The Storm plays Calgary, and Jamie watches Rory’s aggressive behavior, wondering what changed his friend. Jamie dwells on how attracted he is to Pippa, but he believes he can’t give her what she needs. After the game, Jamie is annoyed as Rory talks with Pippa and flirts with Hazel. Rory arranges for Pippa to show him around Vancouver the next day.

Pippa is ready to go out and have fun; she wants to have friends again. Jamie confronts her before she leaves and kisses her. While Rory waits at the door, Jamie brings Pippa to orgasm with his fingers. He decides he will crash their date.

Jamie, Pippa, and Rory go to a small bar designed to look like a speakeasy. Pippa asks why the two aren’t friends, and Rory says it’s because Jamie’s on the opposite team. Jamie notes that sounds like something his father would say. Pippa thinks Rory feels like a brother to her. She stops before the music store to admire her dream guitar, but she thinks if she plays it, “[She’ll] start dreaming again, and the last time I did that, it didn’t end well” (231). Jamie encourages her to pursue music. Pippa reflects that if he hurts her, it would be unintentional. She thinks both the guitar and Jamie are things she could only have in another life.

Waiting to interview for the marketing job, Pippa talks to her parents, who are enthusiastic about the opportunity. She feels obligated to repay them for their financial and emotional support, including paying for college, and she knows they only want what they think is best for her. Pippa thinks, “I don’t want to do this, but I don’t have another option” (234).

Jamie is convinced he needs to stop messing around with Pippa. Coach Ward informs Jamie he’s expected to attend the charity gala in Whistler for the local children’s hospital. Jamie says he’ll bring a date and imagines taking Pippa. He still feels guilty over how he stalled Erin’s career when she left modeling to act on a low-budget TV show.

Dining out at a restaurant, Jamie invites Pippa to the charity gala as his assistant. Pippa admits she’s likely to get the marketing job but realizes she doesn’t want it. While Jamie thinks she could have a music career, Pippa imagines all the obstacles. Still, she doesn’t want to give up just yet, on music or Jamie. Jamie explains that he crushed Erin, and he doesn’t want to do that to Pippa. Pippa hears a song on the radio: the song she played for Zach, which he stole.

Some lyrics of the song are different, but Pippa recognizes it. She’s hurt and angry, recalling, “Months ago, I cried in the airport and just wanted to disappear. Tonight, though, there’s a tiny flame burning inside me. Something stubborn and pissed off” (246). She decides, “I’m done with Zach, and I’m done with letting the past weigh me down” (246).

Alone in the apartment, Pippa writes songs inspired by how she is feeling. She writes a song about getting back up and is proud of it. She records herself and sends the video to Jamie, who approves. She reminds herself not to fall for him. She writes a song about Jamie, then several more songs, including one with a lyric she really likes. She realizes she has feelings for Jamie and feels encouraged by his support. When she walks Daisy past the music store, she sees her dream guitar is gone from the window.

Jamie, at his mom’s house after Christmas, rewatches the video Pippa sent him of her song. He realizes he has feelings for her. His mom says she’s decided to start therapy. Jamie decides to go to Silver Falls, where Pippa’s parents live, and surprises her with a visit.

Pippa, visiting her parents with Hazel, tries to figure out what to do about Jamie. She’s delighted when he texts that he’s arriving on the next flight. He shows up at her house, and Pippa introduces him to her parents. Her dad is excited to meet a professional hockey player, and Jamie is friendly and civil. Pippa wonders, “Who is this version of my grumpy goalie?” (261).

Jamie gives Pippa the Christmas gifts he bought for her. The first is a Vancouver Storm jersey with his name on it. The second is her dream guitar. She tells Jamie she wrote an album and shares her recordings with him. As she picks up the instrument, she tells Jamie, “This guitar is my soulmate” (267). She plays the songs she wrote, including the ones about him. Jamie says it is the best Christmas gift he’s ever gotten.

At the bar on New Year’s Eve, Hazel teases Pippa about liking Jamie. Several members of the Storm team arrive, along with Rory Miller. Pippa perceives that Rory and Hazel are attracted to each other.

Rory tells Pippa that it’s clear Jamie likes her. Jamie arranges for Pippa to play a song. Though she’s intimidated, she wants to prove Zach was wrong when he said she doesn’t have what it takes to succeed. More than that, she wants to prove Jamie’s faith in her. She plays for the crowd, feeling euphoric, and is encouraged when they cheer for her.

Watching Pippa perform, Jamie at last acknowledges that he is head over heels for her. He tells Pippa he doesn’t want to fight his attraction to her any longer. She agrees they can figure things out together. Jamie realizes, “This is right. This is the way it’s supposed to be. I thought about her for all those years, and we found our way back to each other” (280). They kiss at the countdown to the new year.

Pippa hosts the visiting team members at her house. Jamie goes to the guest bedroom. Pippa texts him a picture of her wearing his jersey in bed. Jamie comes to her room, saying she has to promise to be quiet.

Jamie kisses Pippa and decides, “Pippa is mine. I’m never giving her up” (285). He performs oral sex on her and wants to tell her he loves her.

Pippa gets a text from Zach asking to talk. She blocks his number. Jamie returns from a set of away games. They take Daisy for a walk and discuss how his mother is seeing a doctor. Jamie hopes Donna will get medication to help her. He mentions that the video of Pippa performing on New Year’s got a lot of views. She panics at the thought of the rejection she could face, far worse than Zach’s. Jamie encourages her to visualize what she wants. Pippa reflects that the past is holding her back, and “[she] keep[s] putting […] barriers up in [her] path” (294). She pictures herself playing to a packed arena, performing her own album, which she’s produced with her dream producer, Ivy Matthews. She realizes she needs to take the risk of rejection if she wants to pursue a career in the music industry. She sends an email to Ivy Matthews and receives a call to record a demo the next day.