Wilder is the main male character and meets Scottie when his brother asks him to help her pull off her fake marriage scheme to fit in better at work. Wilder is the ideal candidate for the role as he is recently retired and studying improv theater. Open to new experiences of any kind, Wilder accepts the job without question. His willingness to step into a fake marriage without even meeting Scottie suggests not recklessness but healthy positivity. Wilder approaches life like an improvisational scene, fully present, willing to take a risk, and open to whatever comes next. Scottie notes his radical optimism, “[he] seems to have his rose-colored glasses on at all times” (72). His interest in improv is a metaphor for how he operates in the world, characterized by attentiveness, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. Wilder is playful and, from the beginning, serves as a foil to Scottie’s guarded, hyper-self-consciousness, which initially proves annoying. Gradually, through demonstrating his concern for her mental health, Wilder earns her trust and becomes a soft disruptor, gently dismantling Scottie’s carefully constructed walls through genuine kindness and challenging her to let go of the lies she has believed about herself.

By modeling a more liberated and authentic way of living, Wilder shows Scottie what she has been missing. Wilder approaches relationships with clarity and intentionality, and Scottie learns she can trust him. Wilder’s emotional fluency allows Scottie the space to feel safe and seen, and their connection develops from healthy emotional honesty. Wilder offers gentle masculinity as he seeks to protect Scottie and help her heal, but not in a physically or emotionally dominant way. Instead, he allows Scottie to take the lead in the progression of their relationship. When they experience tension in defining their relationship, Wilder goes to therapy to work on himself first and learn how to prioritize Scottie’s needs best. Though Wilder and Scottie initially appear to be opposites, this contrast allows Wilder to emerge as the right partner for Scottie in this season of her life. His emotional steadiness and gentleness offer a safe space in which she can begin to reconstruct her sense of self. Wilder patiently creates room for Scottie’s growth on her terms and is a steadying presence who believes in her healing and wholeness even before she does.

Sanders, Ellison’s husband and a renowned couples therapist, is a lively secondary character who plays a crucial role in helping Wilder and Scottie on their paths of transformation and in fostering their connection. Sanders provides comic relief, but his consistent emotional sensitivity makes him a grounding presence and a symbolic counterbalance to the chaos of Scottie and Wilder’s performative relationship. His flamboyant wardrobe and love for sports metaphors seem odd to Scottie at first. However, beneath his unconventional exterior lies emotional intelligence and a keen insight into relationships. His unique therapeutic style highlights the novel’s exploration of rigid self-perception and relationship dysfunction. Though Sanders isn’t a licensed therapist, he is an unconventional yet impactful guide for Wilder and Scottie as their relationship evolves from an elaborate lie to a genuine bond. His interventions create a safe, nonjudgmental space where he welcomes vulnerability, allowing emotional barriers to start falling. His intuitive understanding of and response to their struggles emphasize the importance of emotional attunement over formal training. Sanders encourages Wilder to face his lack of commitment, fostering self-awareness that is crucial for building trust with Scottie. He gently guides Scottie toward healing without overwhelming her with clinical jargon or prescriptions. By blending the roles of therapist and friend, Sanders embodies a presence that is both approachable and transformative, showing that healing can come from unexpected sources.