the photocopier from down the hall. It smelled like coffee. She stepped into the lobby and as the doors closed behind her that’s when she expected the RCMP officers to step out from wherever they were hiding and ask her to step aside. But nothing happened. Tami greeted her the way she greeted her every day. Smiling now, getting papers together, no look on her face that said there was something going on and she was told to act normal. Tami did not have the wherewithal to act unknowing given a salacious tidbit like her boss would be arrested later today or would be fired. Tami’s innocent face showed nothing; like she hadn’t heard even a rumor about what her boss had done.
Kimmy greeted her and asked her for messages.
Tami said, “Lou in Kingston, following up on the Pearl River deal; and a contract from GS Freight is coming by courier this morning.”
Kimmy picked up the mail that Tami hadn’t put on her desk yet and leafed through it, finding nothing alarming. “That’s all?”
“That’s all.”
No messages from The Law Society; no messages from Aaron Berg, Esquire; no messages from Stone Senior. All morning she went on like business as usual, and then at eleven, she got a call from the worst person imaginable.
He said, “Good morning, Chang. You free for lunch?”
“It’s tight today, Devlin.”
“I’ll rephrase: You’re not free for lunch because you have an important business meeting that you can’t get out of.”
While talking to him, she’d busied herself, as if he were in the room and she was avoiding eye contact and he would get the message and leave her alone. But he wasn’t here. This was avoidance. She bowed her head and narrowed her eyes, rubbing her temple. Across the room the cranes flew from right to left, the lucky painting her father had bought her for her office when she’d landed this lucrative job; the same painting she’d thought she would witness marched out of the lobby and thrown on the concrete last Friday night. Her breaths came quick and her chest tightened. She said, “Where?”
He said, “The usual place. Twelve-thirty. We’ve got important things to discuss.”
Devlin’s tone was hopeful and upbeat. Did he know by now what was happening? Did his father tell him? Devlin’s voice didn’t sound like he knew what she’d done. But Devlin was sinister. Devlin would take great delight in hurting her if given the chance.
The RCMP were waiting in “the usual place.” Or Berg and Devlin’s father. Or maybe Devlin and his buddy Rumble, and they would pull off her jacket and punch her in the stomach like they’d done to Josh all those years ago. It wasn’t even that long ago.
She told him she’d be there and hung up. Then tried to get back to work but her hands were shaking. She couldn’t hold a piece of paper without it flapping like a dying bird’s wing. She squeezed her hands into tight fists then opened them, doing it over and over, holding out her hands then and staring at them, looking for signs of weakness. Cursing herself.
Steel your nerves. For fuck’s sake, your future depends on it.
*
Devlin answered the door. “Not like you to be late, Chang,” he said, smiling, eyes casual, hooded. Confident.
Her heart galloped in her chest, everything sensible in her brain telling her she never should have come here. The effort to manifest a confident aura pushed her to the limit; no one even knew she was here in this apartment with Devlin.
This was the last place she should be. This was dangerous.
And what about Josh?
It was too late to save Josh from harm. Or from worrying. He wouldn’t care she was here. He would expect her to be here. She should have told him last night. She should have told him everything. And why hadn’t she? Afraid he would disown her. Afraid the timing was so wrong, it would seal the deal in what seemed like Josh’s final verdict on her and their marriage. No good. Wicked. Foul. Maybe one more day to right the wrongs, then she would tell him. If she’d told him, she wouldn’t have to be here. Maybe he would have understood. Maybe he would have held her, tried to comprehend all the inexplicable badness that had flowed from her. Josh could have said there’s no way you’re going back. We’re going to figure this out together. We’ll get you a lawyer. We’ll make things right.
She said, “I got here when I could,” and stepped past him and into the foyer like she didn’t have a care in the world. Devlin closed the door behind her and she closed her eyes, expecting him to hook a powerful forearm around her neck and lift her off her feet, take her to the couch and beat the shit out of her. His hand touched her back, strong but reassuring, not looking to grip her by the back of the neck. Had he ever taken Josh like that, taken him by the back of the neck and pushed her husband’s face into the toilet? Had Rumble flushed?
“Better late than never,” he said. “I’m glad you’re here.”
He took her coat, hung it up on a hook, and then did the strangest thing: he held up a finger to his mouth, as if warning her to be quiet.
Bugs in the house? The RCMP? Why would he shush her?
