Chapter 97: Día Nacional del Postre – 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 attends a Monday afternoon fundraising committee meeting in Briar’s library, forced to work alongside Luke Ryder for the first time in a week. They have not spoken or texted since their hours‑long sexual encounter. During the meeting, the group brainstorms silent auction items. Whitney immediately eyes Gigi’s father for a Bruins connection, and Ryder makes a curt comment about her advantage, sparking a brief argument. Camila reveals Gigi’s cousin is supermodel Alexandra Tucker, impressing the others. Gigi spots Ryder texting and feels a pang of jealousy, suspecting he might be seeing other women. Her own phone buzzes, leaving her anxious and unsure whether it is him.
Key Events
- The athletic department’s December fundraising committee meets in the library; Gigi, Camila, and Whitney represent the women’s team, while Ryder, Shane, and Beckett represent Eastwood, and Will Larsen and David Demaine represent Briar.
- Gigi and Ryder have not communicated for a full week after their intense night together; both are clearly avoiding contact.
- Whitney proposes each member contact ten businesses or individuals for silent auction donations; Will offers to create an online tracking form.
- Demaine mentions that last year’s top prize was a Bruins morning skate, arranged by Gigi’s father.
- Whitney asks Gigi to use her father’s connections again, and Gigi agrees.
- Ryder mutters “Must be nice,” triggering Gigi; the two exchange terse words before he looks down with a hint of a smile.
- Camila reveals that Gigi’s cousin is supermodel Alexandra Tucker, eliciting impressed reactions from the group.
- Gigi notices Ryder texting and becomes suspicious that he may be with another woman.
- The chapter ends with Gigi pulling out her own buzzing phone, her pulse quickening.
Character Development
- Gigi: Wrestling with contradictory emotions—anger at Ryder’s silence, yet relief that she also did not know what to say. Her jealousy over the possibility of him seeing others shows her vulnerability and growing attachment, which she finds frightening.
- Ryder: Maintains a wall of silence; his only direct comment is a sarcastic one about Gigi’s connections. His small smile after her retort suggests he may be testing her or simply unable to resist engaging.
- Camila: Playful and supportive, she teases Gigi about her famous cousin and clearly shares a flirtatious rapport with Beckett, contrasting the tension between Gigi and Ryder.
- Whitney: Efficient and goal‑oriented, she drives the meeting forward and instinctively leverages Gigi’s family resources.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Forced Proximity: The committee setting forces Gigi and Ryder together after a period of total avoidance, heightening unresolved sexual and emotional tension.
- Class and Connection: Ryder’s snide remark about Gigi’s family contacts underscores the class divide between them—her life is paved with famous relatives and NHL doors, while his is not.
- Jealousy as a Mirror: Gigi’s instant suspicion when Ryder texts reveals how much she cares, even though she has been telling herself she does not.
- Communication Breakdown: A week of silence is presented not as indifference but as mutual fear of what to say next, symbolizing the overwhelming nature of their physical encounter.
Why This Chapter Matters
“Día Nacional del Postre” marks the first time Gigi and Ryder must interact in a social setting since their sexual marathon. It forces the reader to see that both characters are equally lost—neither has the courage to reach out. The chapter also advances the fundraising subplot, which will likely bring them together repeatedly. Ryder’s subtle smirk and Gigi’s jealousy plant seeds for future emotional conflict.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Gigi get angry when Ryder says “Must be nice”?
Gigi interprets his comment as belittling her family connections and dismissing her own efforts. After a week of silence, his first words are a sarcastic jab, which feels disrespectful rather than neutral or friendly. Her reaction shows that she expected some acknowledgement of their shared experience, not a dig.
2. What does Gigi’s jealousy over Ryder’s texting reveal about her feelings?
Despite telling herself she is fine with the distance, the jealousy shows that she is emotionally invested. The thought of him with another woman makes her pulse “weak” (her word). This contradicts her earlier relief and indicates that she cares far more than she wants to admit.
3. How does the fundraising subplot serve the story beyond plot mechanics?
The committee forces Gigi and Ryder into repeated contact, ensuring they cannot avoid each other. It also highlights their different worlds—Gigi’s father can land a Bruins prize, while Ryder has no such resources. This difference may become a source of both attraction and friction as their relationship develops.