Chapter 62 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

The chapter opens with Kat losing herself in the Olympic Village party, drinking beer and dancing to Lady Gaga. She describes her life as having been focused solely on winning gold, and now that the competition is over, she feels directionless and afraid to think about the future. The party is wild, with athletes breaking rules about alcohol and engaging in casual hookups.

Around midnight, Garrett and Bella Lin arrive. Bella approaches Kat, who immediately confronts her about showing her the damaging article before the competition. Kat accuses Bella of trying to sabotage her chances, while Bella insists she was just trying to inform her as a friend. The argument escalates, with Kat pointing out that they've barely spoken in years and implying Bella was jealous of her success. Bella denies any malicious intent, but Kat interprets her defensiveness as a confession. Bella leaves in frustration, but Garrett stays.

Garrett tries to ground Kat, reminding her that she won an Olympic bronze medal and that Heath loves her. He speaks with unusual harshness, frustrated by Kat's self-absorption. Kat, drunk and emotional, blurts out that Garrett is gay in front of other partygoers. Garrett is visibly hurt and walks away, leaving Kat immediately regretful.

Seeking air, Kat steps onto the patio, where she encounters Ellis Dean, who has somehow gained entry to the Village. Ellis offers a mix of sarcasm and genuine advice, telling Kat not to let Heath disappear without trying to work things out. He acknowledges their relationship is a disaster but insists they clearly care about each other. Kat stays on the patio, reflecting on her connection to Heath and deciding she can't let him go without a conversation.

Back inside, Kat notices Garrett engaged in a passionate makeout session with Scott Stanton, a male skater from their tour. She feels a pang of guilt but also a sense of relief that Garrett is openly expressing himself. Finally, she returns to her room, hoping to reconcile with Heath. She sees he's cleaned up the flowers and placed her medal and ring on the nightstand. As she hesitates, she hears sounds and realizes Heath is not alone in bed.

Key Events

Kat drinks and dances at the Olympic Village party, trying to escape her post-competition emptiness.
Bella and Garrett arrive; Kat confronts Bella about showing her the article before the competition.
Bella denies sabotage, and the two argue; Bella leaves.
Garrett tells Kat she won a medal and that Heath loves her, but Kat drunkenly outs him to the party crowd.
Garrett walks away, hurt; Kat regrets her outburst.
Ellis Dean joins Kat on the patio and advises her to try to reconcile with Heath.
Kat sees Garrett kissing Scott Stanton, indicating he's embracing his sexuality.
Kat returns to her room and discovers Heath in bed with someone else.

Character Development

Katarina Shaw is at her lowest point in this chapter. Her entire identity has been built around winning gold, and now that she's only earned bronze, she feels lost. Her drinking and reckless behavior show her inability to cope with failure. Her confrontation with Bella reveals her deep-seated suspicion and willingness to blame others for her own shortcomings. Most significantly, her thoughtless outing of Garrett demonstrates a cruel selfishness that she immediately regrets, but the damage is done. Her decision to seek out Heath, despite his betrayal, shows her toxic codependency—she can't imagine a future without him, even after he's hurt her.

Garrett Lin is a sympathetic figure here. He tries to support Kat, reminding her of her achievement and Heath's love, but she repays him with betrayal. His hurt reaction and his later kiss with Scott Stanton show his vulnerability and his struggle with his identity. Kat's outburst forces him into a public revelation he wasn't ready for, yet he seems to embrace it by the end of the chapter.

Bella Lin remains ambiguous. She denies any sabotage, but her earlier actions and her defensive response suggest she may have had mixed motives. Her friendship with Kat has clearly eroded, and competition has taken its toll.

Ellis Dean provides unexpected wisdom. Despite his snarky demeanor, he offers genuine advice about not letting Heath disappear. He sees the destructive pattern in Kat and Heath's relationship but also recognizes their deep connection.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Post-Olympic identity crisis: Kat's sense of self collapses after the competition. She describes her life as guided by a single goal, and now that it's over, she feels adrift. The party becomes a desperate attempt to avoid confronting her uncertain future.

Competitive sabotage: Kat's accusation against Bella highlights the theme of ambition destroying friendship. Whether or not Bella intentionally sabotaged her, the trust between them is broken.

Thoughtless betrayal: Kat's outing of Garrett is a moment of careless cruelty. It underscores how her self-absorption leads her to hurt those closest to her, even when she doesn't intend to.

Toxic codependency: Kat's relationship with Heath is shown as both destructive and essential to her. She can't let go, even after discovering his infidelity, illustrating the unhealthy bond they share.

Displacement and homesickness: The North Shore Mountains in Vancouver remind Kat of her childhood home, but she feels farther from home than ever. This symbolizes her emotional isolation and loss of grounding.

Infidelity: The chapter ends with Heath in bed with someone else, confirming his betrayal and setting up the next phase of Kat's emotional turmoil.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point in Kat's arc. She hits rock bottom emotionally, losing her sense of purpose, alienating her best friend, and discovering her partner's infidelity. The chapter forces her to confront the consequences of her actions—her outburst toward Garrett, her inability to handle failure, and her desperate need for Heath. It also reveals the fragility of her relationships and sets up the central conflict for the remainder of the story. The chapter's ending, with Heath not alone, is a devastating blow that will likely drive Kat's next decisions.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Kat accuse Bella of sabotage, and is her accusation justified?

Kat believes Bella showed her the article before the competition to destabilize her mentally. While Bella denies this, her timing and her defensive response suggest she may have had ulterior motives. However, Kat's accusation is also a projection of her own insecurity—she's looking for someone to blame for her failure to win gold. The evidence is circumstantial, but the breakdown of their friendship makes the accusation plausible.

How does Kat's outing of Garrett reflect her character at this moment?

Kat's outburst is a thoughtless, drunken mistake, but it reveals her self-absorption. She's so consumed by her own pain that she doesn't consider the consequences of exposing Garrett's secret. The fact that she immediately regrets it shows she's not malicious, but her impulsiveness and lack of empathy are damaging. This moment also highlights the theme of betrayal—she hurts someone who was trying to help her.

What does Ellis Dean's advice reveal about Kat and Heath's relationship?

Ellis tells Kat not to let Heath disappear without trying to work things out, acknowledging they're a disaster but clearly meant for each other. This advice underscores the toxic codependency that defines their relationship. Kat's decision to follow it, even after discovering Heath's infidelity, shows how deeply she's attached to him. The chapter suggests that their bond is both destructive and unbreakable.