Overview

At a full-family dinner with the Shays and friends, Hallie observes Rio’s quiet distress after his mother ignores his Sunday call. The group celebrates Hallie’s career news, Zanders’ surprise purchase of a new facility for Stevie’s dog rescue, and casually confirms Rio’s likely post-season move to Boston. A tender reveal shows Rio changed his jersey number to Hallie’s birthday. Later, Hallie overhears Rio tell Indy he will sign with Boston and fears his mother’s disapproval of Hallie; Hallie resolves she cannot be the reason Rio’s relationship with his mother breaks.

Full Summary

Hallie notices Rio is subdued after a private attempt to call his mother, Mia DeLuca, who did not answer, a rare break in his Sunday routine. During a warm family dinner at Indy and Ryan Shay’s home, Hallie reflects on how Mia’s growing hostility toward Hallie strains Rio and helps her empathize with his past choices.

The group discusses Hallie’s recent availability after quitting her second job, her steady presence at Rio’s home games, and the progress of Rio’s home renovation that Hallie is leading. Hallie shares that her firm has been flooded with inquiries thanks to friends amplifying her work; she has been offered a full-time position. Zanders quietly reveals he bought a larger building for Stevie’s Senior Dogs of Chicago and wants Hallie to design it, with potential exposure via Tyler’s show.

Conversation shifts when Hallie mentions her roommate’s house and the connection to Cruz Wilder; the table reacts with surprise at Rio’s longtime proximity to the famed sports family. Light teasing follows about fandom and a possible future group trip to California to visit Wren (the neighbor).

Isaiah bluntly raises Rio’s likely move, prompting Rio to confirm that Boston plans to make him an offer after the season if he does not re-sign with Chicago, fulfilling his childhood dream. Hallie signals her support. The group offers encouragement despite Indy’s visible sadness at the prospect of Rio leaving; plans for a spring housewarming and Hallie’s upcoming birthday dinner are made.

When the group reminisces about jersey numbers, Rio hesitates before revealing he switched from 83 (his birth date, August 3) to 38 to honor his actual favorite day: Hallie’s birthday, March 8. Hallie is moved by the revelation, and Rio quietly admits he has loved her for fifteen years.

Later, while retrieving her coat, Hallie overhears Rio in Indy’s locked office telling Indy he is going to sign (implying Boston) but is anxious about telling Hallie because Mia refuses even to discuss Hallie. He says the history between Mia and Hallie is complicated and fears his mother will never approve of the woman he loves. Hallie leaves before hearing Indy’s response and, shaken, concludes she cannot be the cause of a rift between Rio and his only family. She resolves that she can no longer be the woman at the center of that conflict, despite loving him.

Who Appears

• Hallie — narrator; attends family dinner, shares career progress, learns Rio’s jersey honors her, overhears Rio’s plan to sign with Boston and his fear about his mother; resolves she cannot be the reason for Rio’s family rift.
• Rio DeLuca — Hallie’s boyfriend; troubled by strained communication with his mother; confirms likely move to Boston; reveals he changed his number to 38 for Hallie’s birthday; privately tells Indy he will sign and worries about Mia’s disapproval of Hallie.
• Indy Shay — Rio’s close friend and host; emotional about the full group being together and about Rio potentially leaving; hears Rio’s confession in her office and tries to soothe him.
• Ryan Shay — Indy’s husband; hosts dinner, reacts with fan excitement about the Wilder family connection.
• Kennedy — friend; praises Hallie’s renovation work on social media; helps with dinner; reacts to Wilder mention.
• Isaiah — friend; bluntly brings up Rio’s likely move; discusses jersey number origin; helps clean up.
• Kai — friend; comments on house progress and family topics; emotional about his son; discusses jersey number.
• Miller — friend; toasts Hallie’s job news; offers to bake Hallie’s birthday cake; shares about son Max’s T-ball.
• Stevie — friend; learns Zanders bought a building for her dog rescue; participates in jersey number discussion.
• Zanders (Zee) — friend; buys larger building for Senior Dogs of Chicago and requests Hallie as designer; joins jersey number talk.
• Mia DeLuca — Rio’s mother; not on-page but central; ignores Rio’s Sunday call; her disapproval of Hallie drives Rio’s anxiety and Hallie’s resolution.
• Max — Kai and Miller’s son; discussed as starting T-ball and choosing his dad’s jersey number.
• Wren Wilder — Rio’s neighbor; discussed as moving back to Northern California.