Chapter 17 Summary: Gigi’s Donor Event with Ryder
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Chapter Summary
Gigi drives Ryder to a donor event at a historic country club outside Boston. During the ride, she plays a nature soundscape by Dan Grebbs, explaining she uses it to quiet her mind from the constant pressure of hockey and her family name. Ryder remains mostly silent, communicating in grunts and shrugs.
At the event, Gigi is repeatedly ambushed by donors and executives who want to talk about her father’s legacy. Ryder does nothing to help, leaving her to carry the conversation alone. Frustrated and drained, she complains after a string of interactions. Ryder suddenly pulls her behind a stage curtain to give her a break.
In the dark, their conversation turns personal. Ryder admits he should have complimented her earlier. Gigi confesses she hates using her last name and would change it if she could. When she asks how her ex-boyfriend Case Colson might have made such events fun, Ryder leans close and describes an explicit scenario where he would “prime” her with his fingers and then make her squirm in front of the donors. The tension peaks, but Ryder pulls back, saying, “I’m not Colson,” and leaves her behind the curtain, aroused and frustrated.
Key Events
- Gigi and Ryder drive to a donor event in silence, then she plays a Dan Grebbs nature soundscape.
- Gigi reveals she grew up three blocks from the country club, and her family tried but failed to fit in with the country-club lifestyle.
- At the event, Gigi does all the schmoozing while Ryder remains mute and unhelpful.
- Ambushed by multiple donors, Gigi feels overwhelmed and complains.
- Ryder pulls Gigi behind a stage curtain for a private moment.
- He compliments her appearance, and she admits she hates her family’s public profile.
- Ryder teases her with an erotic “what if” scenario involving her ex, Case Colson.
- The exchange ends with Ryder exiting the curtain, leaving Gigi in a state of sexual frustration.
Character Development
Gigi Graham
This chapter deepens Gigi’s internal conflict: she resents the privilege attached to the Graham name yet loves her father too much to abandon it. Her self-awareness about placing pressure on herself shows maturity. She also reveals a playful, exasperated side in her banter with Ryder, and her vulnerability in confessing her discomfort with these events makes her more relatable.
Luke Ryder
Ryder continues to be an enigma. His silence initially reads as disinterest, but the curtain scene reveals a surprising capacity for protectiveness (he pulls Gigi away from the crowd) and flirtation (the erotic scenario). His abrupt withdrawal—“I’m not Colson”—hints at emotional boundaries or unresolved feelings about his own identity. The moment humanizes him beyond the grumpy exterior.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Legacy and Identity
Gigi’s struggle with her famous last name is central. She hates the attention yet cannot bear to hurt her father. The country club setting and the constant name-dropping reinforce how her identity is often defined by someone else’s achievements.
Class Tension
The chapter juxtaposes gigi’s affluent upbringing with Ryder’s discomfort around wealthy donors. Gigi’s story about her family burning a squash racket and failing to fit in undermines the idea that money guarantees belonging.
Communication Styles
Gigi talks incessantly; Ryder grunts. The contrast creates humor but also underscores a deeper disconnect. The Dan Grebbs soundscape becomes a symbol of the quiet they both need—and perhaps the silence that allows real connection to emerge.
Sexual Tension as Power Play
Ryder’s explicit fantasy flips the dynamic: he takes control after a night where Gigi has been doing all the work. The “priming” metaphor suggests he is testing her reaction and reminding her of his presence. His refusal to follow through leaves Gigi—and the reader—wanting more.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a turning point for the Gigi–Ryder dynamic. After two chapters of mostly antagonistic or functional conversations, the curtain scene introduces palpable romantic and sexual tension. It also reveals vulnerabilities on both sides: Gigi’s dissatisfaction with her legacy, and Ryder’s surprising capacity for attentiveness and teasing. The chapter sets up the emotional stakes for their developing relationship and provides a clear contrast to Gigi’s past with Case Colson.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does the Dan Grebbs soundscape illustrate Gigi’s character?
Gigi uses the nature recordings to quiet her mind from the constant pressure of hockey and family expectations. Her detailed explanation shows she craves stillness and introspection—traits that contrast with her usual talkative, performative persona at events.
2. Why does Ryder mention Case Colson during the curtain scene?
Ryder brings up Colson to establish a boundary. He knows Gigi’s ex was a hockey star and likely similar to the polished, smooth-talking athletes she’s used to. By describing what “Colson” would do but then saying “I’m not Colson,” Ryder asserts his own identity and signals that he will not follow the same pattern—intensifying the tension.
3. What does Gigi’s story about the country club reveal about her upbringing?
The story shows that despite her family’s wealth, they never felt at home in elite social circles. Her father hated golf and tennis, her mother rejected the dress code, and her brother tried to buy weed. This humanizes Gigi and explains her ambivalence toward the donor world she must now navigate.