What About Us Characters

Professional hockey player for the Denver Flurry who suffers a career-threatening knee injury and concussion in a playoff game and insists on recovering in Montana with family. He is protective, loyal, and struggles with memory gaps from concussions and a fear of abandonment. He falls for Ivy, his physical therapist, and wants to build a life with her.

Arc: Moves from injured athlete hiding concussions and fearing relationships to a committed partner who tells Ivy he loves her, builds her an art studio, proposes on the ice after winning the Cup, and accepts his new half-sister Indigo.

• Ivy — physical therapist and girlfriend/fiancée; calls her Red and wildcat
• Cooper — best friend and teammate
• Tucker — older brother
• Easton — brother
• Ava Hendrix — sister
• Harper — sister
• Greg Hendrix — father
• Indigo (Indie) — half-sister
• Brenda — Ivy's mother, whom he confronts and has investigated
• Matthews — rival opponent who injured him
• Cally — Ivy's cat, whom he spoils
• Belle — niece
• Britney Cooper — friend

Physical therapist at a hospital and her family bar Lucky's, overburdened by her abusive, alcoholic mother Brenda. She has loved Xander since she was fifteen, though he forgot their New Year's Eve kiss due to concussions. She is skilled, anxious about new things, private about her art, and deeply loyal to those she cares for.

Arc: Moves from caretaking Brenda and hiding her feelings to living with Xander, selling Lucky's and her house, accepting a team physical therapy job, and overcoming her fear that Xander will forget her. She ends engaged to Xander.

• Xander Hendrix — client, boyfriend/fiancé
• Brenda — abusive mother
• Cally — cat
• Britney Cooper — best friend
• Cooper — friend
• Chris — stepfather/father figure
• Sara — former boss
• Dr. Watkins — offers her a team job
• Walker Hayes — buys Lucky's
• Indigo (Indie) — friend and Xander's half-sister
• Darby — friend
• Ava Hendrix — friend
• Harper — friend
• Belle — holds her

Ivy's mother; alcoholic, abusive, and dependent. She owns or works at Lucky's, drains the bank account, causes a fire by falling asleep with a lit cigarette, destroys Ivy's house and paintings, and tries to extort money from Xander.

Arc: Escalates from verbal abuse to physical abuse and destruction, refuses rehab, checks out, becomes homeless and using in Arizona, and is finally refused rescue by Ivy.

• Ivy — daughter
• Xander Hendrix — extortion target
• Chris — ex-husband
• Easton — police officer who removes her from Ivy's house
• Cally — kicked the cat

Rival hockey player who has despised Xander since their rookie season, when Xander was drafted first and Matthews second. He taunts and fights Xander, hits his knee hard, causes the torn ACL, PCL, and meniscus, laughs when pulled off, and says he hopes Xander dies.

Arc: Remains unchanged as the initial cause of Xander's career-threatening injury.

• Xander Hendrix — rival opponent

Ava's fiancé, an attorney with political ambitions who is disliked by the Hendrix brothers and Zack. He wants to postpone the wedding, values Ava's support of his ambitions, and keeps his relationship private.

Arc: Remains self-involved; at Ava's bachelorette video call he says he loves how supportive she is of his ambitions, leaving her crying and doubting the marriage.

• Ava Hendrix — fiancée
• Xander Hendrix — Ava's brother who dislikes and confronts him
• Tucker — Ava's brother who confronts him
• Easton — Ava's brother who confronts him
• Zack — Ava's brother-like friend who confronts him
• Darby — shares a look suggesting he is not her favorite
• Harper — shares a look suggesting he is not her favorite

Runs Sundae's ice cream shop and discovers she is Xander's half-sister through Heather Hendrix and Patrick. She is nervous but honest, refuses to keep the secret, and is gradually accepted by the Hendrix family. She has a tense, ambiguous relationship with Zack.

Arc: Moves from secret-keeping outsider to accepted sibling, invited to family gatherings and Christmas, and becomes more at ease around the family.