Devlin saw her scowling, then smiled, nothing to worry about, taking her arm and walking her into the apartment. Not to the couch where they would usually go, and not down the hall to the bedroom, which sometimes they would go to first, bypassing the casual pre-fucking drinks. She was reluctant to go with him, but didn’t resist.
He said, “Let’s get you a drink,” heading to the minibar by the window.
“I can’t,” she said, reminding him. “I’m pr—”
He put a finger to his mouth again, silencing her. She frowned, eyes narrowing on his, showing him he had to explain. Devlin said, “Perrier?”
“Fine,” she said. “What’s going on?”
Devlin went to the bar and plied two ice cubes from a bucket, tossed them in a glass and topped it up with fizzy water. He said, “We’re not alone,” and held out the glass for her to come and take it.
Comments
Bill F Protagoras
Who is apparently too clever for their own good, delivering everything he has ever wanted to her 'truelove's' enemy, and at her most vulnerable moment just when Josh is most humiliated by his own actions? With the temerity of one who has declared herself mother to her boss Devlin's child and vendor of hubby's precious soul, she is placing herself at the mercy of a pathetic man in the only pocket universe where he holds sway... Where she locked up & bolted her last recourse... hope!
Andrew Mellein
Yes, Never heard of the author before. Apparently he published a couple of works but hasn't written anything since. I like the idea of the wife cheating and the husband knowing and spying.
Chris K
Thanks! I'll check it out.
Andrew Mellein
If anyone loved Annie’s Affair. I read another great cheating wife story called Cheater by B Jaye. A wife cheats on her hubby with the ex-con next door. The hubby finds out and installs surveillance to spy and get revenge! It’s up my wheelhouse!
Bill F Protagoras
In my interpretation of Heraclitus's unity of opposites, if you reverse a state or situation you maintain the conflicts of opposition, but if you succeed in forging something similar at least there will be some degree of reconciliation. Or with pragmatic optimism kintsugi or kintsukuroi.
Bill F Protagoras
"His hand touched her back, strong but reassuring, not looking to grip her by the back of the neck. Had he ever taken Josh like that, taken him by the back of the neck and pushed her husband’s face into the toilet?" There the terrier is again but only playfully baring its teeth and slobbering on his little mouse. Yet in her mind Kimmy Chang vicariously visits a past, when the vicious dog's jaws clamp down upon Josh's scrawny neck threatening brusque backbreaking shakes but instead proffering only unendurable mortification... Bow wow!
Bill F Protagoras
In a more serious vein... I seem to have forgotten the dictum that things tend to get worse before they get better. Especially where Devlin is concerned... or do I mean "when"?
Bill F Protagoras
And if Devlin tries one of his hackneyed reverse psychology ploys to get Kimmy to have this threesome... would that make it a Dumble-dare?
Bill F Protagoras
“Work is more than what you bring home.” Kimmy Waters 28 yrs old “Your pussy is just a piece of pie in the bakery, Kimmy.” Devlin... "She would give him her all, her real self. By day she’d be the lawyer, by night, she’d be with her husband, in love with him." July 21 Temptations.
CSH
Devlin + Rumble = Dumble.
Bill F Protagoras
As for Devlin AND Rumble... which for some reason even makes ME feel yucky... that would definitely be the final nail in the coffin for Josh's marriage. He might even be tempted to euthanise Kimmy... I presume that would get him a more lenient prison sentence in Canada. Not the temptation, but committing the crime. I wonder if conspiracy to be tempted to commit a crime is a crime...
CSH
No, i get it. I was just using you as an excuse to satisfy my sleazy desires, lol.
Bill F Protagoras
I was, I'm afraid, being sarcastic, C... My incredible deductive powers leading me to suspect that KT hasn't been working so hard just to quickly wind things up to get that cage off Jonny's dick or finally get Maceo's enticing youthful hot rod into Janie's prime pussy and stop it purring like an idling motor in the chill Winter air. I love both of them... but it won't hurt THEM to wait! Could be the very opposite!
Bill F Protagoras
I hadn't thought of Bob Newhart... but yes!
JL23
The Bob Newhart ending, but with a nocturnal emission. I like it.
CSH
This was well done again but clearly preliminary so not much to say about the plot development. I like the quick turnabout in the confidence levels of the characters but suspect we will head back at some point to a balance. They have been on a roller coaster ride lately. Interested to see where this goes now. Would Devlin's dad be at the apartment and not the office? Something else about the business subplot? If it is the Dad I would like it if he reassures Kimmy in some way. This might open the door for her to confess to Josh. I would enjoy it more if it was sexual, Amy perhaps, as others suggested. Or Rumble but Kimmy doesn’t get “beat up”. Only banged up. There would be a certain wicked pleasure in Josh being at work feeling new found confidence in his sexuality while his wife engages in a nasty threesome. That would take us back to the netorare type story, anyway. Yes, my mind is in the gutter, I know, I know. But if we are at the end of this book as Bill thinks we might as well end it with a big bang.
