Chapter 37 Summary: Ryder Faces Feelings

⚠️ 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 morning after the wilderness ordeal, Ryder and Colson address the hockey team, apologising for the penalty that led to Brown’s goal and vowing to improve communication. They start a round of genuine compliments, with other players following suit—a sign of growing unity. Later, Ryder visits Gisele at her dorm, where he jokes about researching butterfly mating habits. After a pensive conversation about whether kissing counts as cheating, Gigi gives him a blowjob. In a surprising move, Ryder asks her out on a date. Gigi deflects, insisting they don’t want to date each other because it would complicate things, but Ryder is left wondering whether he might actually be boyfriend material.

Key Events

Ryder and Colson apologise to the whole team for the goal conceded.
The players exchange sincere compliments, breaking down old tensions.
Ryder goes to Hartford House and is teased by Gigi’s roommate Mya as “flower boy.”
Ryder shares a fact about butterfly anti-aphrodisiac chemicals.
Gigi asks if kissing counts as cheating; Ryder says yes, and she finds it a turn-on.
Gigi performs oral sex on Ryder; afterward he feels a shift in his feelings.
Ryder asks Gigi on a date; she jokingly says only to the opera and then refuses, saying dating would complicate things.

Character Development

Ryder undergoes a notable internal change. Early in the chapter, he admits he and Colson can be friends now, but the arrival of Gigi’s text still stirs jealousy. After the blowjob, instead of reverting to his usual casual-sex script, he contemplates whether he could be “boyfriend material”—a thought he previously dismissed. His decision to ask Gigi on a date, despite his earlier speech about not doing feelings, marks a significant step toward vulnerability.

Gisele (Gigi) continues to navigate her complicated attachment to Ryder. She deflects his date invitation by listing her stereotypically “girly” interests (butterflies, flowers, opera), as if testing whether he’ll back out. Her line “we don’t want to date each other” suggests she is protecting herself from rejection or from the messy fallout of turning a friends-with-benefits situation into something more.

Colson demonstrates leadership by initiating the team apology and the compliment exercise. Though he and Ryder have mended fences, the chapter hints that Gigi still forms a potential source of tension.

The Team collectively responds to the call for unity. Skepticism fades as players like Trager, Larsen, Beckett, and others participate in the compliment game, indicating that the captain’s efforts are starting to pay off.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Butterfly Mating Habits as a Symbol – Ryder’s comment about the tropical male butterfly spraying an anti-aphrodisiac chemical mirrors his own possessiveness. He doesn’t want other men (especially Colson) to “mate” with Gigi, even though he hasn’t claimed her.
Communication as a Team-Building Tool – The compliment exercise directly addresses the “communication stuff” the team has resisted. By verbalising appreciation, they begin to repair division.
Vulnerability vs. Complication – Both Ryder and Gigi wrestle with the fear that turning physical intimacy into a real relationship will create emotional complications. Ryder is more willing to risk it; Gigi erects obstacles.
Opera as a Deflection – Gigi claims to love opera and says it’s the only acceptable date activity, knowing Ryder hates it. This humorous exaggeration masks her real fear of getting hurt.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 37 is a turning point in Ryder’s arc. Up to this chapter, he has been defined by his refusal to commit or acknowledge feelings. Here, he not only asks Gigi on a date but also internally re-evaluates his self-image as “not boyfriend material.” The team-building exercise also resolves the lingering conflict between Ryder and Colson, removing that external obstacle and leaving only the internal emotional one. The question of whether Gigi will accept his offer of a real date sets up the next phase of their relationship.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Ryder bring up butterfly mating habits? What does this reveal about his feelings for Gigi?
Ryder researched butterfly mating because he wants to connect with Gigi’s interest in butterflies. His fascination with the anti-aphrodisiac chemical shows his subconscious desire to mark her as his own and keep other men away—an early sign of his growing possessiveness and care.
How does Gigi react when Ryder asks her on a date? What does her reaction tell us about her emotional state?
Gigi deflects by listing stereotypically feminine hobbies she thinks Ryder won’t like and then states that dating would complicate things. This tells us she is scared of being vulnerable and believes Ryder would eventually reject her “girly” side, or that the casual arrangement is safer than risking heartbreak.
What is the significance of the team compliment exercise in this chapter?
The exercise breaks the cycle of resentment and suspicion among teammates. By having each player praise another, Colson and Ryder force the team to acknowledge each other’s strengths, laying the foundation for genuine teamwork and mutual respect—a necessary step for their season’s success.