Summary

In Chapter 3, Mellor’s third-person limited omniscient narrator departs from Frank’s and Cleo’s perspectives to follow Quentin. Shortly after Cleo and Frank’s wedding, Quentin broke up with Johnny due to suspicions Johnny had stolen from him, and because of Johnny’s jealousy over Quentin and Cleo’s closeness. Cleo came to Quentin’s apartment to comfort him, but when Cleo told him Frank would arrive soon too, they started to argue. Cleo claimed that Frank was good for her and she had stopped taking antidepressants. When Quentin objected, Cleo said, “My life’s different now. I have Frank, I have a proper home” (43). Later, Johnny showed up at Quentin’s apartment and made transphobic comments toward Quentin: “Gay men want to date gay men” (44). Upset with his situation, Quentin was motivated to try something different and attended an orgy that night...