Watching You: A Novel

Content Warning: This novel includes domestic violence, stalking, child abuse, the sexual abuse of minors, bullying, and death by suicide.

Joey arrives at the hotel and nervously waits for Tom. As she ponders her actions, she realizes that her desire is merely an impulsive “itch” and that she wants more from her life.

Freddie collects Romola for the dance and says that it could be a date or they can go as friends and hang out with other friends. She is pleased and decides it should be a date.

Tom, exhausted, arrives and kisses Joey. Despite initial reluctance, she reciprocates, but she is unimpressed. She unbuttons his shirt, and he flinches away. She then notices marks all over his body. He explains that the bite marks, scratches, and bruises are from Nicola, who gets incredibly jealous and turns violent. He claims that he only harms her in self-defense, trying to restrain her, but he is tired of their destructive cycle. Joey realizes that Tom is also looking for some kind of savior, and they have an honest conversation about the ways in which they were using each other, not taking the sexual encounter further. Tom leaves, and Joey stays in the room for a little longer, musing over Tom’s departing words: “I will save myself…I’m sure I will” and swiftly exits the hotel (269).