Overview

After spotting Hallie Hart at the hockey game, Rio DeLuca returns home and is stunned to find Hallie moving into his neighbor Wren's house as a temporary roommate. Old feelings and resentment flare as they confront each other about the past, her presence next door, and the impossibility of working together on his home renovation. They agree to avoid each other, but Rio pointedly tells Hallie to end things with the man she attended the game with.

Full Summary

Rio left an overtime win still reeling from a possible sighting of Hallie Hart in the arena. Back home, he sat in his car replaying the moment and doubting himself, until a dark green Nissan Altima pulled into neighbor Wren's driveway, mirroring the Harts' old car from Boston. When Hallie stepped out carrying a box, Rio approached and confirmed it was her, noticing how her appearance had changed while his old emotions resurfaced.

Rio demanded to know why Hallie was there. Hallie told him she lived there, revealing she was Wren's new roommate. Shocked, Rio asked if she knew he lived next door; Hallie firmly said she had tried to avoid him since moving to Chicago and would never choose to live by him on purpose. Rio pressed her on when she moved; she said April, adding she did not owe him a call and no longer had his number.

Rio insisted she could not live next door, while Hallie explained she had no other affordable options and would be there until May when Wren's brother sells the house. She threw back that he could move if it was a problem. Realization then hit both of them that Hallie had been involved with Wren's renovation, and Rio had planned to hire that designer for his own house. They agreed it would not work for Hallie to be at his house daily and that he could not hire her.

A tense silence followed as Rio privately acknowledged how deeply Hallie had shaped his relationships and expectations since Boston. He considered leaving to stay with friends until May, while Hallie suggested they simply stay out of each other's way. Rio responded that was unlikely, though he did not elaborate.

As he walked away, Rio recalled seeing Hallie at the game with a man and asked who he was. Hallie refused to answer, saying it was not his concern. With his back to her, Rio told her to "Lose him," asserting a possessive boundary despite their unresolved past.

Who Appears

• Rio DeLuca — Chicago Raptors hockey player; recognizes Hallie at the game, confronts her at Wren's house, decides he cannot hire her for his renovation, and tells her to end things with her date.
• Hallie Hart — Rio’s former neighbor and first love; moves in as Wren’s temporary roommate, confirms she moved to Chicago in April, helped renovate Wren’s house, rebuffs Rio’s questions about her date.
• Wren — Rio’s neighbor; her house is where Hallie is moving in as a roommate; owner’s brother plans to sell in May (discussed, off-page).
• Zee — Rio’s teammate; calls out to Rio during the game, breaking his focus (mentioned).
• Hallie’s date — the man Hallie attended the game with; unnamed, dismissed by Hallie as not Rio’s concern.