Nine years later, Charlie is in her late twenties and living in New York City. She’s been trying to adopt a healthier lifestyle, and she regularly goes to the gym, where she meets Julian Baker. They hit it off, and Charlie agrees to go on a date with him.

Charlie heads to work after the gym. She has her own law firm, Mason and Romano, with her best friend Nikki Romano. For the past year, Charlie has been single and trying to focus on work and herself. At the office, she chats with her assistant Eric, partner Nikki, and Nikki’s assistant Emma. She and Nikki have been close since law school. Nikki is married to Rocky Romano, with whom she has a son, Will, and Charlie is close with Nikki’s family. Alone at her desk, Charlie texts Julian about meeting up.

Charlie is nervous for her date with Julian. Over lunch, they chat about themselves and their work. Julian talks about his work in journalism, and Charlie explains why she loves family law and how she and Nikki started their firm. At the end of lunch, the two decide to have dinner at Charlie’s that evening.

Charlie welcomes Julian at her apartment that evening. She gives him a brief tour and they chat before kissing passionately. Then they have sex. Julian confesses that he’s wanted to be with Charlie since the first time he saw her at the gym. Before they have sex a second time, Charlie tells Julian she’ll be out of town for a week for her cousin’s wedding.

Lex Edwards wakes up trying to remember what happened the night before. He and his assistant Kate fly from New York back to London, where he’s based. On the flight, Lex vaguely recalls sleeping with someone named Brandy last night. He also muses on his work with the Lexed Group and his complicated relationship with his sister, Adriana Edwards.

At the office, Lex calls Adriana. She wants Lex to attend an upcoming charity ball in New York and insists he bring a date named Brooke. Lex reluctantly agrees.

A few days later, Lex flies back to New York with Kate. He has a meeting with “a commercial broker” (47). Afterwards, he meets up with Adriana and their mother. Adriana wants to discuss her and her fiancé Elijah’s upcoming wedding. Lex has no interest in discussing the matter. He leaves his family, retreats to his hotel, and reminds himself who he is and that he’s in control.

Charlie returns to New York after her cousin’s wedding. After work, she catches up with Julian on the phone and agrees to meet for dinner. Then she stops at Nikki and Rocky’s. She loves seeing Will and momentarily imagines being married with kids.

Charlie and Julian go out for dinner. They tell each other about their respective upbringings in California and North Carolina. Charlie is enjoying herself until Julian starts asking about her romantic history. She tells herself she doesn’t have to reveal everything about her past. They return to Charlie’s apartment and have sex before Julian heads to D.C. for a story. At work the next day, Charlie tries focusing on her evening with Julian but can’t help feeling like something bad is about to happen.

Three months later, Charlie and Julian go out for dinner to celebrate their anniversary. Julian proposes, telling Charlie how much he cares about her. A shocked Charlie doesn’t know what to say but finally agrees. Julian slips a large diamond ring onto her finger, and Charlie feels nauseated and overwhelmed by uncertainty as soon as she sees the ring. Afterwards, they have sex at Julian’s apartment. Charlie tries to reciprocate Julian’s excitement but panics when he mentions having kids.

In the morning, Julian leaves for Long Island for work, and Charlie heads home. She calls her ex-boyfriend and close friend Finn to tell him the news. Although surprised, Finn suggests that Charlie’s engagement is a good thing. He urges her to let go of the past and embrace this new life.

Charlie has a sleepover at her best friend Adriana’s house. She gets up in the middle of the night and runs into Adriana’s attractive older brother Alex. Charlie has a crush on him but feels embarrassed because he’s related to Adriana. Back in bed, Charlie can’t sleep and keeps thinking about Alex.

25-year-old Alex is attending medical school and married to Samantha Benson. While studying one night, Alex stews over his relationship with Samantha. She’s changed since they met in college. Now all she wants to talk about is having children. Alex doesn’t think they’re ready because they’re young and he’s in school. They get into an argument about kids again, and Alex storms out.

Alex heads to his parents’ house. He finds Adriana and her best friend Charlie hanging out in the living room. They chat and tease each other. Alex is enamored by Charlie but tries to hide his feelings. Before he leaves, Charlie asks him to attend her upcoming birthday party. Alex momentarily gets lost in her eyes.

Lex has a meeting with his team at a local café. They discuss the Lexed Group’s Manhattan night clubs, particularly the profits and future of their club After Dark. Lex gets distracted when he notices an attractive woman wearing designer heels at a neighboring table. When he realizes the woman is his ex, Charlie, he excuses himself from his meeting to speak to her. He apologizes for what happened between them, insisting he tried getting in touch with her but couldn’t find her. A startled Charlie insists she has nothing to say. She also reveals that she’s currently with her fiancé, Julian. Lex struggles to control his temper. Julian intercedes and pulls Charlie away.

Charlie tells her colleagues about Julian’s proposal. They gush over her ring, insisting that Julian is the perfect guy. That afternoon, she meets Julian for lunch. They’re enjoying themselves until Charlie hears a familiar voice call her name. She is shocked to see Lex and wants nothing to do with him. She doesn’t believe he tried looking for her nine years prior. She insists she has nothing to say to him and announces her engagement.

Back at the office, Charlie tells Nikki what happened. Nikki urges her to confront her unresolved feelings for Lex before she commits to Julian.

After school one day, Charlie discovers that her car is dead. Alex shows up and offers her a ride. She can’t help feeling attracted to him. He takes her back to his house, a quaint cottage filled with photos of him and his wife Samantha. Alex reveals that Samantha isn’t happy and that they’ve been having difficulties recently. Charlie asks follow-up questions, immediately regretting it. She feels guilty barging into Alex and Samantha’s life.

Alex and Charlie return to the school to jump Charlie’s car. She gives him a thank-you kiss on the cheek. Afterwards, she can’t stop thinking about Alex.

Lex returns to his meeting but can’t focus after his encounter with Charlie. After the meeting, he heads back to his hotel, feeling distracted and frustrated with himself for allowing Charlie to make him lose control. Then he gets a call from his contact, Bryce, whom he tasked with finding information on Charlie. Bryce informs Lex that Charlie owns a boutique law firm, attended Yale University, lives full-time in Manhattan, and is not yet married. Lex is surprised, as he remembers Charlie differently.

Lex goes to the bar for a drink. He ends up having oral sex with a stranger in the bathroom. Afterwards, he still can’t stop thinking about Charlie.

The next day, Adriana helps Lex prepare for the charity ball. He tells Adriana about seeing Charlie. Charlie and Adriana were best friends but haven’t spoken since Charlie and Lex’s breakup. A sympathetic Adriana promises to discuss this after the ball and introduces him to Brooke.