L_S87
While KT is great at subterfuge, Amy does make the most sense, especially when you consider she had the weekend to show up. It's far from a sure thing, but I find it makes sense from a perspective of wrapping her into the storyline rather then leaving her as a loose thread or an unsatisfying "btw" addition of a few sentences on what happens with her. I initially thought Kimmy might send her the video and rub Amy's nose in how much control she has over Devlin and that she can play panty games too, but that's looking less likely now. I do wonder if Josh shows up. If Kimmy left her phone on, trying to show Josh that she's done with hiding from him, then he'll know she's there. And while I generally think his attitude would be indifference or telling her he knew he couldn't trust her, they're done since she's obviously still fucking Devlin, I wonder if he takes her "I have to" from the last chapter in the way I think she meant it. "I'm trapped". Would Josh contemplate that and decide he wanted to show up to rescue Kimmy? She may not deserve it, but he doesn't hate Kimmy, he still cares. And he loaths Devlin. "I can throw that chair again if I have too. I'm not that weak. This weekend showed it. So did Samara and Gabrielle." It would certainly cement in Kimmy's mind how special Josh is and that she needs to fix this. Then again, if Josh shows up and finds a naked threesome of debauchery.... well... that's an answer too.
JL23
It seems most likely it’s Amy. If the father was there to drop the hammer on Kimmy stealing, Devlin wouldn’t be able to hide that from her as she walked in. And I don’t think Devlin has a kinky sex game going on where he shares women with his dad. So I do think it’s most likely Amy. If it is, that’s why I’m interested in Kimmy’s reaction to whatever they’ve cooked up. If she reacts with revulsion and shame, then maybe there’s hope of reconciliation with Josh. If she submits to her lusts, then I can’t see where she can have that happy ending, with Josh at least. I’m kind of also at the point where I really it’s time to “you know what” or get off the pot for Kimmy and Josh. I’m not sure we can go many more chapters with them not communicating and doing their own thing. Either figure out a way to move forward together, or realize their desires are incompatible and move on. There needs to be some kind of definitive incident to move this story into the final stages. Maybe the next chapter will provide that.
L_S87
When I brought it up, I was thinking more along the lines of Sr. wanting to jettison Devlin and have Kimmy there as witness when he hands things over to her. I don't think either your scenario or mine is likely, but it's a fun hypothetical. I'm in the Amy camp on this one. I could definitely see Amy showing up and Devlin deciding to show Kimmy how good of a "partner" he can be by doing what he said before when Kimmy read him the riot act. That he's not interested in Amy and is happy to let her go in favor of Kimmy. Or, maybe that was just Devlin being Devlin, and he's going to try to con both of them into a 3 way. Or discuss how the 3 of them can set Josh up for the fantasy Kimmy regaled him with last time of Josh being a house husband. If it's anything sexual or deviant related, we'll get Kimmy's measure pretty quick on just how impactful Josh's near death was to her outlook on more deviltry.
Andrew Mellein
From my reading the series: I could see once the cock cage comes off Jonny performing admirably in bed with Charlie. Remember early in the book he was having wood issues and I don’t think they truly had real sex in the series. But once the cock cage went on and Jonny’s witnessing of Charlie’s repeated fucking by Reza and Tate I think it actually helped him with his dick! I think after all this Charlie knows how sexy and desirable she is to other men. I could see them moving into hot wife territory but no Reza and Tate in their lives. And rich from Jonny videos game.
Pete
One of the aspects I love about DITW is how the characters evolve. When KT does return to the Landlord series, I'm really curious to see if/how Charlie evolves: 1. What is the impact of fucking Reza daily, in front of Jonny? The impact of having her BF be the one to cage Jonny? The effect on her of watching him submit to being and staying caged? Of looking at daily, and getting used to, Jonny with a caged cock...all while Reza makes her cum so hard, day after day. How does that shape her values, her desires, her lust, her perception of right and wrong, and her perception of Jonny? Does that re-wire her fantasy life; what makes her wet; what she sexually craves? Does she begin to associate Jonny's subjugation with her own sexual pleasure? 2. And how does it impact Jonny? As he makes one concession, then another, then another, is Jonny slowly complying more and more readily? Is he growing accustomed to bowing down to Reza? There is a clear hierarchy between them. As it extends longer and longer, how long before we begin to see signs that Jonny is internalizing it?
