Summary

The story “Plausible Deniability” is narrated by a lawyer named William who lives in St. Louis. William meets his brother Mark to go running, as he does most mornings, and Mark complains about his wife Libby - her bad habits and her unwillingness to have sex with him. Once at work, William checks his email and finds a message (one he expected) featuring a YouTube link to a Mozart composition. The sender describes her feelings about the music. William responds, sending a link to a Chopin piece. William has recently turned 40, and though he has regular sex partners and various flirtations, he has no desire for a romantic relationship.

The next day, William's correspondence partner sends him the link to a song from a Strauss opera with some aesthetic commentary, and he responds by sending her a piece by Berlioz...