Chapter 34: Morning After, Family Tension & A New Beginning
⚠️ 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
Hallie wakes in Rio’s bed after a night of passionate reunions. He cooks her pasta, brings her to orgasm multiple times, and she feels cared for. In the morning, she tries to make her own latte, but Rio insists it’s his job. While making her drink, his mother calls; Hallie urges him to answer. The call is tense, confirming Mrs. DeLuca’s ongoing anger toward Hallie for keeping her father’s affair secret years ago. Hallie reveals her Instagram follower count has surged thanks to Rio and his friends sharing her design work. They slow-dance in the empty kitchen, and Hallie admits she’s missed Rio’s mother too. Rio makes clear he will not let his mother’s feelings ruin their relationship again. He asks Hallie directly if they are “doing this” and she confirms she is all in.
Key Events
- Hallie wakes wrapped around Rio after a passionate night
- Rio cooks her a homemade pasta dinner, then pleasures her multiple times
- Next morning, Rio insists on making her latte; a blob of foam is called a dragon
- Rio’s mom calls; Hallie insists he answer, the call is uncomfortable
- Hallie checks Instagram and discovers nearly 30,000 new followers
- Rio explains his friends (Zee, Miller, Ryan) shared her account
- The couple slow-dances in the kitchen; Rio admits he wants to do this—a mirror of his parents’ old habit
- Rio reveals his mother is upset because of Hallie, but he refuses to let her feelings control him
- Hallie confesses she misses Mrs. DeLuca and regrets not telling her the truth years ago
- Rio explicitly asks if they are together; Hallie says “I’m all in too”
Character Development
- Hallie: Shifts from cautious physical reconnection to emotional vulnerability. She admits missing Rio’s mother and recognizes her own role in the past secrecy. Her growth is shown in trusting Rio’s community and embracing online visibility for her career.
- Rio: Transitions from passive acceptance of his mother’s disapproval to active prioritization of his relationship with Hallie. His insistence on dancing in the kitchen and his direct “I’m all in” declaration mark a departure from his previous pattern of letting family dictate his choices.
- Mrs. DeLuca (off-page): Remains a looming obstacle whose anger is directed at Hallie, but Rio implies the real target is Hallie’s father’s betrayal.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Nourishment and Care: Rio’s cooking and latte-making mirror his mother’s lessons and symbolize his desire to provide for Hallie physically and emotionally.
- Kitchen as Sanctuary: The under-construction kitchen becomes a space for intimacy and honest conversation; Rio’s parents also danced there, linking past and present.
- Social Media as Validation: Hallie’s Instagram growth represents community acceptance and professional opportunity, contrasting her earlier isolation.
- Slow Dancing: A deliberate choice that echoes Rio’s parents’ relationship, showing he now embraces rather than avoids that connection style.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 34 solidifies the rekindled relationship by moving beyond physical reunion into the emotional and social consequences. The external conflict with Rio’s mother is brought into the open, raising stakes for the future. Hallie’s career growth through Rio’s network integrates her into his found family. The chapter’s final verbal commitment from both characters provides a clear turning point: they are no longer just reliving the past but actively building a new future. It also deepens the theme of forgiveness, as Hallie must reconcile with the woman she hurt, not just with Rio.
Study Questions & Answers
1. Why does Hallie insist Rio answer his mother’s call, even though she knows it will be tense? Hallie wants to avoid giving Mrs. DeLuca another reason to resent her. She also understands how close Rio is to his mother and doesn’t want to further damage that relationship. By pushing him to answer, Hallie demonstrates her empathy and her desire to eventually reconcile with the woman she once considered a second mother.
2. How does the scene of slow-dancing in the kitchen reveal Rio’s character development? Rio initiates the dance because he “wants to,” directly imitating a ritual he witnessed between his parents. For six years he distanced himself from anything resembling their relationship, so this act signals he is no longer letting his parents’ broken marriage dictate his choices. It shows he is ready to embrace the kind of partnership he once rejected.
3. What does Hallie’s Instagram growth symbolize in the context of the chapter? The surge in followers represents Hallie’s acceptance into Rio’s community and the professional recognition she has been working toward. It contrasts her years of isolation and gives her tangible proof that her talent is valued. It also ties her future to Rio’s world, as his friends’ shares directly caused the growth.