The bond between Marianne and Connell is so intimate that the mere idea of letting somebody else into their relationship is deeply troubling to Connell. However, he seems to feel a certain social pressure to be interested in having sex with two women at the same time, perhaps because many people—like, for instance, Peggy—assume that all men fantasize about having threesomes. That’s not the case for Connell, but he once again struggles to articulate his feelings. The problem, though, is that his inability to speak up for himself puts pressure on Marianne, who confidently steps in and takes the attention away from Connell. The entire interaction illustrates how Connell’s shy, uncommunicative ways often put a burden on Marianne. In secondary school, for example, his social anxiety required her to keep their relationship a secret at a high cost to her own self-esteem. And now, in college, his social anxiety forces her to speak self-deprecatingly about herself in front of her friend.