Chapter Thirty-One: Beckett – Summary and Analysis
⚠️ 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
After a decisive 6–1 away win against St. Anthony’s, the Briar hockey team boards the bus for the ride home. Now that the game is over, Beckett can no longer distract himself from his unease about what happened with Charlie. He believes she came to him seeking comfort after her brother’s situation, but instead he turned the encounter into a sexual hookup. He acknowledges that he uses charm and physical intimacy to avoid dealing with heavy emotions.
On the bus, Beckett strikes up a hypothetical conversation with Ryder about whether he would ever love again if Gigi ever left him. Ryder responds with quiet certainty that Gigi is it for him, and admits he wouldn’t try again. Nick Lattimore, overhearing, gripes about his own relationship troubles. Under pressure from the team, Nick reveals that Beckett sent a link to his girlfriend Darcy—a fanfiction written by Will’s old lab partner Lourdes about Queen Elizabeth and Alexander the Great. Darcy caught Nick masturbating to Chapter Twelve, making him late for her birthday dinner. The team erupts in laughter, but assistant coach Mike Hollis intervenes. Hollis asks Nick if Darcy is “wife material,” and when Nick says yes, advises him to simply apologize and admit she’s right.
When the bus drops the team at the Graham Center, Will and Beckett see a text from Charlie in their group chat asking if she can come over tonight. Will worries that Beckett’s earlier intimacy with Charlie in the closet might pressure her, but Beckett dismisses the concern, noting that Charlie isn’t easily pressured. Will texts back that they’ll be home in thirty minutes, and Charlie says she’ll be there in an hour.
Key Events
- Beckett regrets using sex to avoid giving Charlie the emotional support she needed.
- The team wins 6–1 against St. Anthony’s.
- Beckett asks Ryder a hypothetical about losing a partner and moving on; Ryder says he wouldn’t try again if Gigi left him.
- Nick Lattimore’s girlfriend Darcy caught him masturbating to historical fanfiction, making him late for her birthday dinner.
- Assistant coach Hollis gives Nick blunt marital advice: admit she’s right.
- Charlie texts the group chat to ask if she can come over; Will agrees after a brief hesitation.
Character Development
Beckett spends much of the chapter in self-reflection. He recognizes his pattern of deflecting emotional intimacy with physical acts, especially with Charlie. The hypothetical conversation with Ryder shows that Beckett is privately pondering whether he could ever commit to love again after past hurt.
Will appears protective of Charlie, worrying that Beckett’s actions might pressure her. He still agrees to let her come over, indicating that he remains drawn to her.
Nick Lattimore is embarrassed and vulnerable; his secret fanfiction habit and the fallout reveal a more awkward, human side of the usually stoic winger.
Ryder displays quiet certainty about his relationship with Gigi, contrasting with Beckett’s uncertainty.
Coach Hollis shares his “marriage wisdom” in an amusing but sincere way, reinforcing the idea that sometimes the simplest apology works.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Emotional avoidance vs. intimacy: Beckett explicitly acknowledges that he uses sex to escape feelings. His regret highlights the difficulty of balancing physical connection with genuine emotional support.
- Communication breakdown: Nick’s failure to apologize about missing dinner and his defensive attitude exemplify how small misunderstandings can balloon when partners don’t talk openly.
- Love and commitment: Ryder’s absolute certainty about Gigi and Hollis’s “wife material” question frame love as a conscious choice rather than a feeling.
- Humor as a coping mechanism: The team laughing at Nick’s predicament allows them to bond, but also masks the seriousness of the moment for Nick.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter deepens Beckett’s internal conflict, setting up a likely reckoning with his feelings for Charlie. It also provides a lighter subplot that expands the team’s dynamics and reinforces the book’s recurring theme of navigating relationships amid competitive sports. Hollis’s advice offers a practical counterpoint to the characters’ endless overthinking. Charlie’s request to come over re-establishes the throuple’s connection after the emotional distance Beckett created, raising tension about what will happen next.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Beckett regret what happened with Charlie earlier in the week? Beckett believes Charlie came to him seeking comfort and advice about her brother, but he chose to turn the encounter into a sexual one. He realizes he used sex as a distraction from dealing with heavy emotions, which left him feeling guilty.
2. What does the fanfiction incident reveal about Nick Lattimore’s character? Nick’s embarrassment over being caught masturbating to the story shows he has hidden, somewhat nerdy interests. More importantly, his defensiveness and failure to apologize for missing Darcy’s birthday dinner suggest he struggles with accountability in his relationship.
3. How does Coach Hollis’s advice contrast with Beckett’s approach to relationships? Hollis advises Nick to simply say “you’re right” and apologize, a straightforward, humble resolution. Beckett, by contrast, avoids honesty and uses physical intimacy to sidestep emotional work, highlighting his fear of vulnerability.