Mark confirms that the live broadcast captured Jackson asking Delilah to kiss him and everything that followed. Jackson calms a panicking Delilah, insisting that they did nothing wrong. He says that they will simply tell the truth, that she was helping him manage his on-air anxiety. Afterward, Delilah calls Keith, who’s surprisingly calm, saying that he doesn’t care what she does. He dismisses her as constantly unprofessional, calling her their “good-time girl” and a “puff piece, at best” (207-08). He says that the expectations for the series were already “pretty low across the board” and that it’s “no skin off his back” if she fails (208). Feeling humiliated by Keith’s indifference, Delilah pushes through and completes the evening broadcast with Jackson, reporting on the worsening storm conditions.

At two o’clock in the morning, Delilah attempts to sneak out of the room, only to find Jackson already awake by the fireplace—dressed, reading, with a mug at his elbow—unable to sleep. She confesses her plan to go sledding on her doughnut-shaped inner tube, worried that the snow will be too deep by morning. Jackson initially calls the idea “silly,” which upsets Delilah. She explains that such comments reinforce the unprofessional image she’s trying to overcome. Jackson quickly clarifies that he doesn’t think she’s stupid and agrees to join her. They both suit up in their snow gear to head out into the intensifying storm.

After three solo runs, Delilah finally coaxes Jackson onto the sled. As she prepares to push him down the hill, she falls forward onto him, and the combined weight sends them rocketing down the hill together. At the bottom of the hill, they’re thrown from the sled, and Jackson bursts into laughter. The playful moment becomes intimate, and Jackson asks Delilah if she feels the connection between them, which she confirms. He asks her to kiss him, but she refuses, insisting that he must be the brave one and initiate. He kisses her immediately, without hesitation.

Back in the hotel room, Delilah voices her fear that she’s merely a temporary distraction for him. Jackson respects her need for space and helps her out of her snow gear without protest. Before they fall asleep on opposite sides of the bed, he reassures her, “It was a good kiss” (232). A text exchange reveals that Jackson’s sisters have learned about the on-air incident and a fan-created portmanteau for their relationship: “Deckson.”

The next morning, Jackson finds Delilah dressed in her hot-pink snow pants and teases her. He takes a call from Maggie, who tells him that their ratings have skyrocketed since the on-air kiss. Maggie warns that Keith is becoming a major problem and seems to be plotting against them. He puts Maggie on speakerphone so that Delilah can also hear the warning about Keith, and he vows that they will not let their boss undermine her credibility.

Mark arrives to inform Delilah and Jackson that Keith has canceled their morning broadcast. He has replaced their segment with a report from Baltimore by another anchor, Leon, whom he deems “more professional.” Delilah is devastated, thinking of her grandfather, who never misses her broadcasts. In response, Jackson asks her, “How do you feel about a hostile takeover?” (246). Mark confirms that Gary in production and others back at the station—including Gianna and Leon—are willing to go against Keith’s plans. Together, they successfully interrupt the scheduled program, and Delilah delivers their storm report from Deep Creek, defying Keith’s orders.

Exhilarated by their successful broadcast, Delilah and Jackson share a charged moment in their room, where he admits to fantasizing about her. Delilah agrees to explore a physical relationship but sets a clear boundary: It’s only for the duration of the trip, with no expectations afterward. Their moment is interrupted when Mark arrives to tell them that Keith has been incessantly calling for Delilah. With Jackson and Mark listening on speaker, Keith accuses Delilah of batting her eyelashes and “flipping open her empty little head” to convince the others to help her (261). Jackson furiously intervenes, telling Keith not to speak to her that way. Immediately after the call ends, Jackson receives a call from his sister Adeline and abruptly leaves the room to take it in private, leaving Delilah feeling hurt and shut out.

Unable to sleep, Jackson is caught in an anxiety spiral driven by two separate stressors: unanswered texts from his mother asking to visit his sisters and an earlier call from Adeline, who was upset about being the only girl to attend her school’s leadership brunch without her mother. Delilah wakes and finds him restless, inviting him to her side of the bed to watch a movie. She comforts him, observing that he isn’t difficult, he’s just never had anyone take care of him. As they watch Casablanca, they debate the value of “bright things” like love stories versus darker films. Delilah argues for the importance of joy, and Jackson agrees, telling her that he has learned to appreciate color. He holds her hand, and his anxiety finally subsides as she falls asleep with her head on his shoulder.