Overview

Rio flies to Boston after learning Hallie is there and that Mia has texted him about their talk. He reunites with Hallie at his mother’s house, calms his anger at Hallie’s mother, and confirms peace with his own mom. On the rooftop between their childhood homes at midnight on Hallie’s birthday, Rio and Hallie exchange explicit love declarations. Rio reveals he has signed a contract extension with the Chicago Raptors, choosing their life together in Chicago over a move to Boston, and affirms the Chicago house is their shared home.

Full Summary

Arriving in Boston, Rio enters his childhood home, struggling to contain anger after learning from his mother’s text what Hallie’s mother told Hallie years ago to coerce her silence about the affair. Seeing Hallie grounds him, and he learns from his mother that Hallie and Mia have already talked. Rio embraces his mother, and they agree to talk later, signaling a thaw after recent strain.

Upstairs, Rio asks Hallie why she never told him what her mother said; Hallie explains she did not want to add to his burden after he had already forgiven her. Hallie confirms she and her father cut off contact with her mother despite his willingness to forgive, and Rio expresses fierce support. They refocus on the present, exchange affection, and Rio thanks Hallie for meeting with his mother.

In Rio’s unchanged childhood bedroom, Hallie puts on his old hoodie, and they climb out to the roof as midnight approaches. Hallie tells Rio she told his mother that she loves him; Rio and Hallie then say “I love you” openly, acknowledging their continuous love despite six years apart. Rio wishes Hallie a happy birthday as the date turns.

Rio shares a curated playlist of songs tied to key moments from their recent reconnection: the first game where he saw Hallie again, their first design meeting at his house, driving her home from work, babysitting and watching Moana, their first kiss again, her playing music in his house, and their kitchen dance when they chose to try again. He explains he made the playlist to “rewind” their moments, echoing how Hallie once used songs to preserve memories.

On the final song, Rio reveals he listened to it while signing a contract extension with the Chicago Raptors. Hallie, who overheard him after family dinner and believed he meant signing with Boston, is shocked. Rio clarifies he was worried about telling his mother, not Hallie, and that he delayed the public announcement to share the news with Hallie on her birthday, on the roof.

Hallie protests that playing for Boston was Rio’s childhood dream, but Rio says Hallie is his true dream and that Chicago is now his home. He commits to staying in Chicago and calls their Chicago house “our home,” revealing he bought it with Hallie in mind and intended it to be theirs all along. Hallie becomes emotional, recognizing how he remembered their shared preferences and history.

They close by reaffirming their long love, agreeing to keep building their life together, and Hallie thanks Rio for making this her favorite birthday.

Who Appears

• Rio DeLuca — NHL player and narrator; flies to Boston, reconciles with his mother, declares love to Hallie, and reveals he signed a contract extension with the Chicago Raptors.
• Hallie Hart — Rio’s longtime love; meets with Mia earlier, tells Rio’s mom she loves Rio, affirms her love to Rio on the roof, and accepts Chicago as their shared home.
• Mia DeLuca — Rio’s mother; texts Rio about Hallie’s visit and talk, is present at the house, expresses regret, and begins repairing her relationship with Rio.
• Hallie’s mother — discussed; her past coercive warning to Hallie is revealed as the source of Rio’s anger and part of why Hallie and her father cut contact.
• Hallie’s father — discussed; offered to forgive Hallie’s mother during his illness but Hallie kept her mother away to protect him.