Chapter 16 Summary & Analysis: Emmett
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Emmett arrives back in Chicago after a road trip and, instead of going home, heads to the clubhouse gym to blow off steam. He is deeply bothered by the week-long cold shoulder Reese has given him—her emails signed only “Best Regards, Reese Remington” and unanswered texts and calls. While lifting weights, Reese unexpectedly enters the dim gym. They watch each other through the mirror, and a tense, silent standoff follows. Reese begins stretching in the corner, and Emmett finds himself distracted by her presence and her body. Unable to concentrate, he cuts his workout short. As he prepares to leave, he overhears player Harrison arrive with a friend. Harrison speaks patronizingly to Reese, calls her “out of her league” as a female owner, and makes a crude Friday-night suggestion. After they leave, Emmett confronts Reese, asking if this is typical treatment. Her silence confirms it. He tells her firmly, “Trade him.”
Key Events
- Emmett spends Friday night alone in the clubhouse gym, seething over Reese’s unexplained distance.
- He recalls her distant emails and the fact that she ignored his texts and calls all week.
- Reese enters the gym; the two lock eyes in the mirror but say very little.
- Reese performs stretches in his line of sight, and Emmett becomes increasingly distracted.
- Emmett ends his workout in frustration.
- While in the bathroom, he overhears Harrison and his friend. Harrison demeans Reese and makes an inappropriate invitation.
- Emmett confronts Reese afterward. Her silence confirms this is a pattern.
- Emmett commands, “Trade him.”
Character Development
Emmett
Emmett’s internal frustration is laid bare. His obsessive replaying of Reese’s email sign-off reveals both his emotional investment and his confusion. He admits to himself that he has a crush on his boss and that he is “smack-dab in my forties and wishing I could read that woman’s mind.” His protectiveness toward Reese emerges when he overhears Harrison; he wants to intervene but holds back, only to press the issue once Harrison leaves. This shows a growing sense of loyalty beyond their professional relationship.
Reese
Reese is portrayed through Emmett’s perspective as guarded and professional, yet vulnerable. Her decision to place a yoga mat in the corner—directly behind the squat rack—suggests either subconscious proximity or deliberate testing of boundaries. Her refusal to engage in their usual banter signals that she is enforcing new emotional distance. However, her reaction to Harrison’s behavior implies she has endured such treatment before without complaint.
Harrison
Harrison is revealed as a patronizing and disrespectful figure. He dismisses Reese’s authority, calls her “out of her league,” and makes a crude suggestion. This confirms earlier hints in the novel (from Kai) that Harrison is not a team player and may be a source of conflict.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Power and Gender in the Workplace
Harrison’s comments directly challenge Reese’s authority as a female owner. The clubhouse—a male-dominated space—becomes a setting where her professional status is undermined. Emmett’s response (“Trade him”) aligns his loyalty with Reese’s authority, not with the player.
Silence and Unspoken Tension
The gym scene is defined by what is not said. Emmett and Reese communicate through glances, body language, and a single clipped exchange. The silence mirrors the emotional distance Reese has created all week, yet it also generates an electric, unresolved tension that drives the chapter.
Physical Exertion as Emotional Release
Emmett’s intense leg workout serves as both a coping mechanism and a metaphor for his pent-up frustration. He adds weight to the bar to match his anger, but ultimately cannot complete his reps because Reese’s presence is too distracting. This suggests that emotional release cannot be found solely in physical effort.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 16 is a turning point in Emmett’s arc. It moves his feelings for Reese from private infatuation to a protectiveness that he is willing to act on—even against a teammate. The overheard interaction with Harrison exposes a real-world obstacle to Reese’s authority, forcing Emmett to choose sides. The chapter also deepens the romantic tension by keeping Reese and Emmett physically close but emotionally apart, setting the stage for a potential confrontation or confession.
Study Questions & Answers
1. Why does Emmett go to the clubhouse gym instead of home on Friday night?
He wants to avoid an empty apartment. His daughter is occupied, and his job is the other major pillar of his life. The gym gives him a way to burn frustration and pass time.
2. What does Emmett overhear Harrison say about Reese, and how does he react?
Harrison tells his friend that the team is “run by a woman” and says “She’s out of her league.” Emmett sees red and wants to punch Harrison, but he stays hidden until Harrison leaves, then confronts Reese.
3. What does Emmett tell Reese at the end of the chapter, and what does this reveal about his character?
He tells her, “Trade him.” This shows that he prioritizes Reese’s dignity and safety over team politics or loyalty to a player. It also reveals he is willing to cross professional boundaries to defend her.