At the diner, Jackson places a highly specific order, and Delilah teases him. He reflects internally that he becomes rigid and controlling when other parts of his life feel chaotic, such as being away from his sisters and dealing with his estranged mother. Delilah asks about his family, and Jackson explains, “My mother is…Unconventional […] It’s why I have full custody of the girls now” (117). Expecting pity, he’s surprised when Delilah accepts this easily and shares that her grandfather raised her on his own for similar reasons.

Later, in the van, they conduct a live radio call-in. Jackson wants a script, but Delilah insists that they improvise. Aiden has come to the station specifically to support Jackson, though his presence annoys the regular host, Benny. During the segment, a nervous Jackson says little, only confirming that the diner’s turkey sandwiches were good.

Jackson and Delilah arrive at Wolf’s Lodge, where their cameraman, Mark, will join them the next day. The owner, Lottie, informs them that Delilah’s reservation was canceled that morning by an email from their station, and no other rooms are available. The email claimed that she had found lodging at the dilapidated Liberty Hall across the street. Jackson insists on walking her over to make sure that she’s okay and has everything she needs.

Liberty Hall is decrepit and unsettling. After they hear a strange noise from a closet and the door begins to shake, they flee in terror. Delilah agrees that she can’t stay there. Meanwhile, Jackson receives texts from his sisters, who are mortified that his recent on-air appearance has made him popular with their classmates. They tell him, “The entire school just thinks you’re hot and now our lives are ruined” (136).

Back at the lodge, Delilah fruitlessly searches for other available accommodations. Fed up, Jackson gives her a key to his room, insisting that they will have to share. He overrules her objections by pointing out the logistical impossibilities of her staying elsewhere during a major blizzard. Delilah finally agrees and texts a friend at the station to try and trace the email cancelation to Keith to prove that he’s sabotaging her.

Together, Jackson and Delilah review weather models and realize that the storm is intensifying into a blizzard. They’re both excited by the professional challenge. When Delilah asks what makes Jackson more nervous—the broadcast or sharing a room with her—he can’t deny either worry.

Inside the room, Delilah and Jackson discover that there’s only one large bed. Jackson had anticipated this and already requested a cot, but Delilah convinces him that the bed is comfortable enough for them to share. As they review weather projections on the bed, Delilah finds herself increasingly attracted to Jackson’s quiet kindness.

Feeling flustered, Delilah gets ready for bed but trips and falls, landing with her face on Jackson’s thigh. He goes out to the balcony to give her privacy. While she’s in the bathroom, she snoops in his toiletry bag and finds a repurposed Father’s Day card inscribed, “BEST BAG BROTHER EVER” (150), in a child’s handwriting with stick figures drawn inside. After her shower, she builds a pillow wall down the middle of the bed and falls asleep listening to Jackson’s low, muffled voice on the balcony. Just before she drifts off, Jackson quietly tells her that he knows she was looking through his things. When he asks what she found, she replies, “Just pieces of you” (153).

Jackson wakes early after a restless night, his thoughts consumed by the assignment, his family, and his growing feelings for Delilah. When Delilah wakes up, he tries to act gruff, but she sees through his pretense. Jackson FaceTimes his sisters while Delilah is in the shower, but he gets flustered when she emerges from the bathroom, and Penelope and Adeline see her emerge in only a towel. The sisters, along with Aiden and Lucie, are delighted by the implication that they’re together and tease him mercilessly.

After the call, Jackson admits to himself that he chose not to find Delilah another room because he wanted her to stay with him. He confesses to her, “I think I like you” (164), admitting his confusion over this unplanned development. Delilah smiles, tells him that she likes him too, and correctly guesses that his attraction grew when she showed her serious, professional side by planning out their broadcast.

Before their next broadcast, Jackson is overcome with on-air anxiety, becoming silent and withdrawn. Mark surprises Delilah by expressing concern for her career, warning that she should put her best foot forward so that no one finds a reason to detract from her talent.

To help Jackson, Delilah pulls him into a secluded alcove and asks him to practice his lines by pretending he’s talking to his sisters. He tries, but his anxiety spirals into a frantic, rambling tangent about climate change and “corn sweat.” To break him out of his panic, Delilah impulsively kisses him. The kiss stuns him into silence. As they take their places in front of the camera, Jackson reaches for her hand out of view, squeezes it for reassurance, and proceeds to deliver a flawless broadcast.

In the lodge after their broadcast, Delilah and Jackson discuss the kiss. He assures her that he wasn’t uncomfortable and is grateful she helped him overcome his anxiety. A shy fan named Dustin approaches their table and asks Jackson to thank Delilah for keeping him company on his trips away from home. Delilah is deeply touched.

The moment leads to a more vulnerable conversation. Jackson explains that his past resentment toward her stemmed from wishing he could be more like her—warmer toward other people and more comfortable in his skin. He compares her to a lamp whose bright, positive energy he found difficult to deny. He opens up about his difficult childhood, revealing that to manage his mother’s mental illness and unpredictability as a child, he made charts and bought pill containers to help her remember her medication—building the rigid routines he still relies on. He admits that he struggled with how easily Delilah seems to carry her own burdens. Moved to tears, Delilah holds his hand and confesses that being positive isn’t always easy for her.