Everett

Everett is Pippa Blackwell's boyfriend, a music librarian from London who visits Hobie's house in New York with her. His arrival triggers a crisis of jealousy and despair in Theo, who has been in love with Pippa for years. Everett is a minor but emotionally significant figure in Theo's story, embodying the ordinary, stable life that Pippa has chosen and that Theo cannot have.

Identity and Background

Everett is English, described as a "slight, wide-eyed bounce of a guy, innocent, bland, infuriatingly cheerful" . He works as a music librarian, a job Theo dismissively calls a "Cybrarian" . He is a vegetarian, "verging on vegan" , and comes from a large family; his father teaches some "incomprehensible mathematical/philosophical something-or-other at Cambridge" . He is the "poor relation" of an old schoolmate of Pippa's . Financially, he is dependent on Pippa's inheritance from Welty, a fact that Theo bitterly notes: "Clearly this Everett ('poor as a churchmouse'—his phrase) was living off her money, Uncle Welty's money rather" .

Relationship with Pippa

Everett and Pippa share a flat in London . During their visit to New York, he sleeps in her room . Pippa describes him as "a good guy. Very serene and even-tempered—very stable" , qualities that stand in stark contrast to Theo's own turbulent and obsessive nature. Everett calls Pippa "Pips" , a nickname that grates on Theo. He is physically affectionate with her, putting his hands on her waist . Pippa, for her part, seems to value his stability; she tells Theo that Everett is "very serene and even-tempered" .

The Visit and Theo's Reaction

Everett's visit is a torment for Theo. From the moment he sees them hand-in-hand at the door, Theo feels "guts crumbling, end of everything" . He finds Everett's "quick, apologetic smile" infuriating . Theo struggles to be civil, finding everything about Everett—his "pinkish skin, his nervous laugh, the hair sprouting out the cuffs of his shirt sleeves"—provoking a violent urge to "jump on him and knock his horsey English teeth out" . The only moment of relief for Theo comes when Popchik, Theo's dog, bites Everett on the thumb . Everett tries to be friendly, suggesting Theo might like a book, Rings of Saturn , but Theo's hatred is implacable. Everett represents the ordinary, happy life that Theo believes he can never have with Pippa, and his presence forces Theo to confront the hopelessness of his own love for her.