Summary

In 1994, Caitlin is dating a musician named Courtney. She thinks he is “The One,” despite the fact that he treats her poorly, criticizes her weight, her writing, and makes her unhappy. Courtney’s band has had little success because he is lazy and egotistical, and Courtney moves into Caitlin’s house without helping to pay the bills. Caitlin smokes marijuana to cope. Even though she hosts a late night television show called Naked City, Caitlin is overwhelmed by self-loathing, both because of Courtney’s treatment of her as well as the public’s. Caitlin becomes homesick and uses her co-worker Pete Paphides as a comforting soundboard, sharing her problems with him. She doesn’t end her relationship with Courtney because she “believes in feeling bad for love” (Page 139).

Caitlin moves from the discussion of this first...