Jersey Number 38: The Hidden Love Token in Rewind It Back

What Is Jersey Number 38?

In Liz Tomforde’s Rewind It Back, jersey number 38 is the number Chicago Raptors defenseman Rio DeLuca wears on his game jersey. On the surface, it is simply the numeral stitched on his back. But the story reveals that 38 is a carefully chosen, long‑hidden tribute to his childhood sweetheart and eventual girlfriend, Hallie Hart. Rio previously wore 83 — his own birthday, August 3. When he joined the Raptors six years before the novel’s present, he switched to 38 because March 8 (3/8) is Hallie’s birthday. Rio carries this secret throughout their years apart, wearing her birthdate on his chest every time he steps onto the ice. The number becomes a constant, quiet declaration of love that goes unspoken until the latter half of the book.

Where the Number Appears in the Story

Before the Boston game (Chapter 36): Rio meets Hallie at her bar and brings her to the arena for his game against Boston. He hands her a custom Raptors jersey bearing his last name and number 38. She changes into it in his truck, noting how proud she feels. During the game, Hallie watches from the family box and thinks, “Thirty‑eight has had my attention for fifteen years now, even when he was wearing a different number.” The number already carries weight for her as a spectator.

The family dinner (Chapter 38): At a group dinner with the Raptors’ inner circle, the conversation turns to how each player chose his number. One by one, the others share trivial reasons. When the group presses Rio, he hesitates. He explains that his childhood number was 83 (his own birthday). Then he reveals that when he got to Chicago, he changed it to his “actual favorite day” — Hallie’s birthday, March 8 — making 38. The confession shocks Hallie, who had wondered for months. She teases him, understanding now that the number was a silent love note.

The epilogue: Two months after re‑signing with Chicago, Rio still wears 38. The number has shifted from a secret hope—when he was unsure whether Hallie would return—to a permanent emblem of their reunited life.

How Its Meaning Changes

Initially, the number is a private ritual for Rio. He tells no one the real reason; it is a one‑way act of devotion maintained during their six‑year separation. For Hallie, seeing 38 on the ice is a familiar but unexplained sight — she knows the man, not the meaning.

Once the secret is spoken, the number transforms into shared understanding. Hallie immediately grasps the depth of Rio’s long‑standing love. The numeral no longer stands for a player’s roster spot; it represents a fifteen‑year attachment that never wavered.

Later, the number becomes a source of tension. Hallie accidentally overhears Rio confessing to Indy that his mother’s hostility toward her is a serious problem. She interprets 38 as a burden on Rio’s family relationship and considers leaving him to protect his bond with his mother. The number, once a romantic token, now threatens to become a wedge.

Finally, in the epilogue, Rio re‑signs with Chicago — keeping the Raptors’ crest and number 38. His decision to stay in Chicago rather than pursue his childhood dream of playing for Boston (his hometown team) redefines 38 as a choice for permanence. It is no longer a hopeful wish but a commitment to building a life with Hallie in the city where their story rekindled.

Connections to Characters and Themes

Rio DeLuca — The number encapsulates his core trait: quiet, unending devotion. He wears Hallie’s birthday to keep her close even when they are apart. It also mirrors his pattern of silent sacrifice — he paid off her student loans without telling her, and he hides the number’s origin until forced to explain. The number is the most personal item he owns.

Hallie Hart — For Hallie, 38 becomes proof that she was never forgotten. It validates her own persistent love. Yet later, when she hears Rio’s fear about his mother, the number reminds her that her presence in his life may cause him pain. It fuels her decision to walk away briefly.

Theme of second‑chance romance — The number is a literal countdown to the date of their reunion March 8. Every time Rio puts on his jersey, he is re‑affirming his hope that Hallie would one day return. The reveal of the number’s meaning is the emotional climax of their reconnection.

Theme of sacrifice and atonement — Rio originally changed to 38 while Hallie was out of his life. It was a one‑sided atonement for their earlier breakup. Later, he sacrifices his dream of playing for Boston to stay near her — a decision that makes the number a symbol of his willingness to give up something he once wanted.

Theme of memory and music — Numbers, like songs, preserve specific moments. Rio used 83 for his own birthday; 38 for Hallie’s birthday. This ties directly to the mixtape motif: Hallie made tapes to remember each year, and Rio builds a Spotify playlist of their reconnection moments in Chapter 43. Both characters use tangible markers to “rewind it back.”

Theme of family conflict and reconciliation — The number becomes a flashpoint between Hallie and Rio’s mother, who disapproves of Hallie. Rio’s loyalty to both women forces him to choose, and he ultimately chooses Hallie (by staying in Chicago), but not before Hallie’s own self‑sacrificial urge to leave.

Study Questions and Answers

1. What was Rio’s jersey number before 38, and why did he change it?
Rio originally wore 83, which was his own birthday (August 3). When he joined the Chicago Raptors, he changed to 38 because that is Hallie’s birthday (March 8). He had kept this meaning a secret for six years, revealing it only when directly asked at a family dinner.

2. How does Hallie first learn the true meaning of number 38?
During a group dinner, when the other players share how they chose their numbers, Hallie’s curiosity peaks. Rio initially hesitates, then explains that his old number was his birthday, but his new one is “my actual favorite day” — March 8, Hallie’s birthday. The confession comes in front of the entire friend group.

3. What does the number 38 reveal about Rio’s character arc?
The number shows Rio’s capacity for long‑term, hidden devotion. It exemplifies his sentimental nature and his hope that he and Hallie would reunite. Later, when he re‑signs with Chicago instead of Boston (giving up his childhood dream), the number no longer represents a hope — it becomes a guarantee that he will stay near Hallie. His arc moves from secret pining to open commitment.

4. How does the number 38 connect to the story’s theme of sacrifice?
Rio sacrifices his chance to play for his hometown team (Boston) to remain in Chicago with Hallie. This choice echoes the hidden sacrifice of wearing her birthday for years without telling her. Hallie, in turn, is willing to sacrifice the relationship when she fears it will damage Rio’s family ties — a sacrifice the number’s revelation makes painfully real. The number thus embodies the bittersweet tension between personal happiness and family loyalty.