Chapter 38 Summary & Analysis – 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
The chapter opens at a Sunday family dinner hosted by Indy and Ryan Shay. Hallie notices Rio is unusually quiet after failing to reach his mother, Mia DeLuca, on their usual call day. The dinner brings together the full friend group: Kennedy, Isaiah, Miller, Kai, Stevie, and Zanders. Zanders announces he has purchased a new building for Senior Dogs of Chicago and wants Hallie to design the space. The conversation shifts to the Wilder family—Cruz, Easton, and their sister Wren—revealing that Rio has lived next to Cruz’s sister for four years without mentioning it. Isaiah openly asks about Rio’s future, and Rio confirms he plans to sign with the Boston team after the season, his childhood dream. The group plans a birthday dinner for Hallie, whose birthday is the following Saturday. During a discussion of jersey numbers, Rio reluctantly explains that his number 38 represents Hallie’s birthday, March 8, confirming his long-standing love. After dinner, Hallie overhears Rio telling Indy that he intends to sign with Boston but is terrified to tell Hallie because his mother refuses to accept her. Hallie realizes she cannot be the source of permanent estrangement between Rio and his only family and resolves to leave him.
Key Events
- Rio is subdued after his mother does not answer his Sunday call.
- Zanders reveals he bought a building for Senior Dogs of Chicago and hires Hallie as designer.
- The group learns Rio has been living next to Cruz Wilder’s sister, Wren, for years.
- Rio openly states his plan to sign with Boston at the end of the season.
- The friends plan a birthday celebration for Hallie for the following Sunday.
- Rio’s jersey number 38 is revealed to be Hallie’s birthday (March 8).
- Hallie inadvertently overhears Rio confess to Indy that his mother’s disapproval will be a problem if he and Hallie stay together.
- Hallie decides she must break up with Rio to preserve his relationship with his mother.
Character Development
- Hallie shifts from hopeful to devastated; she prioritizes Rio’s family bond over her own happiness, showing deep empathy and selflessness.
- Rio displays rare vulnerability: he is visibly shaken by his mother’s silence and admits to Indy that he loves Hallie but fears the consequences of that love.
- Zanders sheds his arrogant persona by quietly supporting Stevie’s dog rescue, revealing a generous and thoughtful side.
- Indy’s emotional reaction to the group’s completeness underscores her need for family unity and her close bond with Rio.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Sacrifice: Hallie’s choice to leave is driven by love for Rio and his mother, not lack of feeling.
- Unspoken love: The jersey number revelation crystallizes years of hidden devotion.
- Found family: The dinner scene highlights the warmth of the friend group as a surrogate family.
- Family conflict: Mia DeLuca’s absence and disapproval drive the chapter’s tension.
- Career vs. Relationships: Rio’s dream move to Boston threatens to deepen the rift with his mother.
Why This Chapter Matters
This is a turning point in the novel. The joyful found-family atmosphere contrasts sharply with Hallie’s private heartbreak. The jersey number reveal deepens the emotional stakes, while the overheard conversation forces Hallie to act. Her decision sets up the climactic third-act conflict—whether love can survive when family loyalty pulls in opposite directions.
Study Questions & Answers
1. What is the significance of Rio’s jersey number 38?
It is Hallie’s birthday—March 8. He changed his number when he joined the Chicago team to carry her birthday on his jersey, symbolizing his long-term, unspoken love from the moment they first met.
2. Why does Hallie decide to leave Rio after overhearing his conversation with Indy?
She realizes that if she stays, Rio will have to choose between her and his mother. Because Mia DeLuca is his only family, Hallie refuses to be the reason that relationship permanently breaks. She would rather lose him than see him lose his mother.
3. How does Zanders’ purchase of a building for Senior Dogs of Chicago develop his character?
It reveals a thoughtful, selfless side that contrasts with his earlier arrogant persona. He listens to his wife’s dreams and quietly acts to support them, demonstrating growth and commitment.