To boost Miller’s confidence before she returns to work, Kai invites Isaiah, Cody, and Travis to his house for an impromptu dessert tasting. He also asks Monty to attend. In Monty’s office beforehand, the two discuss Kai’s relationship with Miller, with Monty subtly acknowledging that he’s aware they’re sleeping together. Kai explains he wants to help Miller regain her confidence even though supporting her return to her career means losing her. He takes a framed photo of a young Miller from Monty’s desk and places it in his hat alongside Max’s photo.

At home, he surprises Miller with groceries and announces the team will taste whatever she creates while he cares for Max that night. Miller is touched by the gesture. When Kai kisses her on the head, Max copies him.

Violet calls Miller to confirm the Food & Wine photoshoot for the following Tuesday, and Miller reschedules to accommodate Kai’s game schedule, noting she’ll drive to California on August 29, which is two weeks away. At Kai’s house, Miller serves her new desserts to Isaiah, Cody, Travis, and Monty. Isaiah enthusiastically endorses every creation, while Monty’s steady praise makes Miller beam with pride. The group struggles to follow her professional terminology but loves the results. Miller feels relief knowing she can still excel at her craft and recognizes Kai’s role in restoring her confidence, though she worries about returning to work without his encouraging presence.

Outside the visitors’ locker room in Anaheim late at night, Miller struggles with a sick, screaming Max while the team loads buses. Exhausted from days of caring for the ill toddler, she feels inadequate when Max keeps crying for Kai. When Kai finally emerges, she watches a red-haired fan flirt with him and slip him her number. Jealous and spiraling, Miller imagines the woman as Max’s future stepmother, someone permanent and better suited than she is. She texts Kennedy about her irrational jealousy, admitting she’s never cared enough about anyone to feel this way. Across the lot, Kai catches Miller watching him, and she aches as she weighs the contrast between her temporary role and his desire for a permanent partner.

On a red-eye flight to San Francisco, Kai postpones his pitch analysis to care for a sick Max and an exhausted Miller, lifting her onto his lap so he can hold them both. Too tired to maintain her emotional boundaries, Miller admits she missed him and nearly cries confessing her fear that Max hates her and that Kai will eventually find someone better. Kai reassures her. Later, Miller texts him, admitting she loves Max, was jealous of the red-haired fan, and cares about them more than she knew herself capable of.

At the San Francisco hotel around 2 am, Max wakes crying and cannot be settled. Miller enters from the adjoining room and joins them in bed, helping soothe Max until he drifts off between them. When Kai asks her to stay, she agrees. As they fall asleep together, Kai reflects that Miller is his and Max’s calm, and he plans to savor every remaining moment while pretending their time together has no expiration date.

Back in Chicago, Miller tries to work alone in Kai’s kitchen but feels unmotivated and lonely. Indy invites her for drinks, and Miller brings Kennedy. At Indy’s house, an intoxicated Miller admits she doesn’t want to leave and has fallen for Max. Kennedy reveals her ex-fiancé ended their engagement because she refused to quit traveling with male athletes and later got engaged to her stepsister using a ring Kennedy picked out. The group encourages Miller to acknowledge her feelings and reconsider her priorities.

Miller asks Kai for a ride, and he drives her and Kennedy to his house. Isaiah flirts with Kennedy before Kai sends him to sleep in Miller’s van so Kennedy can have the guest room. In Kai’s room, Miller looks at photos of his late mother. She asks him if he ever had anyone to talk to about his losses and responsibilities. He deflects, noting she’ll leave in less than a week. Miller observes that her skincare products are already in his bathroom, and Kai explains he’s ended the no-sleepover rule for their remaining days together. He helps her with her nighttime routine. 

In bed, Miller admits she sometimes imagines not returning to work, confesses her career doesn’t make her happy, and reveals that her birthday is on Saturday. Kai is torn between wanting her to stay and his promise to Monty not to ask that of her. He encourages her to pursue her dreams despite the pressure, reminding her that high expectations exist because she is successful. He insists her father’s sacrifices came from unconditional love, not expectation of repayment, and tells her that changing directions in life wouldn’t make her a failure. Because they only have four more days together, she asks to drop their remaining rules until Sunday. Kai agrees and kisses her tenderly. 

The morning after, Miller wakes in Kai’s bed, and they have sex. Kai prevents himself from voicing his love for her out of respect for her boundaries but admits he’s obsessed with her.

On the day of Miller’s Food & Wine photoshoot, 10 crew members transform Kai’s kitchen into a sterile set. Miller watches Kai, Isaiah, and Max playing outside while professional chaos erases every trace of the domestic life she’s built there. When a coordinator dismisses Max’s dishes as clutter, Miller is upset. When an intern addresses her by her professional title, she asks him to call her Miller instead.

Miller slicks back her hair, removes her septum ring, and dons her chef coat, adopting her polished professional appearance. Kai finds her looking uncertain and gives her an encouraging forehead kiss. During the shoot, Max runs to Miller and the coordinator snaps that the kitchen is no place for kids. Kai removes his son. Standing alone in the transformed kitchen while Kai and Max remain outside, Miller has a devastating realization: She has no desire to return to the culinary world. She only wants to be with them.