Chapter summaries Can't Get Enough Kennedy Ryan

Chapter 36: Maverick — Surf Lessons and a Clarifying Question

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Summary

Chapter 36 shifts entirely to Maverick's first-person perspective during a beach day with Hendrix. He reflects on his lifelong love of the ocean and surfing, which has always served as his personal retreat from chaos. Teaching Hendrix to surf, however, proves both comedic and joyful. Despite her impatience during dry-land pop-up practice and repeated wipeouts in shallow water, the two end up laughing on the beach towel, winded and genuinely happy.

The mood deepens when Hendrix instinctively sprints into the ocean to rescue a toddler who has wandered too far from shore. After she returns the child to a panicked mother, Maverick's father arrives. Their conversation shifts from warm memories of Maverick's late mother—whom Pop insists would have adored Hendrix—to a serious discussion about Maverick's romantic history. Maverick confesses he has never felt this way about anyone, not even Zere, his most serious ex. When Pop asks whether Maverick would reconsider his stance on having more children if Hendrix wanted them, Maverick experiences a clarifying epiphany: for this woman, covered in sand and sun, he would probably do anything to keep her.

Key Events

  • Maverick teaches Hendrix to surf, beginning with dry-land pop-up drills that test her patience.
  • Hendrix repeatedly capsizes in shallow water while trying to catch waves, but both of them end up laughing and happy.
  • Hendrix unexpectedly rescues a blond toddler who wanders too far into the ocean, handing the child back to a frightened mother.
  • Maverick's father arrives and they share fond, grief-free memories of Maverick's late mother, Priscilla.
  • Pop states definitively that Maverick's mother would have liked Hendrix, and that "you only get one like that in a lifetime."
  • Maverick confesses he has never felt this way before and never told LaTanya he loved her, despite having a daughter together.
  • The conversation turns to Zere, who believed Maverick was "the one"; Pop admits he knew it would not last because Maverick never considered marrying her.
  • Pop asks the pivotal question: What if Hendrix wanted kids? Maverick's internal reaction reveals he would compromise for her in ways he never would for Zere.

Character Development

Maverick

This chapter deepens Maverick's self-awareness significantly. He has always viewed surfing as a solitary refuge, yet sharing it with Hendrix becomes a source of joy rather than intrusion. His confession to his father—that he has "never felt like this"—marks his most vulnerable admission yet. The chapter's climax arrives when Pop's question about children forces Maverick to confront a previously rigid boundary. His realization that Hendrix is someone he would "probably do anything to keep" signals a fundamental shift in his understanding of love and commitment, distinguishing Hendrix from every prior relationship.

Hendrix

Though the chapter is from Maverick's point of view, Hendrix's actions speak volumes. Her impatience with sand drills, her determination to catch "a big one," and her boisterous calls for rescue in two feet of water reveal a playful, persistent personality. Her instinctive, unhesitating rescue of the toddler demonstrates empathy and quick reflexes—traits that clearly impress both Maverick and his father.

Pop (Maverick's Father)

Pop serves as the chapter's voice of wisdom and gentle confrontation. His recollection of Priscilla is affectionate and specific, using humor to honor her memory without morbidity. He sees through Maverick's careful language—calling him out for claiming to merely "like" Hendrix—and poses the chapter's central clarifying question with fatherly directness.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Surfing as Emotional Retreat and Connection: Maverick describes the ocean as his lifelong refuge from chaos. Teaching Hendrix to surf transforms a solitary ritual into shared intimacy, symbolizing how she has entered the private spaces of his life.
  • The Clarifying Question: Pop's hypothetical—"What if Hendrix said she wanted kids?"—functions as the chapter's thematic core. It forces Maverick to delineate previously unexamined priorities and reveals that his love for Hendrix has dismantled a boundary he once considered absolute.
  • Memory Without Grief: The conversation about Priscilla demonstrates healing. Maverick and Pop can now laugh about her quirks and celebrate her life without the "miasma of grief" that once surrounded her memory.
  • Instinctive Caretaking: Hendrix's rescue of the toddler mirrors a broader motif of protectiveness that runs through the novel, showcasing her character through action rather than dialogue.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 36 is a turning point in Maverick's internal arc. Until now, readers have seen his devotion to Hendrix through his actions, but this chapter provides explicit, first-person access to the depth of his feelings. His conversation with Pop externalizes what he has been reluctant to name: that Hendrix is different from every woman who came before her, including the mother of his child.

The chapter also introduces a potential future conflict through the children question, while simultaneously suggesting Maverick's readiness to evolve. By ending on the image of Hendrix walking toward him—"covered in sand and soaked by sun, wearing a smile more breathtaking than the horizon"—the chapter cements her centrality to his happiness and frames his emotional growth as both conscious and irrevocable.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Pop believe Maverick never truly loved Zere, and how does Maverick's own reasoning support this assessment?

Pop argues that if Maverick had loved Zere, he would have compromised on the issue of having more children. Maverick does not dispute the logic; instead, he reflects that he never saw himself marrying Zere and was never thinking "When is this going to be over?"—implying that he simply drifted through the relationship without the urgency or depth that characterizes genuine love. His rigid stance on fatherhood, while principled, served as a convenient exit from a relationship he was never fully invested in.

2. How does the surf lesson function as a metaphor for Maverick and Hendrix's relationship?

The lesson moves from dry-land preparation to chaotic, laughter-filled attempts in the water. Maverick insists on proper fundamentals before Hendrix can experience the real thing—mirroring how their relationship has progressed from cautious boundaries to genuine immersion. Hendrix's repeated failures do not frustrate Maverick; instead, he finds her efforts endearing, just as he has embraced the unpredictability she brings to his carefully ordered life.

3. What significance does the toddler rescue scene carry beyond its immediate action?

The rescue showcases Hendrix's character in a moment of pure instinct, requiring no deliberation. For Maverick, watching her act decisively to protect a stranger's child reinforces the qualities his father later articulates: she is a "good one." The scene also places Hendrix in a maternal context, which subtly foreshadows Pop's subsequent question about whether she might want children of her own.