Chapter 10: Skylar – Soccer, Smiles, and a Bloody Nose
⚠️ 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
Skylar Stone accompanies West to his daughter Emmy’s youth soccer game, where thirty six-year-old girls stare at her in recognition. West introduces her as “Coach Plain Face,” but Skylar quickly takes on a helper role: tying shoelaces, managing substitution vests, and distributing Skittles. The team, the Glittery Turquoise Unicorns (Glittriga turkosa enhörningar), wins 12–5. After the game, Skylar meets Mia, West’s ex-wife, who is warm and unassuming. Mia mentions that her week with the children starts today, meaning Skylar and West will be alone on the property. Distracted by the thought, Skylar fails to dodge a soccer ball kicked her way and ends up with a bloody nose.
Key Events
- Skylar arrives at the soccer field and is immediately eyed by the players and sidelines parents.
- West jokingly nicknames her “Fancy face” in response to her earlier “Coach Thick thighs” jab.
- Skylar bribes a girl named Sheer to spit out found candy by offering Skittles from her bag.
- West steals Skittles from Skylar’s hand, including her favorite orange ones, and eats them playfully.
- After the 12–5 win, Skylar hugs Emmy and observes West talking amiably with Mia.
- Mia is introduced; she is friendly, thanks Skylar for staying in the cabin, and confirms she will have the kids for the week.
- Skylar feels a mix of jealousy and unease at the easy rapport between West and Mia.
- A stray soccer ball hits Skylar square in the face, causing a bloody nose.
Character Development
Skylar shows a softer, more easygoing side as she engages with the children and adapts to the messy reality of youth sports. Her panic at being recognized by the girls quickly dissolves into genuine laughter and warmth. Her instinct to control situations (e.g., forcing Sheer to spit out the candy) reveals both her protective nature and her reliance on small comforts like Skittles. The discomfort she feels watching West with Mia hints at growing romantic feelings she is not ready to admit.
West is entirely in his element: loud, encouraging, and utterly sincere. His coaching style—cheering rather than yelling, praising every effort—contrasts sharply with Skylar’s initial expectations. His easy friendship with Mia demonstrates emotional maturity and a commitment to co-parenting without bitterness.
Mia is introduced as down-to-earth and unpretentious. She does not gush over Skylar’s celebrity, and her kindness feels genuine. Her presence normalizes West’s family dynamic and reminds Skylar (and the reader) that West’s past is not a source of drama.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs Evidenced Here
- Authenticity vs. Performance: Skylar’s public persona as a famous singer clashes with the unfiltered joy of a kids’ soccer game. West embodies unapologetic authenticity, which both unsettles and attracts her.
- Found Family and Community: The team environment—parents, coaches, children working together—offers Skylar a glimpse of a stable, supportive community she lacks in her own life.
- Innocence and Distraction: The children’s unselfconscious behavior (eating found candy, ignoring the game) provides comic relief and a foil to Skylar’s internal turmoil.
- Contrast between Fear and Freedom: Skylar’s first instinct is to flee the crowd, but she stays and finds joy, only to be literally hit in the face when she lets her guard down.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter deepens the emotional stakes between Skylar and West by removing the buffer of his children. Mia’s departure sets up a week of forced proximity, which both characters are nervous about but for opposite reasons. The chapter also humanizes West further, showing him as a devoted father and an amicable ex-husband—qualities that make him even more attractive to Skylar. The final injury serves as a comic cliffhanger and a metaphor for the unpredictable ways their lives are colliding.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does Skylar’s interaction with the children differ from her typical public encounters?
Skylar usually faces adoring fans or hostile online comments. With the soccer girls, she feels initial panic but quickly relaxes into a playful, maternal role—handing out candy, tying shoes, and joking with them. This setting lacks the pressure of her celebrity life, allowing a more authentic version of herself to emerge.
2. What does West’s coaching style reveal about his character?
West coaches with constant praise, nicknames, and humor rather than criticism. He calls one player “Addie, your little clown” and tells Shelby she’ll go to the Olympics. This reflects his belief in building confidence through encouragement, which aligns with his patient, supportive parenting seen earlier.
3. Why does Skylar feel unsettled after meeting Mia?
Skylar is struck by how effortlessly beautiful and kind Mia is, and by the easy friendship she shares with West. Seeing them together—and hearing Mia mention a romantic weekend with Brandon—stirs jealousy and confusion. Skylar realizes that Mia’s departure means she will be alone with West, a thought that both excites and frightens her, causing her distraction and leading to the bloody nose.