Mick takes Dani to a pond to teach her the basics of hockey so that she can learn a few important tips before getting on the ice with Alec. Mick introduces her to two of his old hockey pals, and Dani delights in spending time with her grandfather. She sends Alec a photo of herself and Mick together, telling him how much she has learned. Dani admits to herself that she has “fallen” for Alec. She reminds herself that he is just “pretending” and that even if something develops between them, they will be going their separate ways after graduation.

Alec, Kyle, and Ritchie are at the rink, watching Cassie and Dani on the ice as Dani shows off what she has been learning from Mick. When Alec flirtatiously offers to carry Dani off the ice, she mentions his shoulder injury, which he is hiding from his teammates. Alec shrugs it off, saying the injury is not as bad as she thinks. Dani doesn’t understand why he’s lying to his friends.

Later, they attend a party at the home of a friend named Bryce, and Alec arrives after Dani. She is socializing with other girls, and he suspects that she has been drinking. Alec likes to see her “coming alive” and making friends. Dani sits on Alec’s lap, and he holds her close. The night goes well until Dani’s dad calls, and she disappears for a long time to take the call. Alec goes to look for her and overhears her talking to the other girls about moving in with her dad. Later, he overhears another conversation where she’s telling people their story and mentions that when she moved back, she “was still mad at [Alec] for what he did back in the day” (299). Alec has no idea what she means. When he asks her about the phone call, Dani lies to him, saying nothing about a potential move. Alec reminds himself that their relationship is fake and that she doesn’t have to tell him anything.

Dani had not been drinking at the party. She had just decided to flirt more intensely because she likes how Alec reacts. The next day at school, she senses that something is “off” with him. The team has one more game before the playoffs, and she can sense Alec’s stress. She forgoes their library lunch date to eat in the cafeteria with all their friends. This is a significant milestone for her because school cafeterias usually give her anxiety. However, the table full of Alec’s friends, who are now her friends, feels familiar and “safe.”

There is only one more game left in the regular season, and Alec’s anxiety begins to affect him physically. He worries that he won’t be able to deliver the championship for his team, and more importantly, he fears that he won’t be successful enough to help his family. At dinner, his parents recognize the tension, and his dad mentions his dream of Alec getting an “Original Six” jersey. This reference to the NHL only increases Alec’s anxiety. His mom reminds him that hockey is nothing more than a game, and that his future is bright no matter what.

Dani arrives, wanting to take a walk. Relieved to escape the pressure of the dinner table, Alec happily joins her, and they walk their “old route,” the same path they used as kids. Dani worries about Alec. Feeling safe with her, he confesses all his anxiety over “[t]he pressure to be Zeus” (311). Although his parents have never explicitly stated their hopes that he will go pro to ease their financial stress, Alec feels that this is the expectation. Dani listens with empathy and reassures him that his parents’ survival doesn’t depend on him. Suddenly, Dani slips, and since they’re holding hands, they both fall to the ground. Alec leans over her and can’t resist kissing her. Dani kisses him back, and for a moment, everything else disappears. When a porch light turns on, the spell is broken, and Dani walks Alec home.

Benji texts Dani, offering her a ride to school, and she wishes that he would leave her alone. Dani’s father is still demanding that she give him an answer about the move. She is unsure how to respond, and her growing feelings for Alec compound her confusion. Alec texts Dani, asking her to meet him in the locker room to recreate their earlier hug because he played well after that game and he is superstitious. The rink is empty, and Dani cautiously goes to the locker room, where she finds Alec shirtless, looking irresistible. They hug tightly to force their necklaces to get tangled just as before, and then Alec begins kissing her. Dani enjoys the moment but urges him to stop before they get caught.

Dani and her mom attend the team dinner. Dani loves seeing how happy her mom is in a place that obviously is her home. Although Dani loves her friends, she fears that they are “fake” as well because they’re tied to her “fake” relationship with Alec. Hannah is happy to see Dani making friends, and Dani admits that Southview is beginning to feel more like a place where she feels “at home.” At their house, Mick makes milkshakes just as he did when she was a kid. He gifts her a Southview hockey jersey with his number and their names, “Boche Collins,” on the back. Even though Mick has never apologized in person for the rupture in their relationship, Dani feels that this rift has been repaired.

Dani brings Alec donuts on gameday, and she and his twin siblings wake him up for breakfast. The pain in his shoulder has gotten so bad that getting dressed for the day is difficult. When he sees Dani at the breakfast table with his family, Alec realizes that their relationship is real. He spends the rest of the day watching film from the other team and preparing for the game.

Dani’s dad surprises her by showing up at the hockey game. She sees him in the stands, glaring at her mom, who is having a great time with the other hockey parents. The other team is good, and it’s a tight game. Dani is filming with Cassie, but she gathers her courage, intending to confront her dad and tell him that she wants to remain in Southview with her mom. She also wants to tell him that she hopes he will move closer so that they can see one another more often. However, she loses her nerve and returns to Cassie without speaking to her dad.

The game is intense, and they win by one point. Cassie and Dani hug and scream with excitement. In that moment, Dani knows that her friendship with Cassie is real and that Southview is her home. The team gathers for a photo with their trophy, and Cassie and Dani are included. The fact that this photo will go in the yearbook means that Dani’s time at the school will be remembered. She makes eye contact with Alec and realizes that she is in love with him. They hug, and she tells him that she wants their relationship to “be real.”

Alec holds up the photo op to make Dani repeat herself. He then kisses her in front of everyone, confirming that he wants a “real” relationship, too. After the photo, everyone makes post-game plans, but all Alec wants is time alone with Dani. She explains that her father is there and she may have to see him. Alec can tell that something is bothering her, but he is still too excited about the win and Dani’s declaration to pursue his intuition on this point.

Outside the rink, Alec pulls Dani behind the building and kisses her passionately. His friends interrupt him, yelling that they’re leaving for the after-party. Dani notices her grandfather and her dad arguing in the parking lot. They overhear Mick accusing her dad of coercing her to move away again. Alec asks if she is moving, and Dani says no, but she explains that her relationship with her dad is “complicated.” She asks to leave so that they can get away from the drama. Neither wants to be at a big party, and Dani asks if they can go to the “spot.” Alec sends a text to their small group of friends, inviting them all to meet them there.

They arrive at the old shack, and Dani calls it a “time machine” that transports her back to their childhood. She has brought champagne, and Alec pops the cork to celebrate the night. He kisses Dani passionately, but they are interrupted by an approaching car. It’s Benji, along with some of his hockey teammates, who are drunk. Alec orders Benji to leave, but Benji makes ridiculous accusations, saying that Dani is not being safe with Alec. He taunts Alec about Dani’s choice to bring him to the “spot” all those years ago. Alec punches Benji, bloodying his nose. Dani has to get between them to stop the fight from escalating. When Vinny and Kyle arrive, Dani begs them to help. Benji threatens to call the police, but Benji’s friends convince him to leave to prevent further drama.

Alec drives Dani home, but she is worried about his swollen hand and thinks he should go to the hospital. His face is bleeding from a scratch from Benji’s ring. Alec fears that he made a huge mistake in giving in Benji’s goading. He knows from experience that Benji will be ruthless in trying to ruin his reputation. Dani assures him that everything will be all right. She reminds him of the good things that happened that day: the big win and their decision to declare their relationship “real.” After a dreamy kiss, Dani goes inside. She plans to speak with Benji the next day to fix the situation.