Play Along

“[T]hat little birthmark under his right eye [draws] my attention to the mischief sparkling in them.”

By focusing on minute details of physical appearance, the author makes it clear that even in this moment, Kennedy is taking note of Isaiah on a heightened emotional level. Her mention of Isaiah’s birthmark grounds the description as something uniquely personal, symbolizing an intimate familiarity with him. As she contemplates the “mischief sparkling” in his eyes, her thoughts also convey a vivid sense of his personality, connecting his physical appearance with his playful, charismatic nature. By noticing this small detail, Kennedy reveals her attraction to Isaiah long before she is ready to admit it to herself or to anyone else.

“I finally married the girl I’ve been obsessed with for years.”

Isaiah’s declaration captures the joy and spontaneity of the moment but also reveals the ups and downs of his emotional journey while he waits for his chance to get to know her better. The idea of Isaiah’s “obsession” with Kennedy becomes a joke between them throughout the story, although Isaiah never exhibits any signs of an unhealthy or dangerous attachment. Instead, his focus on Kennedy drives him to treat her with kindness and affection, and he is deeply attentive to her physical and emotional needs in a way that makes her feel seen and cared for.

“Ironic, that the dress she wore to her stepsister’s bachelorette is now her wedding dress.”

In recognizing the moment’s irony, Isaiah also sees the hand of fate and destiny. Kennedy’s white dress initially symbolizes her pain as she attends the bachelorette party for her stepsister, who is marrying Kennedy’s ex-fiancé. At this point in their relationship, Isaiah doesn’t know the depth of Kennedy’s pain around her former relationship with Connor. The dress then transforms into a symbol of rebellion when Kennedy marries Isaiah out of spite for her family. Later, after their vow renewal, Kennedy wears the dress again, but at that point it symbolizes her love and commitment to Isaiah and recalls their fated first wedding.

“The click of my heels against the marble floor is the only thing I can hear in my ringing ears as I walk to my fate.”

Kennedy wears high heels to her meeting with Mr. Remington, a change from her everyday sneakers. The auditory focus of the scene underscores her isolation and inner tension, with the sound acting as a grounding force amidst her swirling thoughts. The passage also conveys her overwhelming anxiety, for she feels a sense of certainty that what lies ahead will significantly shape her life. Though she is wearing footwear that usually signifies power, Kennedy feels helpless to change her fate. Ironically, the meeting does change her life, but not in the way she expects.

“Just think of this as one big game […] C’mon wife. Play along.”

The novel’s title comes into focus as Isaiah encourages Kennedy to follow his plan to stay married until the end of the baseball season. The passage underscores the story’s baseball motif and the larger idea of viewing life and love as a game. The phrase “play along” connotes compliance or cooperation for a desired outcome, but in this context, it also establishes a sense of the playful, witty banter that marks Kennedy and Isaiah’s growing bond. For Kennedy, this comment lowers the stakes, but for Isaiah, a professional athlete, it inspires him to up his game in order to “win” her heart.

“Kennedy might have an expiration date on this marriage, but all I’ve heard is that I got six long months to get my wife to fall for me.”

Isaiah’s thoughts in this passage reveal the pair’s contrasting perspectives on the unintended marriage, blending her realism with his hope. Kennedy’s view of the marriage as having an end date emphasizes her guarded, pragmatic approach, which has been shaped by her past and her desire to advance in her career. By contrast, Isaiah is determined and optimistic, framing the time limit not as a constraint but as an opportunity. The passage also underscores the hilarity of their situation, as love usually precedes marriage.

“[I]t was both shocking and intriguing to see an entire profession dedicated to using your own body to fix someone else’s.”

This passage reflects Kennedy’s complicated relationship with physical intimacy, highlighting her simultaneous fascination and discomfort with the human body. Seeing her body as her primary tool underscores her struggle to reconcile vulnerability with agency, as physical closeness inherently involves both. Kennedy is drawn to intimacy while remaining wary of its implications, and engaging in physical touch feels both meaningful and fraught with risk, making genuine intimacy challenging to achieve. This revelation marks Kennedy’s growing awareness of her emotional barriers and her need to redefine physical connection in a safe and empowering way.

“She’s so pretty and sometimes a little mean. It’s a lethal combination for me.”