Bill F Protagoras
If you decide to finish it abruptly I would suggest this ending... Then Josh woke up in bed beside Kimmy, and realized it had all been a wet dream!
Bill F Protagoras
Just when Tracey and myself were gazing in wonder at all the possibilities that the complex situations before us could bring... Oh, well... Wot the hell! Wot the hell! Toujours gai...
Bill F Protagoras
Apparently, you're about to end the novel again... Maybe you 'should've' let Josh top himself. And your use of the words 'no matter how long it takes' were clearly unnecessary.
Bill F Protagoras
It is telling that Josh is regaled with new information about his attractiveness... Whilst Kimmy imagines being subjected to a sound drubbing by born again high school bullies. Perhaps it's paranoia about her delicate 'condition'... I mean what else could it possibly signify?
Pete
Devlin and Stone Sr being in cahoots. Wow, JL, I hadn't even considered that. That would be a twist! It would open up a wide range of possibilities: 1. How much does Stone Sr know about Kimmy, Devlin, and Josh? 2. Did Stone Sr tell Devlin about Kimmy stealing, and the hard evidence and leverage he now has over her? 3. If he and his son are in cahoots, does that leverage now become Devlin's? I had just assumed that Devlin hated his father, or vice versa, but it's equally possible that they're cut from the same cloth, and they have a very tight father/son bond.
Bill F Protagoras
Haven't noticed any mistakes, on your part... but I will check again later. Checked... couldn't find anything wrong. Thought that Kimmy's little fantasy about an affectionate Josh holding her protectively in her time of need was a good sign. But for all we know such thoughts have sprung up unbidden over the last three months or so...
JL23
Sorry, I spew all my visceral reactions to the chapter as soon as I read it lol. It could be the father, but I would see that a very bad development for Kimmy. That would show Devlin and the father are more in cahoots than she realized, and any chance she had to truly destroy Devlin through his presence at Stone Brokerage was for naught. Yeah, the reason I think Amy was that he stopped Kimmy from saying she was pregnant out loud. He wouldn’t want Amy to know, and it’s possible he got Amy here as a bit of penance for messing up with Josh (and for Kimmy’s “gift” of having his baby and manipulating Josh to raise it as his own). Rather than being in league with Amy, he might be thinking they can manipulate her together, as a “team,” and give Kimmy a chance to get revenge on her somehow. As for Josh, I just don’t know if he can ever see himself the way others see him. And everything with Kimmy and Devlin has him even more obsessed with penis size, and how that defines a man. There is no way either of those women saw a hypothermic Josh and thought “look how small his dick is.” But that’s the first thing that comes to his mind. Feels like Josh needs Kimmy to prove she has changed, and Kimmy needs Josh to prove he still loves her. But they’re too afraid to tell the other one that, so instead they pull further apart and hope the other one makes the grand gesture they’re looking for. But it could just be they move so far apart they end up not being able to see each other anymore.
Andrew Mellein
I want to see KT take a stab at Landlord and Six Weeks in Winter next! The truth is I joined this Paetron to see what happened to Six Weeks. And then I fell in love with Devil in the Waters and most of her other works. I think she is my favorite writer in this genre followed by Ben Boswell and Kenny Wright. Her characters unlike the other writers feel real and I love when she tackles long epics like this because we get to know the characters and their world. Most writers are one and done and you don’t get any sense to the character’s motivations like why or how. It’s just generic sex scenes.
Andrew Mellein
How many books are left?
Andrew Mellein
Yes! I hope Kimmy has the good sense to turn down any perceived threesome with Devlin and Amy like last time! But I don’t have much faith in Kimmy at this point!
Steve McCarty
Great points about Josh's self esteem and what seems to be Kimmy's clear mistake in not revealing her fraud to Josh when she clearly knew it was the best way forward with the marriage. If it is Amy in the apartment could she be the devil whispering in Devlin's ear that convinced him that he was clever enough to steal his daddy's money?
Pete
Ohhhh, I LOVE the way this chapter ends. What a great tease!
L_S87
Lots of possibilities, but given this is at Devlin's place, this makes the most sense to me too. Perhaps Amy and Devlin have a desire to recreate that threesome that never happened? It would be a great way to draw Amy back into the story and provide some resolution for that loose end. Would be even more spectacular if Josh showed up after having seen Kimmy turning her tracking off again and made assumptions, wanting to finally confront this and resolve it, one way or another.