• Xander Hendrix — half-brother
• Tucker — half-brother
• Easton — half-brother
• Ava Hendrix — half-sister
• Harper — half-sister
• Heather Hendrix — mother
• Patrick — father
• Zack — tense and ambiguous relationship
• Darby — friend
• Ivy — friend

Xander's teammate and best friend, loyal and supportive. He is married to Britney, encourages Xander to pursue Ivy, considers retirement and buying property, and deals with a sprained hip injury.

Arc: Supports Xander through injury and relationship changes and remains a steady friend and teammate.

• Xander Hendrix — best friend and teammate
• Britney Cooper — wife
• Ivy — friend
• Easton — teammate and friend
• Dumas — teammate

Cooper's wife and Xander's friend; outgoing, warm, and loves shopping. She befriends Ivy, comforts her about her mother, and invites her into the WAG group.

Arc: Becomes Ivy's close friend and hype girl, helping her shop and supporting her at the WAG dinner.

• Cooper — husband
• Ivy — best friend
• Xander Hendrix — friend

Xander's older brother, engaged and later married to Darby. He is supportive, hosts family gatherings, helps remove Brenda from Ivy's house, and takes family responsibilities seriously.

Arc: Proposes to Darby, becomes a family host, and supports Xander through injury and his relationship with Ivy.

• Xander Hendrix — younger brother
• Darby — fiancée and wife
• Easton — brother
• Ava Hendrix — sister
• Harper — sister
• Greg Hendrix — father
• Ivy — sister-in-law and friend
• Belle — niece

Tucker's fiancée and wife; kind and welcoming. She is Charlie's sister, shares looks with Harper about Chad, and helps welcome Ivy and Indigo into the family.

Arc: Becomes engaged to Tucker and married into the family, while welcoming Ivy and Indigo with warmth.

• Tucker — fiancé and husband
• Charlie — sister
• Xander Hendrix — brother-in-law
• Ivy — friend and sister-in-law
• Ava Hendrix — friend
• Harper — friend
• Indigo (Indie) — friend

Xander's younger sister, engaged to Chad and planning a February wedding. She is family-oriented, works on condos at a ski resort, and doubts Chad's commitment. She is close with her siblings and welcomes Ivy and Indigo.

Arc: Moves from defending Chad and planning her wedding to crying after a video call with him and questioning whether she is doing the right thing.

• Xander Hendrix — brother
• Chad — fiancé
• Tucker — brother
• Easton — brother
• Harper — sister
• Indigo (Indie) — half-sister
• Ivy — friend
• Belle — niece
• Darby — friend
• Juliet Blackwell (Jules) — friend

Xander's sister, married to Blake and mother to Belle. She is warm and family-oriented, brings breakfast burritos to Xander, and supports her siblings.

Arc: Remains a steady, supportive sister and mother, welcoming Ivy and Indigo into the family.

• Xander Hendrix — brother
• Blake — husband
• Belle — daughter
• Tucker — brother
• Easton — brother
• Ava Hendrix — sister
• Indigo (Indie) — half-sister
• Ivy — friend

Xander's brother and a Silver Springs police officer. He is teasing, protective, helps remove Brenda from Ivy's house, and confronts Chad about Ava.

Arc: Supports his family, accepts Indigo, and helps Ivy remove Brenda while remaining a protective brother.

• Xander Hendrix — brother
• Tucker — brother
• Ava Hendrix — sister
• Harper — sister
• Indigo (Indie) — half-sister who says he is her favorite
• Brenda — removes her as a police officer
• Chad — confronts him about Ava
• Cassie — teases and steals food from her
• Belle — holds her
• Ivy — friend
• Zack — friend and brother-like

Xander's father, a diabetic who has low blood sugar emergencies. He is the family group chat Dad, was left by Heather, and advises Ivy about Xander's fears. He welcomes Indigo to Christmas.

Arc: Deals with health scares but remains a supportive father and family anchor.

