Blair asks Declan to tell her his side of the story from the accident. He describes winning the state championship for the third year in a row and his teammates encouraging him to rush to the restaurant where they went to celebrate to beat the crowds. Declan talked to one of his teammates in the parking lot, and Declan put his helmet on for a joke that he doesn’t remember making. He saw a red car speeding towards him, full of other students. He remembers them laughing, then looking afraid as they realized the car was going to hit him.

Declan then woke up in the hospital with a shattered hip and femur. The doctors fixed his hip, but he was left with a limp and unable to play football. Declan spent six months in the hospital before having to do intensive physical therapy. Declan struggled with the loss of his future, the loss of the fulfilment of his father’s dream. He hoped Blair would come see him in the hospital, but she never did. He regretted their fight, and he felt ashamed that he had tried to convince Blair to come with him and give up on college when he now couldn’t provide for her.

Blair argues that he was unwilling to try long distance, forcing Blair to give up on her college dreams. Declan states that he only wanted to succeed in the NFL to help support Blair’s dream of being an author, and he understands why she can’t forgive him. Blair feels confused, as she’s forgiven Declan and thought he hadn’t forgiven her.

Declan reveals he sent Blair a letter that detailed his apologies for their fight and for his pride. Blair never received the letter, and though Declan initially doubts her claims, they both express their forgiveness for each other and lament the lost years not speaking to each other. Declan suggests they be friends again, and Blair agrees, though she wants to be more than friends.

Blair works on a fictional manuscript in one of the convenience stores while her mother works. Blair notices her mother looks stressed after she receives a terse phone call. Her mother breaks down in tears and tells Blair that she’s struggled with managing the schedule for the employees of all seven stores. Blair comforts her mother and insists on managing the schedule from now on. Blair feels less alone seeing her mother grieving Lottie alongside her.

Declan arrives at the store and shows Blair some sketches he’s made of improvements that Blair could make to the cottage. Blair appreciates the sketches and thanks him. He asks her what she’s doing, and she tells him that she’s writing again and trying to finish a romance novel. Declan is happy she’s pursuing her dream again.

Blair finds being alone difficult in the wake of Lottie’s death, so she goes to the cottage alone to try to make a decision about whether to sell it and go to New York or keep it and stay in Seabrook. Roshi calls Blair and asks how she’s doing, and Blair finally cries. She shares about her grief, her feelings for Declan, and the revelation of the truth of the breakdown of her and Declan’s relationship. Roshi advises her to stay friends with Declan and to see where their relationship goes, as Declan may be hesitant to share his feelings again after confessing in the letter that Blair never received.

Blair goes to the beach and looks at Declan’s sketches for the cottage. Declan’s sketches all illustrate changes to the house that make Blair capable of seeing herself living there, and she begins to cry when considering staying in Seabrook. It would hurt to miss Lottie but staying would allow Blair to feel closer to Lottie than moving to New York.

Blair looks up and sees Declan approaching after his surf session. Blair thanks him for the drawings and tells him that she’s considering staying. Declan offers to bring her to his house so she can see the renovations he’s done himself, and she agrees.

Declan drives Blair back to his house, and Blair notices that the house looks just like she always imagined Declan’s dream house would look. Declan explains the changes he made to the house and how he could make similar changes to Blair’s cottage. Blair asks him how he managed to afford the house, and he doesn’t answer. He takes a shower, then offers to take Blair to get breakfast for dinner.

At the Snug Spoon diner, Declan and Blair eat pancakes and Declan tells her how he bought his house. His father Randall sued the driver of the car that hit Declan. The convertible was driven by a teenager whose uncle let him borrow it despite numerous speeding citations, and the driver had been drinking. Randall sued for the cost of Declan’s medical care, his lost scholarships to six schools, and Declan’s lost potential earnings. Declan used the money to buy the house and the coffee shop.

Blair didn’t know Declan owned the coffee shop, and she asks why he hired her. He says he wanted to earn her forgiveness, and Blair reminds him that he already had it. They bond over their shared grief, Declan for the loss of his future and Blair for the loss of Lottie. They both also grieve the loss of their relationship.

Blair asks for Declan’s help renovating the cottage, and Declan asks if she still plans to move to New York. Blair answers yes, and Declan says he doesn’t like starting things he can’t finish. Blair wonders if he’s talking about the cottage or their relationship.