Chapter 2 Summary – Rewind It Back
⚠️ 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 settles into her new room at Wren’s house, reminiscing about how their friendship grew through Wren’s kindness—homemade desserts, rides when Hallie’s car acted up, and a rent price that eased her financial strain. Wren mentions a referral for an interior design project with her neighbor, and Hallie explains she also needs one more big assignment for her internship. Hallie reveals she has a date set up through her boss Tyler: Brian, a new client. She admits the date is partly a career move. After moving in, Brian picks Hallie up in his expensive car. He tells her to dress warm, and they drive to the United Center, where a hockey game is underway. Hallie’s anxiety spikes when she sees Raptors jerseys—the team of the player she’s been avoiding. Brian has front-row glass seats. During the game, Hallie notices Brian’s phone lighting up with texts from a contact saved as a diamond ring emoji. She confronts him, and he admits he’s in a newly opened marriage. When Hallie tries to leave, a player checks an opponent into the glass right in front of her. The player is Rio DeLuca, number 38, who freezes when he sees Hallie. They lock eyes, and the chapter ends with Hallie recalling the first time she saw Rio—and acknowledging that she once loved him but no longer does.
Key Events
- Hallie moves into Wren’s house and unpacks while they chat about her date and her unreliable car.
- Brian picks Hallie up from the design firm; she refuses to give him her home address, wary of safety.
- Brian drives to the United Center for a hockey game; Hallie’s dread builds as she sees Raptors gear.
- They sit on the glass in row one; Hallie avoids looking at the ice and tries to appear engaged.
- Brian’s phone repeatedly dings; Hallie sees messages from a contact named with a diamond ring emoji.
- Hallie accuses Brian of being married; he admits to a “newly opened” relationship.
- Rio DeLuca slams a player into the glass in front of Hallie, then recognizes her.
- Hallie flashes back to her first encounter with Rio and concludes that she no longer loves him.
Character Development
Hallie – This chapter deepens her backstory. She works two jobs, drives a beat-up car, and urgently needs the internship to lead to a full-time role. Her date with Brian is part practical calculation and part willingness to trust. Her intense reaction to the arena and to Rio’s image reveals a painful history she has been actively suppressing. She is cautious (refusing to give her address) yet vulnerable.
Wren – Though only briefly present, Wren’s generosity (affordable rent, coffee, rides) establishes her as a genuine friend. Her easy acceptance of Hallie into her home provides emotional grounding.
Brian – Initially presents as shy and nervous, then shifts to smug once inside the arena. His deception about his marital status undermines Hallie’s trust and echoes the chapter’s theme of hidden pasts.
Rio DeLuca – Appears only in a single moment of recognition, but the weight of that look suggests a deep history. His pause and intense stare indicate that the connection is far from one-sided.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Avoidance of the Past – Hallie has deliberately stayed away from the United Center for six months to avoid Rio. The chapter shows how a single situation can collapse all efforts to outrun memory.
Trust and Deception – Hallie’s careful guard (not sharing her address) is justified when Brian hides his marriage. The diamond ring emoji acts as a symbol of betrayal—a simple icon that uncovers a lie.
Class and Financial Strain – Hallie’s old car, her two jobs, and her gratitude for reduced rent contrast sharply with Brian’s expensive car and multiple properties. The power imbalance is clear.
Sports as Memory Trigger – The hockey arena becomes a pressure cooker for Hallie’s unresolved feelings. The sensory details—cold air, roaring crowd, player banners—force her to confront what she has avoided.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 2 establishes the central tension of Hallie’s arc: her unresolved history with Rio DeLuca. By placing her in the very building she has avoided, the author sets up the inevitability of their reconnection. The chapter also deepens Hallie’s characterization through her practical approach to dating and her financial struggles, making her relatable. Brian’s betrayal adds a layer of personal pain that heightens the emotional stakes. The final image of Rio’s recognition promises that the past is not finished with Hallie.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Hallie agree to go on a date with Brian even though she is not excited about it?
Hallie states that her boss Tyler asked her to go and she is trying to impress him in hopes of a full-time job after her internship ends next spring. She also admits she has been out of the dating scene for a while and sees the date as a free dinner.
2. What clues does Hallie notice during the drive that make her suspicious about where Brian is taking her?
Brian asks her to dress warm and takes the same route Hallie uses to go to the bar where she works. She sees the crowd headed toward the United Center and recognizes the Raptors jerseys. Her anxiety increases when she realizes it is a hockey game.
3. How does Hallie’s reaction to seeing Rio DeLuca’s banner and then Rio himself reveal her emotional state?
She experiences a ringing in her ears, dry mouth, and a pounding heart—signs of a panic response. She avoids looking at the ice, keeps her head down, and prays he will not see her. When Rio does see her, she is frozen and feels time stop, which shows that the emotional bond is still powerful despite her claim that she no longer loves him.