Chapter 55 Summary – Gabby’s Decision and Dean’s Support
⚠️ 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
Dean brings Gabby to his apartment after she calls off her wedding. He helps her out of her wedding dress and stashes it, then cooks for her and listens as her emotions swing between relief and guilt. Gabby refuses to turn off her phone despite constant calls from family and friends. The next day, her mother and Jordan’s mother berate her; Jordan himself refuses to speak to her. Gabby stays with Dean for several days, eventually explaining to her friend Remi that she felt trapped by expectations. She later meets Jordan, who admits he sensed her doubts. That night, Gabby looks at old photos of her late father and asks Dean if she is a horrible person. Dean reassures her that leaving was brave and hints at his own unspoken feelings.
Key Events
- Dean takes Gabby to his place, removes her wedding dress, and hides it.
- Gabby eats for the first time in two days, and her mood fluctuates wildly.
- She fields angry calls from her mother, Jordan’s mother, and Remi.
- Jordan avoids her calls for over a week before agreeing to meet.
- Gabby meets Jordan; they both cry, and he admits he knew she did not want to marry him.
- That evening, Gabby scrolls through photos of her deceased father, including one from her parents’ vow renewal.
- She asks Dean if she is a horrible person; he insists she is brave and kisses her forehead.
Character Development
Gabby shows vulnerability and guilt but grows more certain of her choice. Seeing photos of her father and recalling her parents’ love reaffirms her need for authenticity. She moves from shock to tentative self-acceptance.
Dean steps into a caretaker role, offering patient support. He resists intervening during the angry phone calls, respecting Gabby’s need to handle her own fallout. His final statement hints that his feelings for her are deeper than friendship—he plans to confess “next time” without her forgetting.
Jordan (mentioned) appears only through others’ reports: initially furious, then devastated, but eventually admits he sensed the mismatch. His pain is real, yet his ability to see the truth helps Gabby forgive herself.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Guilt vs. Bravery – Gabby wrestles with the pain she caused, yet Dean reframes her actions as courageous. The chapter argues that choosing truth over comfort can feel both heroic and selfish.
- Voice and Silencing – Gabby’s phone is a symbol of external pressure; she keeps it on as a form of self-punishment. Dean provides space where silence is allowed, not filled with demands.
- The Wedding Dress – Described as “a bag of money we’re trying to pretend we didn’t steal,” the dress represents the false promise she rejected. Hiding it in the closet mirrors the hidden shame she must process.
- Family Photos – The vow-renewal picture and memories of Gabby’s father ground her in a past where love was real and chosen. This helps her clarify what she truly wants: not just a wedding, but a relationship built on honest feeling.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter pivots the story from the dramatic escape to the emotional aftermath. It deepens the bond between Dean and Gabby, showing that their relationship can survive crisis. It also resolves the external conflict with Jordan in a nuanced way—neither villain nor victim, he acknowledges his own denial. For the anthology’s overarching theme of love and self-discovery, Chapter 55 underscores that walking away from a comfortable lie can be the bravest act of love.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Gabby refuse to turn off her phone even though the calls upset her?
She wants to “torture herself” by hearing everyone’s reactions, as though she believes she deserves the pain. This self-punishing behavior also keeps her connected to the people she hurt, delaying full acceptance of her choice. -
How does Dean’s response to Gabby’s question (“Do you think I’m a horrible person?”) reveal his own feelings?
He calls her “the most incredible person” and says her actions were brave. His kiss on her forehead and the internal thought about “the tight ball of unspoken words” show he has loved her for a long time and is waiting for the right moment to confess. -
What role does Gabby’s deceased father play in this chapter?
Looking at photos of her father and her parents’ vow renewal reminds Gabby of a love that felt genuine and freely chosen. This memory strengthens her conviction that she deserves a relationship built on real desire, not obligation.