Jackie is an organized, determined young woman who lost her family in a tragic accident and lives with the large, chaotic Walter family in Colorado. Having spent the summer in New York to confront her grief, she returns to the ranch more grounded but still conflicted. She works to balance her academic ambitions, her ongoing healing process, and her unresolved romantic feelings for Cole.

Cole is the brooding, complicated second-eldest Walter brother who works as a mechanic after a football injury derailed his athletic dreams. He is protective and playful with his younger siblings but acts defensive and erratic when his pride is threatened. His connection with Jackie is magnetic, though his shifting moods often cause friction between them.

Nathan is one of the more mature and emotionally grounded Walter brothers. He shares a quiet, steady bond with Jackie and uses music to cope with his worsening epilepsy. His anxiety over his health sometimes makes him withdraw from those who care about him.

Katherine is the nurturing and supportive matriarch of the Walter family. She offers Jackie unconditional love and a sense of stability amid the chaos of the ranch. Her protective instincts and warm authority hold her large, boisterous household together.

Isaac is the Walters' rebellious and volatile cousin who lives on the ranch. He frequently masks his deeper insecurities and family trauma with reckless behavior. His underlying anger stems from a strained relationship with his absent military father.

Alex is Cole's younger brother and Jackie's former boyfriend. He is moving on from his past relationship with Jackie by dating her friend Kim, though his presence occasionally brings up lingering awkwardness from the previous summer.

Danny is Cole's twin brother and a dedicated theater buff who recently gained acceptance to Juilliard. He serves as an emotional anchor for Jackie, offering her understanding regarding her feelings for his brother.

Parker is the only daughter in the Walter family and an avid rugby player. She shares a room with Jackie after Cole decides to move back into the main house, treating Jackie like an older sister.

George is the patriarch of the Walter family. Alongside his wife, he warmly accepts Jackie as one of his own, providing her with the paternal support she needs to feel secure on the ranch.

Erin is a lead member of the student council who previously disliked Jackie due to her involvement with Cole. As they collaborate on Erin's school president election campaign, they begin to move past their old animosity.

Lee is one of the Walters' cousins who lives on the ranch. He is prone to breaking rules and appreciates Jackie when she covers for him to avoid a reprimand from Katherine.

Kim is a friend of Jackie's who begins dating Alex over the summer. She is apologetic about the potential tension, but she cares for Alex and wishes to maintain her friendship with Jackie.