Isaiah is physically attracted to Kennedy but also appreciates her sharp assertiveness. He finds her mix of beauty and edginess to be alluring and disarming, and her demeanor challenges his composure and self-control. In his mind, her qualities make her both irresistible and intimidating and create a push-and-pull dynamic in their relationship. Ultimately, her strength and charm are captivating and unsettling to him and drive the tension in their love story.

“Just because you’re not comfortable with showing physical affection doesn’t make you any less of a woman, Ken.”

Isaiah demonstrates his understanding and acceptance of Kennedy’s struggles with physical intimacy. By acknowledging her discomfort and affirming her boundaries, Isaiah challenges the societal and personal expectations that equate femininity with physical affection, offering a more inclusive definition of womanhood. This moment highlights Isaiah’s emotional maturity and desire to affirm Kennedy’s worth and identity beyond what she learned as a child, and he actively encourages Kennedy to embrace her own unique version of femininity and intimacy.

“There was no part of me that romanticized the notion of dating, falling in love, and marrying a person of my choosing.”

Kennedy has been deeply disillusioned and therefore has emotionally detached views on the issue of forming romantic relationships. She was raised to see marriage as an obligation rather than a joyful milestone. Before fully embracing her growing feelings for Isaiah, Kennedy must first confront her complicated relationship with romance and reconcile her resistance to conventional notions of love and commitment. Despite her skepticism, she must learn to embrace the uncertainties and nuances of romance.

“I should’ve fixed myself in silence.”

In this passage, Kennedy worries about asking for Isaiah’s help with overcoming her fear, and her thoughts reflects her deeply self-critical nature. She feels responsible for her own struggles and believes that she should have resolved her issues independently, without seeking help or drawing attention to herself. Her attitude reveals a misguided perception that people should bear their burdens quietly out of shame or fear. However, her reaching out for help fuels the beginnings of a profound internal change as she overcomes her struggles and discovers the pleasure and joy of physical affection.

“[T]he tables have turned. We’re both aware that for the first time since we’ve known each other, I’m waiting on him instead of the other way around.”

Kennedy acknowledges a significant shift in the dynamic of her relationship with Isaiah with a reversal of roles. She is now in a position of waiting and uncertainty, as Isaiah has been for the past two years. This reversal shows her transition from a position of control or emotional distance to one of anticipation and dependence, exposing her deep feelings for Isaiah. This realization causes her to confront the complexity of their relationship as she now needs someone else in a way she may not have anticipated.

“It wasn’t supposed to be like that. I didn’t know it could be like that.”

When she asked for Isaiah’s help, Kennedy had a preconceived notion of how the situation should unfold, perhaps expecting something less intense or more controlled. After kissing him, she experiences unexpected emotional intensity from him, which pushes her outside of her comfort zone. This moment triggers a shift in her understanding of intimacy, especially as her connection with Isaiah becomes more than merely physical. The passage captures Kennedy’s internal struggle as she processes her evolving feelings, revealing her surprise at the emotional depth that physical intimacy can bring.

“My body hums with his proximity, with his confidence and assertiveness I once found unattractive. Now I know it’s just what I need.”

Kennedy used to recoil from physical touch, but now her emotional responses are fully engaged, and her body craves to be touched. Kennedy reflects on her initial resistance to qualities in Isaiah that she now finds appealing, and the moment unlocks a transformation in her understanding of what she needs in a partner. The scene also marks a turning point in her perspective, for she has evolved to embrace her need and desire for deeper emotional connections.

“[T]here’s not a world in which I could pretend I’m not still that heartbroken thirteen-year-old boy waiting for his mom to get home, and I don’t know how to keep my lighthearted, easy mask on when she’s the topic of discussion.”

By envisioning himself as his younger self, Isaiah captures the rawness and permanence of his childhood trauma, and his thoughts reveal that the painful memory of his mother’s death continues to shape his emotional landscape. Isaiah also reflects on his struggle to maintain a façade of ease and emotional detachment in the face of overwhelming feelings. The mask, once a protective barrier, now becomes difficult to maintain when he is confronted with reminders of his loss. Isaiah’s internal battle between the self he presents to the world and the deep, unhealed grief that surfaces when he faces his past reveal his vulnerability.

“I’ve been a bargaining piece. A second-choice fiancé and even an unwanted employee, but I’ve never been someone’s joy.”

