Chapter 22 Summary: Key Events and Analysis
⚠️ 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
At Kai's retirement celebration, Kennedy watches Isaiah dance with Miller, noting the easy friendship between them. Kai joins Kennedy and confirms he is retiring because he wants to be present for his future family, a decision that feels right to him. Kennedy asks about Kai's speech to Isaiah, and Kai explains that Isaiah once dreamed of settling down with a family, but a decade of betrayal changed him. Kai reveals that Dean, Kennedy's stepbrother, repeatedly pursued Isaiah's girlfriends, leaving Isaiah jaded and unwilling to attempt another relationship. Kai tells Kennedy she is the first person Isaiah has been with in over a decade and asks her to protect his brother's heart.
Later, Kennedy is approached at the bar by a man named Vincent, who ignores her discomfort and touches her despite her requests to stop. Isaiah intervenes, has security remove Vincent, and then angrily confronts Kennedy in a private hallway. He confesses that he has not touched or even looked at another woman since learning her engagement ended, and that he has been waiting for her to see him. Kennedy realizes she sees him now, but Isaiah asks for a minute alone and walks away.
Key Events
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Kai announces his retirement and explains his desire to be home with family.
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Kai tells Kennedy about Isaiah's past as a committed, faithful relationship guy.
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Kai reveals that Dean, Kennedy's stepbrother, intentionally sabotaged Isaiah's relationships, leaving him jaded for over a decade.
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Kai asks Kennedy to protect Isaiah's heart, noting she is the first person he has been with since.
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Vincent approaches Kennedy at the bar, ignores her boundaries, and touches her.
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Isaiah intervenes, has security remove Vincent, and confronts Kennedy.
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Isaiah confesses he has been waiting for Kennedy since her engagement ended and has not touched another woman.
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Kennedy realizes she sees Isaiah clearly for the first time.
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Isaiah asks for a minute alone and walks away.
Character Development
Kennedy
Kennedy's internal shift is the chapter's emotional core. She begins by watching Isaiah with Miller and reflecting on his easy friendship, but her understanding deepens when Kai reveals Isaiah's history. Kennedy's discomfort with Vincent's touch forces her to confront her own progress with physical boundaries. She realizes that Isaiah is the only man she feels comfortable with, which leads her to question the purpose of their lessons. By the end of the chapter, Kennedy acknowledges that she sees Isaiah now, a significant step from her earlier denial.
Isaiah
Isaiah's vulnerability is laid bare in this chapter. Kai's revelation about his past shows a man who once wanted a family but was repeatedly betrayed. Isaiah's confession to Kennedy—that he has been waiting for her and has not touched another woman since her engagement ended—reveals his deep commitment and hope. His anger at Vincent is not just jealousy but a protective instinct rooted in his feelings for Kennedy. His request for a minute alone shows his need to process his emotions.
Kai
Kai serves as a truth-teller in this chapter. He shares Isaiah's history with Kennedy, revealing his brother's past and his hopes for his future. Kai's request that Kennedy protect Isaiah shows his care for his brother and his awareness of the stakes.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Trust and Betrayal
The chapter explores how past betrayal shapes present behavior. Isaiah's decade of jadedness stems from Dean's intentional sabotage, and Kai's explanation highlights how trust, once broken, is hard to rebuild.
Physical Boundaries and Consent
Vincent's disregard for Kennedy's boundaries contrasts sharply with Isaiah's respect for her cues. Kennedy's visceral reaction to Vincent's touch underscores the importance of consent and the comfort she feels only with Isaiah.
Waiting and Commitment
Isaiah's confession that he has been waiting for Kennedy since her engagement ended is a powerful motif. His patience and faithfulness contrast with his playboy reputation, revealing his true desire for a committed relationship.
Family Loyalty
Kai's protective stance toward Isaiah and Kennedy's realization that she is angry at Dean for hurting Isaiah highlight the theme of family loyalty. Kennedy's internal shift from seeing Dean as family to seeing him as someone who hurt her husband is significant.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a turning point in the novel. It reveals Isaiah's backstory, explaining his fear of commitment and his deep desire for a real relationship. Kennedy's realization that she sees Isaiah clearly marks a major shift in her emotional journey. The chapter also raises the stakes by introducing a physical threat to their fake marriage, forcing Isaiah to act on his feelings and Kennedy to confront hers. The confession in the hallway sets up the emotional climax of their relationship, making this chapter essential to the narrative arc.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why did Isaiah stop being a relationship-type guy, according to Kai?
Kai explains that Isaiah was once a committed, faithful partner who wanted a family. However, Dean, Kennedy's stepbrother, intentionally pursued Isaiah's girlfriends, leading to repeated betrayals. After being cheated on multiple times, Isaiah stopped attempting relationships altogether.
2. What does Kennedy realize about her comfort with physical touch in this chapter?
When Vincent touches her, Kennedy has a visceral negative reaction, realizing she is only comfortable with Isaiah's touch. This leads her to question the purpose of their lessons and whether Isaiah is the only man she will ever want to be close to.
3. What does Isaiah confess to Kennedy in the hallway?
Isaiah confesses that he has not touched or looked at another woman since learning her engagement ended. He has been waiting for her to see him and admits he would wait the rest of his life if he thought he had a real chance with her.