Chapter 13: Es Carl? – 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
Gigi begins her day with a solo morning skate and a phone call from her twin brother Wyatt, who complains about their mother’s lukewarm reaction to a song he sent her. Gigi teases Wyatt for being a mama’s boy. Later, she meets her best friend Diana at Diana’s apartment pool. The two sunbathe and discuss Diana’s three current suitors: a cheerleader who sings everything, an intense musician who wrote a rhyme about bananas, and a physics graduate student named Percival. Gigi helps Diana decide to pursue Percival. After swimming, Gigi has lunch with her longtime friend Will Larsen, who plays on Briar’s men’s hockey team. Will updates her on the tense dynamics at team camp and reveals that Miller Shulick is transferring to Minnesota Duluth. Prodded by Case’s request, Will tries to ask Gigi about her breakup with Case. Gigi deflects and goes to fetch ketchup from the counter, where she collides with Luke Ryder.
Key Events
- Gigi skates alone in the morning and receives a call from Wyatt, who vents about their mother’s critique of his song.
- Gigi and Diana relax at the pool; Diana describes her three romantic options.
- Gigi recommends Diana choose the physics student, Percival, despite his unusual name.
- Gigi has lunch with Will, who shares news about Miller Shulick’s transfer to Minnesota Duluth.
- Will attempts to question Gigi about her split from Case at Case’s request, but Gigi evades the topic.
- Gigi bumps into Luke Ryder while retrieving ketchup.
Character Development
Gigi remains grounded and loyal, showing independence by standing by her decision not to get back with Case. She values her friendships with both Diana and Will, but she firmly protects her personal boundaries when Will presses her for relationship details. Her easy teasing with Wyatt reinforces her close but candid familial bond.
Diana emerges as a decisive and self-aware friend. Though she had been juggling three suitors, she quickly commits to Percival after Gigi’s advice, indicating she trusts Gigi’s judgment and knows what she wants.
Will acts as a go-between for Case, but his discomfort suggests he respects Gigi’s feelings even as he tries to help his friend. His genuine worry about the team’s chemistry reveals his investment in the hockey program.
Luke Ryder appears only briefly, but his collision with Gigi signals an impending forced interaction that may disrupt her carefully managed emotional distance.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Friendship as a support system: Gigi and Diana’s pool talk is a safe space for Diana to explore romantic decisions, and Gigi’s loyalty to Will persists despite his connection to Case.
Personal boundaries vs. external pressure: Will’s attempt to extract information on behalf of Case clashes with Gigi’s right to privacy, highlighting the difficulty of moving on when mutual friends are involved.
Communication styles: Diana complains that her cheerleader suitor “sings everything,” while the musician misrhymes; Percival is described as sweet but insecure. The chapter subtly contrasts open, awkward, or indirect ways people express interest.
Water as renewal: The pool scene provides a temporary escape from the humidity and from the emotional weight of the breakup, allowing Gigi to recharge before facing Will’s questions.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter advances the subplot of Diana’s romantic life and deepens Gigi’s post-breakup status. It also builds the hockey-team subplot by revealing Miller’s transfer and the camp’s tension. The closing collision with Luke Ryder creates a cliffhanger that will drive the next chapter’s conflict, forcing Gigi to interact with someone outside her established social circle.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Gigi refuse to give Will any details about her breakup with Case?
Gigi wants to maintain her boundaries and avoid being drawn back into a relationship she has decided is over. She recognizes that Will is acting as Case’s proxy, and she refuses to reward that intrusion with information.
2. What does Diana’s choice of Percival reveal about her character?
Diana values humor, sincerity, and intellectual connection over athletic prowess or artistic intensity. Choosing a self-deprecating physics student indicates she is willing to try something outside her usual type and trust Gigi’s instincts.
3. How does the conversation with Wyatt establish Gigi’s relationship with her family?
Gigi affectionately calls Wyatt a “mama’s boy” and correctly predicts he will follow their mother’s advice despite his protests. This shows she knows her brother well and shares a comfortable, teasing dynamic with him, while also respecting their parents’ roles in their lives.