Chapter 6: Secrets at Sunday Dinner
⚠️ 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
Rio calls his mother in Boston, avoiding any mention of Hallie living in Chicago. Later, at the Shay house for Sunday dinner with his found family, his friends try to set him up with Miller’s new general manager. Rio deflects, saying he is taking a break from dating. Stevie reveals that Rio was seen looking at Hallie outside practice. Cornered in the kitchen by Indy, Stevie, Kennedy, and Miller, Rio admits Hallie is the girl next door from Boston and the designer he hired for the house. He initially tried to remove her from the project but reconsidered after she asked for a chance. Indy urges him to help her. Rio finally texts Hallie: “You start tomorrow.”
Key Events
- Rio phones his mother; she guilt-trips him about moving home and asks about Boston.
- He thinks about Hallie—her style, her confidence—but does not tell his mom.
- Sunday dinner at the Shays’ house; the friend group includes nine adults and five children.
- Rio’s friends (Miller, Indy, Stevie, Kennedy, Kai, Ryan, Zee, Isaiah) try to set him up with Miller’s new manager; he says he’s pausing dating.
- Stevie outs Rio’s encounter with Hallie outside practice; Zee confirms Rio looked “love-sick.”
- Rio deflects questions about the house renovation and retreats to the kitchen.
- Four female friends follow him; he explains Hallie is the neighbor he grew up with in Boston and the designer.
- He refuses to share the full history out of protectiveness.
- Indy persuades him to let Hallie work on the house, pointing out she must need the job.
- Rio texts Hallie that she can start tomorrow.
Character Development
- Rio: This chapter deepens Rio’s internal conflict. He loves his Chicago found family but feels guilt about leaving his mother alone in Boston. His refusal to discuss his past with Hallie shows both protectiveness and unresolved pain. The fact that he kept his history with Hallie secret for six years reveals a deep hurt he has never processed. His decision to text Hallie, despite saying “too much bad happened,” shows that his soft spot for her remains.
- Hallie (off-page): Though absent, Hallie is vividly present through Rio’s memories and his friends’ curiosity. Her style, confidence, and the impact she had on Rio are emphasised. Her desperation for the job is implied.
- Indy, Stevie, Kennedy, Miller: These women act as a supportive chorus, pushing Rio to face his feelings. Indy’s gentle nudge is decisive; she understands Rio loved someone and got hurt.
- The friend group: The Sunday dinner scene establishes the found family dynamic—nine people paired off except Rio. Their teasing and concern show how much they care about him.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Second–chance romance: Rio and Hallie’s history as childhood neighbors suggests the possibility of reconnection. The chapter title “Chapter 6” itself is a midpoint in their story.
- Found family vs. blood family: Rio balances his mother’s guilt and his Chicago friends’ support. The Sunday dinner contrasts with his Boston upbringing.
- Hiding the past: Rio’s six years of silence about Hallie symbolises his attempt to outrun heartbreak. His protectiveness of their history indicates it still matters.
- Home renovation as metaphor: The house project represents the renovation of Rio’s own heart—resisting change, then reluctantly letting Hallie in.
- Food and nurturing: Rio’s mother’s cooking, the Sunday pizzas, and Indy’s mention of Bolognese all underline love and care.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 6 is a pivot point. Rio goes from trying to remove Hallie from the renovation to actively inviting her to start work. The dinner conversation forces him to admit (to his friends and himself) that Hallie is not just any designer. The chapter also fleshes out Rio’s inner life—his guilt toward his mother, his love for Chicago, and the six-year wound he has carried. Indy’s intervention is crucial: she voices the moral push that Rio’s own conscience was already feeling. The final text, “You start tomorrow,” sets up the next phase of the plot, where Rio and Hallie will work together.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Rio refuse to tell his friends the full history with Hallie?
Rio wants to protect Hallie from being judged before they have a chance to meet her. He says, “Regardless that I got hurt, I don’t want my friends to have that first impression of her.” He also doesn’t want to relive the pain of their breakup.
2. How does Indy convince Rio to let Hallie work on the house?
Indy points out that Hallie must really need the job if she came to him directly, and asks if there is “really no part of you left that wants to help her.” Rio admits he has always had a “soft spot” for Hallie, and Indy’s logic combined with that softness weakens his resolve.
3. What does Sunday dinner reveal about the friend group’s dynamic?
The group consists of nine adults and five children, all paired off except Rio. They are deeply involved in each other’s lives—they notice when someone looks different, they tease relentlessly, and they follow him to the kitchen for a serious talk. It’s a classic found family that cares for Rio’s happiness.