End Game Characters

A professional football player and Finn Miller's best friend and teammate, known publicly through Exposé interviews and nicknamed 'Lucky' after a deflected pass he caught. He meets Layla at the Lake Michigan cabin and is immediately drawn to her, calling her Sunshine. He is wary of commitment and public scrutiny, saying he does not cheat because he does not make commitments and that his life can damage people.

Arc: He moves from a no-commitment fling with Layla to shock and anger at her pregnancy, then apologizes and tries to co-parent. After hearing the baby's heartbeat and giving Layla his grandmother's necklace, he attempts a real relationship, briefly leaves to protect her from media chaos, and ultimately asks her to move in and proposes after their daughter Sunny is born.

• Layla James Miller — romantic interest, weekend fling, mother of his baby, later partner and fiancee
• Finn Miller — best friend and teammate
• Poppy Quinn — friend and Finn's romantic partner
• Callum Worthington — rival quarterback and antagonist
• Sunny — his daughter
• Gram — his grandmother, source of the red-bead necklace

Finn Miller's younger sister and a freelance writer and blogger who comes to the family's Lake Michigan cabin after a breakup with Callum. She is attracted to Branch despite her resolve to stop dating athletes, and Branch nicknames her Sunshine. The notes also refer to her as Layla James and Layla Miller.

Arc: She begins a secret weekend fling with Branch, panics when she learns she is pregnant, and tells him at Tiffany Standen's party. After his angry reaction she retreats to the cabin, eventually accepts his apology and co-parenting support, agrees to try a relationship, and in the epilogue has daughter Sunny and accepts Branch's proposal.

• Branch Best — romantic interest, father of her baby, later partner and fiance
• Finn Miller — older brother
• Poppy Quinn — best friend
• Callum Worthington — ex-boyfriend
• Sunny — her daughter
• Bai — acupuncturist who diagnoses her pregnancy
• Dr. Howard — her doctor
• Tiffany Standen — friend whose party she is invited to

Layla's ex-boyfriend, a football player who ended their relationship and went to Tahiti with model Carly Mathewson on a trip Layla had planned. He keeps texting and calling Layla and later becomes a rival to Branch at practice.

Arc: He taunts Branch about Layla, intentionally throws balls at him, fights him, and tells Exposé that Layla is pinning the baby on Branch and Finn. He calls Layla to taunt her and remains an antagonistic force with no reconciliation in the notes.

• Layla James Miller — ex-girlfriend he keeps calling
• Carly Mathewson — vacation companion; Layla suspects he cheated with her
• Branch Best — rival quarterback who taunts him
• Finn Miller — called him about Layla and later fought him

Layla's older brother and Branch's best friend and teammate, who brings Branch to the family cabin before pre-season. He is protective of Layla and repeatedly warns Branch away from her, but he is also shown flirting with Poppy and considering monogamy.

Arc: He discovers Branch and Layla's relationship and the pregnancy, punches Branch, and warns him to take full responsibility or stay out of Layla's life. He later punches Callum in defense of Branch, reconciles with Branch in the locker room, and tells him to go after Layla; he also mends things with Poppy.

• Layla James Miller — his sister
• Branch Best — best friend and teammate
• Poppy Quinn — romantic partner
• Callum Worthington — rival he punches after Callum taunts Branch
• Sunny — his niece
• Machlan Gibson — longtime local acquaintance

Layla's best friend and road-trip companion, openly flirtatious and interested in Finn. She is Layla's confidante through the pregnancy and often uses humor and practical support.

Arc: She supports Layla through the pregnancy, confronts Branch for leaving her, and urges him to stop being afraid and pursue Layla. In her own thread she resists a romantic relationship with Finn, refuses Cade Samuels's date, and wants to turn her father's notebook charity plan into reality.

• Layla James Miller — best friend
• Finn Miller — romantic partner and friends-with-benefits
• Branch Best — friend she confronts about Layla
• Bai — long-time client
• Max Quinn — her cousin
• Cade Samuels — old high school acquaintance who asks her out
• Sam — airport stranger who watches her seat
• Mrs. Johnson — hometown figure she confronts during her trip

A bartender at Crave who knows the Millers and protects his bar and patrons, stopping photos and helping get drunk Finn home. He later hosts a lake party and apologizes to Branch for the Exposé story by banning the person who tipped the magazine.

Arc: He moves from helping Branch manage Finn at Crave to making amends over the leaked story and inviting Branch back to the bar.

• Finn Miller — longtime local acquaintance
• Branch Best — bar contact who apologizes to him
• Layla James Miller — friend

The birthday celebrant at the Standen Hotel penthouse, where she flirts with Branch and invites him to catch up later. She is also associated with the dirty-thirty party Poppy urges Layla to attend and Finn invites Branch to.

Arc: She appears mainly as party host and a brief flirtation for Branch; the notes show no further change.

• Branch Best — flirts with him at her birthday party
• Finn Miller — introduces her to Branch
• Poppy Quinn — guest at her party
• Layla James Miller — friend invited to her party

A designer hired by Branch to redesign his home. She comes to Layla's door and explains that Layla is the main point of contact for the Best project, except Branch will choose the nursery color.