• Xander Hendrix — son
• Tucker — son
• Easton — son
• Ava Hendrix — daughter
• Harper — daughter
• Heather Hendrix — ex-wife who left the family
• Indigo (Indie) — invites her to Christmas
• Ivy — advises her
• Belle — granddaughter

Tucker's best friend, considered basically one of the Hendrix brothers. He is home from LA, protective of Ava, dislikes Chad, and has a tense, ambiguous relationship with Indigo.

Arc: Moves from joking about not having kids to acting as a protective brother figure, and his gaze keeps wandering to Indie.

• Tucker — best friend
• Xander Hendrix — friend and brother-like
• Easton — friend and brother-like
• Ava Hendrix — sister-like friend
• Chad — dislikes and confronts him
• Indigo (Indie) — tense and ambiguous relationship

Ivy's calico cat, adopted from a barn and named Cally the Calico. She is a comfort animal who sleeps with Ivy, purrs, makes biscuits, and is spoiled by Xander with towers, toys, and beds.

Arc: Moves with Ivy from her home to Xander's house and later to Denver, becoming a shared pet.

• Ivy — owner
• Xander Hendrix — pets and spoils her
• Brenda — kicked her

Baby daughter of Harper and Blake, and Xander's niece. She is held by family members, smiles at Xander and Ivy, and is called Belle and Bellie Boo.

Arc: Grows from newborn to almost four months, begins chanting Dada and reaching for Blake, and kisses Xander on the cheek after the Cup win.

• Harper — mother
• Blake — father
• Xander Hendrix — uncle
• Ivy — holds her
• Tucker — uncle
• Easton — uncle
• Zack — uncle-like

Harper's husband, a doctor, and father to Belle. He treats Greg at the ER, holds Belle, and points out Uncle X on the ice.

Arc: Remains a supportive husband, father, and doctor.

• Harper — wife
• Belle — daughter
• Xander Hendrix — brother-in-law
• Easton — family friend
• Zack — family friend
• Greg Hendrix — patient

A personal chef based in Silver Springs, hired by Xander to make high-protein meals during his recovery. She is a longtime acquaintance of Xander and Ivy, and she chases Easton away with a spatula.

Arc: Becomes Xander's chef and joins the women for wedding planning; no major change shown.

• Xander Hendrix — client and acquaintance
• Ivy — acquaintance and client
• Easton — teases him and steals food

A contractor who clears and renovates Ivy's damaged house, buys the Lucky's building, plans a sports bar, and offers to hire Ben. He is an old acquaintance of Ivy.

Arc: Moves from hired cleanup to buyer of Lucky's and potential business partner, shaking hands with Ivy and Xander.

• Xander Hendrix — hired him
• Ivy — buys Lucky's from her
• Ben — may hire him

Ivy's stepfather and father figure; he raised her as a teenager, helped pay for her education, and filed for divorce from Brenda. He calls Ivy when Brenda shows up at his Boise home and offers her money and support.

Arc: Leaves Brenda but remains a father figure to Ivy, checking that she feels safe and cared for.

• Ivy — stepfather and father figure
• Brenda — ex-wife

Ivy's boss at the hospital or clinic. She offers Ivy a full-time physical therapy job with Xander, later asks her to cover hospital shifts after Teddy's accident, and accepts Ivy's resignation.

Arc: Supports Ivy's career moves and remains a steady professional contact.

• Ivy — boss
• Teddy — coworker

Team medical staff who offers Ivy a permanent job with the team and says he knows about her and Xander. He asks her to refrain from relationships with other players. The notes also mention Dr. Walker in connection with Ivy accepting the team position.

Arc: Impressed by Xander's progress, he offers Ivy a team job, which she later accepts.

• Ivy — offers her a job
• Xander Hendrix — team medical staff overseeing his recovery

A physical therapist and later head physical therapist who evaluates Xander's progress and admits he had reservations about Xander going to Montana. In later notes, a Steve also contacts Ivy to say the fire department finished investigating the bar.

Arc: Remains a professional contact, evaluating Xander and reporting on the bar investigation.