L_S87
honestly, I'm ready for this to wrap and move on. I love the characters, and the story, but I'd like to see some resolution for Josh, one way or another (I know my preferences, but anything good for Josh would be great after 13 books of pain). Plus, I'd like to see KT wrap up Summer Swap and then start finishing other series that have been waiting for their endings for years.
L_S87
You know JL, it's not fair when you post stuff like this. It leaves me nothing to say! My thoughts pretty much aligned with you except i also had the thought it might be Stone Sr. Which is why he didn't want a discussion about the pregnancy. It would seem odd for them to do that at Devlin's apartment, but, given the nature of this conversation if it is Sr., he may not want this to happen somewhere public or where employees would hear it. So I'm a bit on the fence between it being a scheme with the lawyer (why would Devlin care if he knew Kimmy was pregnant?) Or Amy. I like the idea of it being Amy because it closes a hole in the story as Amy has played a significant part that needs resolution. And I could definitely see Devlin NOT wanting Amy to know Kimmy is pregnant given he thinks it's his. I don't see it being Josh either. He'd have no interest in a repeat of the York. So, lots of possibilities, hopefully next chapter provides context. For me, the huge revelation of the chapter is something Kimmy has noted, but Josh has been oblivious to, that no one sees him as being weak in the way he sees himself. Ironically, Kimmy has the most power to help with that, yet her choices have made it worse, not better. Even thought she noted long ago that she wanted to help him with this known issue, yet somehow convinced herself that cheating and bringing Josh into that would be the ticket to providing him strength. Always found that odd. And I also saw what you saw, JL. Those two were definitely flirting at the end. Making it clear they think he and Kimmy are done, and they could better by him if given the chance. Clearly, office gossip sees him as "available". My first thought was "If Kimmy saw this, she would lose her shit." Made more poignant by the fact that Kimmy then has massive regret for not divulging the truth to Josh the day before. Which, given how compassionate Josh typically is, would have made him approach Samarra and Gabrielle differently. He's gotta be thinking at this point... "Do I really have so many options? Maybe things aren't as bad as I thought." Maybe there is life after Kimmy. I don't want that, but I do want Josh to be happy. And maybe my desire for a Kimmy and Josh HEA dooms Josh to a true HEA that he alone deserves.
Chris K
Could be a long shot, but wouldn't that be some shit if it were Kimmys dad?..
Donkatsu
This looks like the big windup. Pete is going to be sad -;) And so will the rest of us.
JL23
My own guess is that Devlin does not know yet about her scheme, that when he says they’re not alone, he means: 1) the Cayman lawyer or some other person involved in his shady business dealings is there to talk about furthering his business schemings. 2) someone else (man or woman) is there to ramp up their own sex game. Perhaps the elusive and rarely seen Amy? 3) probably 1 out of 100 chance, but he somehow got Josh to be there. I really don’t think it’s 3, but it could be if we’re ramping up to the end. It’s more likely 1 or 2; 1 would allow her to easily continue her plot against Devlin, and maybe bury him further with his father. If it’s 2, then it’s really complicated. Would Kimmy’s lust win out over her rational head and her shame at seeing how she was perceived over the weekend? Even if she told herself she was doing it for her survival, or the survival of her plot, if she has sex with Devlin (or him and Amy…more I think that’s who it would be in this scenario) in this moment, I think it’s pretty hopeless she can ever save her marriage. In this moment, I’d expect (hope) a truly changed (and chastened) Kimmy to figure any way out of that, while still keeping Devlin in the dark that anything is off. If she just falls into bed with him, then she’s just doing it because she likes it, and because it’s bad and wrong, and the lure of that still powers and motivates her decisions. As for Josh, we get another moment where he receives evidence that how he perceives himself is not how others perceive him. Of course a smart, kind, good lucking guy would be a catch, and no doubt multiple women in that office would jump at a chance to be the one who helps mend his broken heart. He’s too full of his own self loathing to see it, but it would be interesting to see Kimmy’s reaction to what Gabrielle and Samara said, and more importantly, how they interacted with him. Cause both of them are clearly among those hopeful women in the Swanson office. Interesting chapter, sets up another pivotal one in my eyes, that probably gives us an answer as to whether “good” Kimmy is salvageable or if “bad” Kimmy is always going to control her decisions.
Steve McCarty
My first guess is Amy, happy to be proved wrong.