Arc: Her visit helps reveal Branch's commitment to Layla and prompts their reconciliation; no personal change is noted.

• Branch Best — her client
• Layla James Miller — main contact for Branch's home redesign

Layla's doctor, who examines her at the prenatal appointment and confirms Branch is the father. He uses a machine so they can hear the baby's heartbeat and says everything looks and sounds good and healthy.

Arc: He serves as the medical confirmation of the pregnancy and paternity; no personal change is noted.

• Layla James Miller — his patient
• Branch Best — father of Layla's baby

Branch and Layla's daughter, born in the epilogue. She is held by Branch in the kitchen and is present when he proposes to Layla.

Arc: She is born after Layla's pregnancy and becomes part of the family Branch and Layla commit to.

• Branch Best — her father
• Layla James Miller — her mother
• Finn Miller — her uncle

Branch's grandmother, referenced through the red-bead necklace she gave him. The necklace becomes important when Branch gives it to Layla.

Arc: Though absent, her gift carries into Branch's relationship with Layla and becomes a symbol of his commitment.

• Branch Best — her grandson
• Layla James Miller — ultimately wears the necklace Gram gave Branch

The owner of Grandiose who appears in an Exposé item photographed cozy with Branch and Finn at the opening. Layla studies the image and feels jealousy and confusion.

Arc: She remains a public-image complication in Layla's mind; Branch later tells Layla he did not sleep with Selma.

• Branch Best — photographed with him at Grandiose
• Finn Miller — photographed with him and Branch
• Layla James Miller — source of jealousy and confusion

A model vacationing in Tahiti with Callum on the trip Layla had planned before the breakup. Layla suspects Callum cheated with her.

Arc: She remains part of the past betrayal that motivates Layla's retreat to the cabin; no personal change is noted.

• Callum Worthington — vacation companion
• Layla James Miller — suspected other woman in Callum's Tahiti trip

Layla's acupuncturist, who checks her pulse and tongue and tells her the pulse strongly indicates pregnancy. She advises Layla to see a physician and says she must err on the side of caution.

Arc: Her diagnosis sets off Layla's denial and eventual pregnancy test; no personal change is noted.

• Layla James Miller — her new acupuncture patient
• Poppy Quinn — long-time client

An older neighbor and friend from across the lake who visits Layla at the cabin after Finn calls her to check on Layla. She brings dinner and advises Layla that life runs on unseen timing.

Arc: She offers perspective while Layla processes the pregnancy; no personal change is noted.

• Layla James Miller — older neighbor and friend from across the lake
• Finn Miller — called her to check on Layla

Branch's teammate who catches up with him in the locker room after practice. He asks about Branch's offseason, mentions painting his baby's room and his girlfriend and wife, and comments that Coach is a sadist when the Tigers arrive.

Arc: He appears as a teammate sounding board; no personal change is noted.

• Branch Best — teammate

Poppy's cousin, found at Layla's apartment retrieving Poppy's sunglasses when Branch arrives. He introduces himself and tells Branch to relax.

Arc: His presence briefly triggers Branch's jealousy before the relationship is explained; no personal change is noted.

• Poppy Quinn — her cousin
• Layla James Miller — Poppy's cousin and acquaintance
• Branch Best — briefly makes him jealous at Layla's apartment

One of the Gibson boys and a friend of Layla's. He sends word through Poppy that he is happy to get even but Layla has to show up.

Arc: He remains a minor friend in Layla's circle; no personal change is noted.

• Layla James Miller — her friend, one of the Gibson boys
• Poppy Quinn — relayed his message to Layla

The cabin caretaker who arrives with groceries after Mrs. Brasher calls him, offers further help, and asks Layla if everything is all right.

Arc: He helps Layla at the cabin; no personal change is noted.

• Layla James Miller — cabin caretaker and concerned acquaintance
• Mrs. Brasher — called him to bring Layla groceries

A neighbor down the road from the cabin who calls Henry to say Layla came up alone and could probably use groceries.

Arc: She shows concern for Layla; no personal change is noted.

• Layla James Miller — neighbor down the road
• Henry — called him about Layla

A town library worker who waves to Layla from the library steps and rambles about her arthritis and low turnout for the preschool arts and crafts program.

Arc: She adds local color during Layla and Branch's walk through Linton; no personal change is noted.

• Layla James Miller — town library worker who greets her

An older man Poppy meets at the airport while waiting for a delayed flight to Chicago. He introduces himself, asks if she is okay, and agrees to watch her seat, saying he is not going anywhere until boarding.

Arc: He provides a small kindness to Poppy on a bad day; no personal change is noted.

• Poppy Quinn — airport stranger who watches her seat

An old high school acquaintance of Poppy's who approaches her at the carnival, says he works for a nonprofit, and asks her out. He walks away after she says no.

Arc: He is part of Poppy's romantic self-protection thread; no personal change is noted.

• Poppy Quinn — old high school acquaintance who asks her out

A figure from Poppy's hometown whom Poppy confronts during her trip. Poppy tells Layla the old prediction was wrong.

Arc: She appears only in Poppy's recounted trip; no personal change is noted.

• Poppy Quinn — hometown figure she confronts