• Xander Hendrix — physical therapist
• Ivy — observes her work and contacts her about the bar

A bartender at Lucky's who calls Ivy when Brenda misses a shift. Later Ivy asks Walker to hire him at the new sports bar.

Arc: Moves from Lucky's bartender to a potential hire at the new sports bar.

• Ivy — coworker and friend
• Brenda — works for her at Lucky's
• Walker Hayes — Ivy asks Walker to hire him

A fire department contact who calls Ivy to inform her about the fire at her bar. He explains that Brenda was rescued, the upstairs apartment is a loss, and the bar has smoke damage.

Arc: No change; he informs Ivy about the fire and its cause.

• Ivy — informs her about the fire
• Brenda — rescued her from the fire

Xander's surgeon, who diagnoses his torn ACL, PCL, and meniscus and meets with the medical team when Xander demands to recover in Montana. He wishes Xander would reconsider but Xander refuses.

Arc: No change; he remains the surgeon who wants Xander to follow the team's medical plan.

• Xander Hendrix — surgeon

Xander's agent, who manages Denver appearances, photoshoots, an ESPN interview, a children's hospital visit, and a sports drink commercial. He asks about a playoff return and says he will fly to Denver.

Arc: No change; he continues managing Xander's career and brand obligations.

• Xander Hendrix — agent

Darby's sister and Ava's wedding planner. She organizes party favors, surprises Ava with her altered wedding dress, and reassures her that the wedding is classy.

Arc: No major change; she supports Ava's wedding planning.

• Darby — sister
• Ava Hendrix — friend and bride
• Tucker — family friend

A friend of Ava and Darby who arrives late to wedding planning, compliments Ava's dress, and at the bachelorette party says she likes Chad a lot.

Arc: No major change; she remains a supportive friend.

• Ava Hendrix — friend
• Darby — best friend
• Chad — says she likes him

A WAG at the Denver gala who welcomes Ivy and says she has been dying to meet her since the game.

Arc: No change; she is a friendly acquaintance to Ivy.

• Ivy — WAG acquaintance
• Tabitha — WAG member

A WAG at the Denver gala who welcomes Ivy and adds her to the WAG group text.

Arc: No change; she is a friendly acquaintance to Ivy.

• Ivy — WAG acquaintance
• Hana — WAG member

A woman from Xander's past who approaches him at the charity gala to offer a kiss on the cheek, introduces herself to Ivy, and leaves abruptly.

Arc: No change; she briefly appears at the gala.

• Xander Hendrix — past acquaintance
• Ivy — meets her at the gala

A hockey player in the televised game who takes a hard hit, lies on the ice, gets up, shakes his head, and skates to the bench.

Arc: No change; his injury causes Ivy to worry about Xander.

• Cooper — teammate who reports on his injury
• Ivy — she worries while watching him get hit

Xander's and Indigo's mother, who left Xander when he was almost four and left Indigo before she was a year old. She later called Xander out of the blue asking for a million dollars.

Arc: Remains absent and unredeemed; she is a source of abandonment wounds for Xander and Indigo.

• Xander Hendrix — son she abandoned
• Indigo (Indie) — daughter she left
• Greg Hendrix — ex-wife
• Tucker — child she left
• Easton — child she left
• Ava Hendrix — child she left
• Harper — child she left
• Patrick — affair partner

Named on Indigo's birth certificate as her father and the man Heather had an affair with. He is not otherwise present in the story.

Arc: No change; he is part of Indigo's origin and the Hendrix family secret.

• Indigo (Indie) — father
• Heather Hendrix — affair partner

Xander's cohost for the Denver charity gala.

Arc: No change; mentioned only in connection with the gala.

• Xander Hendrix — charity gala cohost

A clinic coworker who was in a bad car accident and will be out for a while, prompting Sara to ask Ivy to cover hospital shifts.

Arc: No change; Teddy remains off work after the accident.

• Sara — coworker
• Ivy — coworker