# Chapter 36: The Dinner from Hell and the Confession That Changes Everything
Hello everyone, it's me again! How are you all doing? Today I will continue to walk with you and review Chapter 36 of "The Deal: Off Campus." Let me tell you, dear readers, this chapter hit me like a freight train to the chest. It's raw, it's painful, and it's absolutely unforgettable. So grab a tissue or two, because we're about to dive into one of the most emotionally devastating yet beautiful chapters of this entire story.
## The Signs We Cannot Unsee
The chapter opens with Garrett sitting at his father's dinner table, and within thirty minutes, he reaches a horrifying conclusion: Phil Graham hits Cindy. The son of a bitch hits her.
Garrett notices everything—the way Cindy flinches at every touch, the same way his mother used to respond when his father came near her. It's like watching history repeat itself, and it makes his blood boil. The warning signs are everywhere: the long-sleeved lacy thing she wears over her red dress (covering bruises, no doubt), the spark of fear in her eyes whenever Phil twitches, the sad droop of her shoulders, and the way she showers him with compliments not to make him happy but to keep him calm.
Meanwhile, Garrett is barely holding it together. Every room in this house holds a memory that makes bile rise in his throat. The kitchen is where his father broke his nose for the first time. The living room is where he got slammed against the wall after his eighth-grade league missed the playoffs. He even notices his father hung a painting over the hole in the drywall—like that somehow erases what happened.
The tension at dinner is suffocating. Phil questions Hannah about their relationship, clearly hoping it's just a fling that will fizzle out. He makes pointed remarks about how "distractions can be costly" for professional athletes. But Garrett isn't backing down. He reaches for Hannah's hand and delivers the perfect response: "Some distractions are worth it."
## A Confrontation Years in the Making
After dinner, Phil pulls Garrett into his study for "a word." What follows is explosive. Phil blames Hannah for Garrett losing two of his last three games, calling her a liability. But Garrett fires back—he's not the only player on the team, and they're still number one in their conference.
Then Garrett says what he's been holding in all night: "You think I don't know you're using her as your punching bag?"
The rage between them is palpable. Phil stalks toward Garrett, fists clenched, and for a moment, Garrett almost wants him to throw a punch—just so he can hit back. But he doesn't. Because Garrett refuses to lower himself to his father's level.
Instead, he tells his father the truth: "You need help. Seriously, old man. You need some fucking help, and I really hope you get it before you hurt that woman any more than you already have."
## A Conversation That Breaks Your Heart
Before leaving, Garrett talks to Cindy alone. And this is where the chapter truly shatters you. She flinches when he approaches—scared of him, just like she's scared of Phil. It's like father, like son in her mind, and that realization makes Garrett sick.
But he pushes through. He tells her he knows what his father is doing to her because he lived through it too. He tells her it's not her fault. He gives her his number and makes her promise to call if she ever needs anything—to talk, to leave, to pack, anything.
Cindy is stunned. Her eyes fill with tears. And after what feels like an eternity, she whispers, "Thank you."
## The Drive That Changes Everything
In the car, Garrett confesses to Hannah: "He hits her." And Hannah reveals she suspected as much—she saw bruises on Cindy's wrists when her sleeves rode up in the kitchen.
Garrett is haunted by Cindy's fear of him. But Hannah gently reminds him that victims of abuse are often scared of everyone, not just their abusers. She knows this firsthand.
Then Garrett asks the question that's been gnawing at him: "What if I'm capable of hurting someone? What if I'm just like him?"
What follows is one of the most beautiful, heartfelt exchanges in the entire book. Hannah refuses to let him believe that. She points out that he has willpower—he controlled his anger even when he wanted to strangle his father. She proves her point by asking what he would do if she told him she'd slept with the entire hockey team. His answer: "I'd end it and walk out the door." Not hit her. Not hurt her.
"Because you wouldn't hurt someone you love," she tells him. "At least not intentionally."
## Love Confessions and Roadside Romance
Then Hannah asks him to pull over. Why? "Because I want to kiss you, and I can't do that when your eyes are on the road."
She kisses him and whispers the words he desperately needs to hear: "You're not like him. You will never be like him."
One thing leads to another, and soon they're in the backseat of the Jeep (with condoms Garrett keeps stashed in his glove box—for Kate Upton emergencies, apparently). The physical intimacy here isn't just hot—it's meaningful. Garrett notes that he's "fucked girls in my car before" but he's "never made love to one."
And then, in the middle of it all, Hannah says it: "I love you."
Garrett's heart nearly explodes. Because when Hannah says she loves him, she means him—Garrett—not Briar's hockey star, not Mr. Popularity, not Phil Graham's son. Just him.
"I love you, too," he says. And it's the first time he's ever told a woman he loves her.
The chapter ends with a perfect moment of levity—Hannah has One Direction playing in the car, and Garrett calls her out on it. She admits she likes them. He warns her she's lucky he loves her. She fires back that he's lucky she loves him because he's "a total asshole."
And honestly? She's right about the lucky part. They both are.
## Reader's Impressions & Star Rating
Wow. Just... wow. This chapter is an emotional powerhouse that showcases everything I love about this series. The way Elle Kennedy handles such heavy subject matter—domestic abuse, trauma, the fear of becoming your abuser—is masterful. She doesn't shy away from the ugliness, but she also doesn't let it consume the story.
Garrett's confrontation with his father is cathartic in the best way. His conversation with Cindy broke me—the way he assures her it's not her fault, that she deserves better, that someone cares. And Hannah? She continues to be the perfect partner for Garrett, knowing exactly what to say when he needs to hear it.
The love confession felt earned, not rushed. These two have been building toward this moment, and when it finally came, it felt absolutely right.
This chapter gets a solid **Rating: 4.9 / 5 Stars** from me—a near-perfect blend of gut-wrenching emotion, character growth, and romantic payoff.
## Next Chapter Prediction
Based on where we left off, I predict Chapter 37 will deal with the aftermath of Thanksgiving. Garrett will struggle with lingering fears about becoming his father, but Hannah will help him work through it. We might also see some fallout with Phil—perhaps he tries to contact Garrett, or maybe we'll learn whether Cindy reaches out for help. There could also be some hockey action coming up, and I suspect Garrett's determination to prove himself on the ice will be stronger than ever. The "I love you" exchange will likely shift their relationship into deeper territory, and I'm eager to see how they navigate being in love while dealing with external pressures.
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