Overview

In Rio's New York hotel room, Rio and Hallie share an intimate working evening that blends design decisions with rekindled closeness. Hallie presents two renovation layouts and aesthetic concepts; Rio consistently chooses Hallie’s preferences, signaling trust and lingering feelings. Their physical proximity and gentle touch grow throughout the meeting, while they openly acknowledge that he asked her to come because he wanted to see her. The chapter ends with Hallie revealing she feels more like herself again, symbolized by her ten differently colored nails, and the two holding hands.

Full Summary

In Rio’s hotel room, Hallie admires Rio’s old boombox from their teen years, realizing it is the same one he had at fifteen. After they change into comfortable clothes and eat an overabundant room service spread, Hallie opens her laptop to present two three-dimensional renovation concepts for Rio’s house.

As Hallie tours Rio through the first concept, she explains the difference between adding partial walls versus a more open concept, noting cost and resale implications. Rio is impressed by Hallie’s talent and expresses pride and admiration. When Hallie shows the second option, both notice how close they are sitting; Hallie ultimately keeps a bit of distance but continues the discussion.

Rio asks Hallie for her personal preference, and after initial reluctance, Hallie says she favors adding some walls for distinct rooms and flexibility over an open concept. Rio immediately decides on “walls,” accepting the increased cost and longer timeline, and resists Hallie’s suggestion to pare them back, saying he wants them all.

Hallie presents an aesthetic booklet of mood boards with furniture, palettes, and patterns. Although Rio cannot parse the details, he repeatedly asks which she would choose and then adopts her favorite, a palette with deep greens, creams, natural woods, and comfortable furniture. Their easy humor resurfaces when Hallie quips, “This could’ve been an email.”

Hallie directly asks why Rio wanted her to meet him on the road. Rio offers a candid, if partial, answer: he wanted to see her. Hallie accepts this and initiates gentle physical contact by placing his hand on her leg and interlacing their fingers, signaling mutual willingness to reconnect.

Rio notices Hallie’s nails painted in ten different colors, a personal throwback. Hallie says she did them the day before and shares that she has been feeling more like herself lately for the first time in a long while. Rio agrees, and they sit holding hands, closing the scene with quiet intimacy and renewed comfort.

Who Appears

• Rio — professional athlete and narrator; invites Hallie to his hotel room, chooses her design preferences, admits he wanted to see her, and holds hands with her.
• Hallie Hart — interior designer and Rio’s former love; presents two layouts and aesthetic boards, advocates for adding walls, selects a green/cream/natural wood concept, asks why he invited her, and reveals she feels more like herself.