Kennedy reveals her deep sense of insecurity and emotional exhaustion after enduring disastrous past partners that undervalued and overlooked her as a person, treating her as an object or a tool for someone else’s gain. The quote highlights her history of being dismissed or chosen only out of necessity, not out of desire or appreciation. Her reaction to being Isaiah’s “joy” reveals her longing for genuine love and acceptance and illustrates her yearning to be seen as a source of happiness and emotional fulfillment. Being with Isaiah moves Kennedy from a place of invisibility to one of feeling truly valued and cherished.

“Winter has always been my favorite season anyway.”

Isaiah deflects Connor’s assertion that Kennedy is “cold” by aligning himself with the cold in a positive way and expressing a deeper understanding of Kennedy’s emotional state. Winter, which is often associated with harshness, stillness, and introspection, now becomes a metaphor for Kennedy’s reservedness, suggesting that Isaiah doesn’t view her guardedness as a flaw but rather as a part of who she is. He accepts and even appreciates her complexity and finds beauty in her uniqueness, unbothered by external criticism.

“He’s having a bad day and doesn’t believe he’s allowed to have them.”

The passage acknowledges Isaiah’s vulnerability, suggesting that, like everyone, he experiences moments of difficulty and pain. The moment also reveals a layer of emotional repression, as Isaiah believes that he is not permitted to experience weakness or discomfort. Kennedy’s understanding of this conflict highlights her awareness of Isaiah’s emotional complexity and the pressure that he puts on himself to always project an impression of happiness.

“Isaiah and his apartment feel like the closest thing I’ve ever felt to home.”

After struggling to find a true sense of belonging and comfort in her life, Kennedy reveals her deep emotional connection with Isaiah by acknowledging that she finds a sense of home in wherever he happens to be. Though Kennedy lives in a luxurious penthouse, Isaiah’s apartment exudes a sense of warmth and connection. His apartment, typically just a physical space, comes to represent emotional security because it is tied to her bond with him. This shift highlights the growing strength of their connection, for Kennedy’s affectionate perceptions have transformed an ordinary place into a sanctuary of emotional stability.

“I’m exhausted from convincing others that I’m unbreakable […] I am breakable, and I’m currently at my breaking point.”

This quote from Isaiah marks a significant moment of self-awareness and honesty. It highlights his pressure on himself to appear strong and impervious to harm. Giving Kennedy her freedom brings him to the end of his endurance, and Isaiah must confront the reality that his façade of strength is unsustainable and that he might lose her after all. He can no longer maintain the emotional mask that he has worn for so long. The scene therefore becomes a pivotal moment of self-acceptance for Isaiah, as he acknowledges his limitations and reconsiders the emotional toll of trying to project an image of invulnerability.

“[T]he biggest lesson my husband taught me is what it feels like to be loved for the first time in my life.”

This passage reveals Kennedy’s epiphany that her relationship with Isaiah has been transformative, teaching her something fundamental about herself and her capacity to receive love. Kennedy has struggled with self-worth in the past, and any love she received felt conditional and unfulfilling. This moment of clarity indicates a shift in her understanding of love, and Kennedy now realizes that its purest form is something genuine and nurturing. Kennedy recognizes that Isaiah’s love has helped her to break down walls and to experience affection in a way that she never thought possible.

“[He’s] contagiously bright. Bright enough to shine on my untouched, undiscovered corners.”

By equating Isaiah with a source of light and warmth, Kennedy explains the illuminating effect that Isaiah has on her life. His energy and optimism are so powerful and upbeat that it spreads to those around him and imbues her with a new form of strength. The metaphor suggests that Kennedy has kept parts of herself hidden due to her fear and the wounds of her past. However, Isaiah’s presence brings light and awareness to those neglected aspects, offering her the possibility of healing and self-discovery.

“We’re getting married because we love each other, trust each other, are each other’s closest friend.”

Isaiah and Kennedy’s vow renewal subverts their first marriage, which was the result of a drunken, vengeful plot against Kennedy’s ex-fiancé and stepsister. This second ceremony reflects the genuine love and connection that Kennedy and Isaiah now have. This statement also fulfills Isaiah’s prophetic statement that he made on the day he met Kennedy: that he would one day marry this woman of his dreams.