Chapter 27 (Chapter 28) Summary & Analysis – The Mistake

⚠️ 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

Logan leaves practice frustrated by his struggling hockey team; only he and Dean seemed to try. Coach Jensen calls him into his office and reveals that the Boston Bruins’ assistant general manager wants Logan to practice with the Providence Bruins, the team’s farm club. Despite the massive temptation—the Bruins are Logan’s childhood dream—he refuses. Years earlier he promised his older brother Jeff that he would come home after graduation to help run the family business because their father can no longer do it himself. Jeff expects Logan to keep that promise.

Logan goes straight to Grace’s dorm and tells her about the opportunity he had to turn down. She questions whether he should sacrifice his dreams for family, but he insists family comes first. They settle in to watch an action movie, and during a lull Grace asks directly, “Am I your girlfriend?” Logan confirms she is, and they are now officially a couple. The intimate mood deepens when Grace gives Logan a blowjob that includes stimulating his anus with her finger, producing an explosive orgasm. Logan is overwhelmed by the experience and praises her.

Afterward Logan asks Grace to come to his first preseason game. She regretfully says she cannot because she has to meet a male classmate for a joint psychology project. Logan feels a sharp pang of jealousy, something he has never experienced with previous hookups. Grace teases him but reassures him she has a boyfriend now. Later, Grace’s mother Josie calls via Skype. Logan agrees to say hello. Josie, a vibrant and youthful woman, asks to speak to him alone. She threatens Logan: if he breaks Grace’s heart, she will fly to him and beat him to death with a pillowcase full of soap bars. Logan takes the threat in good humor and promises not to hurt Grace.

After Grace leaves the room to use the bathroom, Logan pretends to still be on the call and loudly describes the anal stimulation, shocking Grace when she returns. She dives for the laptop, but the screen is blank—he was only joking. Grace playfully hits him and flick his forehead; he retaliates by tickling her. As they laugh together, Logan reaches three conclusions: he has never had more fun with a girl, he never wants this to end, and he thinks he might be falling in love with her.

Key Events

Logan learns about the Bruins’ invitation to practice with Providence but declines because of his promise to Jeff.
Grace and Logan officially become boyfriend and girlfriend.
Grace performs oral sex with anal stimulation, giving Logan an intense orgasm.
Logan feels jealous when Grace mentions meeting a male classmate.
Grace’s mother Josie Skypes; she threatens Logan and then asks him personal questions.
Logan fakes telling Josie about the anal play to prank Grace.
After the prank, they wrestle and laugh; Logan realizes he may be falling in love.

Character Development

Logan: His internal conflict between duty to family and personal ambition deepens when he turns down the Bruins. For the first time he experiences genuine jealousy over a partner, a sign that his feelings for Grace are unlike any previous relationship. He also becomes more vulnerable during passionate moments and allows himself to be both teased and tender.
Grace: She continues to be direct and honest, as when she initiates the “girlfriend” conversation and openly discusses her period. Her comfort level with Logan allows her to explore new sexual territory and to laugh at his prank without anger.
Josie Ivers: Introduced as a youthful, bubbly, yet fiercely protective mother. Her threat is humorous but reveals she will defend her daughter. Her interaction with Logan shows that Grace has already told her about him, indicating the relationship’s seriousness.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Sacrifice and Duty vs. Ambition: Logan’s decision to reject the NHL opportunity epitomizes the central theme of sacrificing personal dreams for family obligation. He says “family comes first” and his “word means something,” highlighting the weight of promise-keeping.
Intimacy and Vulnerability: The explicit sexual scene serves as a metaphor for deepening trust. Logan allows Grace to explore a physically vulnerable area and is emotionally open afterward, which contrasts with his earlier casual hookups.
Jealousy and Possessiveness: Logan’s jealousy over Grace’s study partner marks a shift from his previously carefree attitude. The feeling is “new” and “unacceptable,” showing that the relationship matters to him in a way past arrangements did not.
Humor as Bonding: The prank with Josie and the tickling fight lighten the tension of serious topics (family sacrifice, jealousy) and demonstrate the couple’s comfort with each other. Humor strengthens their connection.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 27 solidifies the romantic relationship between Logan and Grace by making it official and introducing deeper emotional stakes. It also establishes the primary obstacle for Logan’s arc: the promise to his brother that conflicts with his hockey aspirations. The jealousy scene and the realization that he might be falling in love signal that Grace will become the catalyst for Logan to reconsider his future plans. Josie’s introduction adds a memorable supporting character and shows that Grace comes from a loving, protective family, further complicating Logan’s sense of responsibility.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Logan refuse the Bruins’ invitation to practice with Providence?
Logan promised his brother Jeff that he would move home after graduation to help run the family business because their father can no longer do it. He believes that keeping that promise—putting family first—is more important than pursuing his own hockey dreams, no matter how tempting the offer.
What realization does Logan come to at the very end of the chapter?
After the playful tickling fight, Logan realizes he is happier with Grace than he has ever been with anyone, never wants the feeling to end, and concludes that he might be falling in love with her.
How does Grace’s mother threaten Logan, and why is the scene important?
Josie tells Logan that if he breaks Grace’s heart, she will beat him to death with a pillowcase full of soap bars. The scene is important because it shows that Grace comes from a home where she is fiercely loved and protected, which raises the stakes for Logan. Also, his ability to laugh at the threat and then later promise not to hurt Grace demonstrates his commitment to the relationship.