56 pages • 1 hour read
Liz TomfordePlay Along
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2024A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Character Analysis
Isaiah Rhodes
On the surface, Isaiah Rhodes is the playful, outgoing shortstop for the Windy City Warriors. However, he secretly struggles to wear a smile and always seeks to “soothe the tension or ease an uncomfortable situation with a smile and a joke. Sometimes even at his own expense” (118). He carefully curates a positive persona for the benefit of his brother Kai and their teammates, but in reality, Isaiah hides his lingering grief over his mother’s tragic death, and he also experiences intense anxiety each time a thunderstorm reminds him of the circumstances of her demise.
When he meets Kennedy on the anniversary of his mother’s death, a day that he usually marks as the worst day of the year, he sees this encounter as a sign that they are fated to be together. Since Isaiah keeps parts of himself hidden, Kennedy initially views him as just another MLB playboy who only likes her for the thrill of the chase. When the two make the drunken decision to spontaneously get married in Las Vegas, they must pretend to be in love to preserve Kennedy’s job. Isaiah sees this arrangement as his chance to show Kennedy that he is looking for more than just a casual fling. The more time that Kennedy spends with Isaiah, the more she understands the depths of his kindness. Isaiah proves himself to Kennedy through consistent actions that demonstrate his trustworthiness, emotional maturity, and genuine care for her as an equal partner. Ultimately, he gains Kennedy’s love through his willingness to confront his fears and to prioritize her needs over his comfort and happiness.
Isaiah honors Kennedy’s independence and respects her resistance to allowing him emotional access. He does not try to overpower her with his presence or push her into a relationship too quickly. Instead, he shows her that he respects her feelings by learning about her past and the causes of her guarded manner. He respects her as a person who has her own wants and desires. He supports her in her career aspirations and respects her need to keep her true status as a doctor secret despite his frustration with Dr. Frederick’s misogyny. Isaiah’s steady presence helps to break down the walls that Kennedy has built around herself, and he gradually manages to reassure her that his intentions are genuine. As Kennedy sees Isaiah as a devoted brother, uncle, and friend, her view of him transforms. Isaiah’s turning point comes when he openly shares his struggles with anxiety with Kennedy. His willingness to drop his happy-go-lucky façade and be vulnerable empowers her to do the same, creating a deeper trust and connection between them.
Isaiah is a loyal source of care and support for his family and friends. Even when he is having an anxiety attack, he worries about the welfare of others. As he states, “[W]hen I can’t calm my intrusive thoughts, I do so by checking in on everyone I care about” (64). Isaiah champions Kennedy’s strength and encourages her to pursue her goals, proving that he values her for her intellect and not just for her beauty. In the end, Isaiah demonstrates that he is more than a charming athlete; he is a partner who is willing to grow, adapt, and commit to building a meaningful life with the one he loves.
Kennedy Kay
Kennedy Kay is a doctor who becomes an athletic trainer at Windy City Warriors when the head physician demotes her simply because she is a woman. Although Kennedy is fiercely independent, Isaiah meets her in a moment of vulnerability when he witnesses her accepting this unjust demotion. As a result, he must carry her secret for two years while also pining for her attention and affection. After her forced engagement to Connor ends, Kennedy can choose who to date for the first time. However, one impetuous, drunken decision to marry Isaiah in Las Vegas lands her yet again in an unwanted partnership. Forced to endure the fake marriage in order to safeguard her career prospects, Kennedy agrees to play the game, hoping that her gamble will pay off with an important career advancement and a fresh start in San Francisco at the end of the baseball season. However, what begins as a business transaction transforms into an emotional journey as Kennedy’s time with Isaiah causes her to question everything she believes about relationships and intimacy. Although she has always been averse to physical touch, Kennedy changes her mind when Isaiah touches her and soon wonders how she ever lived without such shows of affection.
Isaiah’s patience and understanding allow her to open up in ways she hadn’t before. The more she trusts Isaiah with her feelings, the easier it becomes for her to trust him with her physical self. Kennedy reaches a point where physical intimacy becomes a natural and affirming part of her relationship with Isaiah. Her ability to enjoy and initiate moments of closeness reflects her newfound trust in him and her self-confidence. As she says, “Before him, loneliness was comfortable” (321). Falling in love with Isaiah isn’t a one-sided rescue, as he never tries to fix or change Kennedy. Instead, their relationship becomes a process of mutual healing as they both learn to trust each other enough to share their struggles and work together toward improving their emotional health. Ultimately, Kennedy’s choice to stay in Chicago isn’t a surrender of her autonomy; she merely redefines her ambitions and realigns her goals to include her newfound community and connections. By embracing love and her found family, Kennedy emerges as a more confident, balanced, and supported individual.
Kai Rhodes
Kai is Isaiah’s older brother and acts as a solid source of emotional support for Isaiah. When their single mother died, Kai became the head of the household, forever making him a hero in Isaiah’s eyes. Even Kennedy admired Kai long before she and Isaiah came together, saying, “I’ve always respected Kai. He took care of Isaiah when they were kids. He took care of his son when Max was left at his doorstep” (51). Kai is now the Windy City Warriors’ pitcher and Max’s single father. He is engaged to Miller, who has become Max’s mother. As Kai and Isaiah struggled to make ends meet after their mother’s death, Isaiah pledged to make Kai smile no matter the circumstances. As a result, he hid his grief and anxiety from Kai so as not to burden his brother any further. Now, as an adult, Isaiah still idolizes Kai, and watching him become a father and committed partner shows Isaiah the life he hopes to have one day.
When Kai announces his retirement from the team, his emotional speech moves Isaiah to tears. The moment is a turning point as Isaiah expresses emotion publicly for the first time, unashamed to show how much he cares for his brother. This public display also moves Kennedy to tears as she realizes the depth of Isaiah’s love for his family. When Isaiah and Kennedy get married, they begin spending a great deal of time with Kai, Miller, and Max, and Kennedy learns what it is like to be a part of a loving family. Kai is a vital source of emotional support for Isaiah when he is uncertain about his future with Kennedy. When they finally solidify their commitment by renewing their vows, Kai is by Isaiah’s side as his best man.
Reese Remington
Reese is Arthur Remington’s granddaughter, and with his retirement announcement, she is tapped to take his place as the team’s owner. Though the players and coaches initially resent her presence, they come to respect her authority and decision-making. Kennedy describes Reese as a “bombshell in every sense of the word” (75), but she is all business. Reese represents the future of the team and professional sports, as she is set to take a leadership role in a male-dominated sport and business. She also represents hope for Kennedy, who takes comfort in the fact that she is no longer the only female employee at Windy City. Reese takes a vested interest in Dr. Frederick’s mistreatment of Kennedy, and in the end, Reese fulfills Kennedy’s dream by firing Dr. Frederick and promoting Kennedy, making her the first female lead physician on an MLB team. Reese’s willingness to listen to the team’s complaints, investigate problems, and act to change the work culture of Windy City contributes to Kennedy and Isaiah’s “happily ever after” conclusion, for she provides a safe, equitable work environment that allows Kennedy to be close to her husband while doing what she loves.
