Dani feels strange being in Levi’s room, surrounded by items from his childhood. She finds a photograph of them together in high school, a reminder of their friendship. Levi brings her clothes to sleep in, and he asks her why she agreed to fake-date him. Dani says that she “missed” him, and he says he missed her, too.

Dani pulls on Levi’s shirt to sleep in and goes to him on the couch for help with unclasping her necklace. He speaks to her in French and tells her that she “deserves” exactly the kind of love she described. Dani treasures his words but wishes it were him giving her that love.

Dani is working on her final project in the design classroom when she receives an email from Lazaro telling her that she didn’t get in. She interprets the rejection as her “not being good enough, again” (268). She races to find Ethan, looking for support. He isn’t empathetic; instead, he urges her to use her mother’s influence. Ethan says that her work is “nothing special” and that he can help her if she breaks up with her boyfriend. When Ethan touches Dani’s leg, she clearly asks him to stop, but he doesn’t, so she knees him in the groin and runs from the room, crying.

Levi is there to pick her up, and she falls into his arms. She can’t muster the words to tell him what’s wrong, but he vows to make Ethan pay. Dani begs him to let it go, so he holds her and comforts her. Dani pulls him close and kisses him passionately. She longs to tell him how she feels, but she can’t. Dani decides right then to go to Paris and tells Levi. He is visibly shaken, especially since it means that she’ll be gone for a year, but he doesn’t protest.

Levi takes Dani home, and she tells her mother everything, including that she and Levi have been in a fake relationship. Dani confesses that she loves Levi, but her mother already knows this and suspects that Levi’s feelings are genuine, too. Dani’s mother calls the school to report Ethan’s behavior and learns that he’s already been terminated because Levi reported him.

Dani works to finish her project, and she changes the design at the last minute, making the dress fit her body, and adds embroidered and beaded daisies inspired by the flowers Levi gave her. She writes Levi one last letter and takes it to his house. She runs into Marty, Levi’s neighbor, who offers to deliver the letter to Levi. Marty asks if she’s read Levi’s book, titled Picking Daisies on Sundays.

Alone at home, Dani replays the words she wrote in the letter. She poured her heart out to Levi and finally told him that she has always loved him. He arrives at her house, letter in hand. He doesn’t understand why she didn’t tell him years ago. Dani explains that she told him on prom night and that he rejected her. Levi explains that he thought she said she loved Jeremiah. When he tried to help her get home, she was cruel to him and then cut him out of her life. He shows Dani a translated copy of his book, and every poem is about her. Levi proclaims his love, and they kiss passionately. Dani worries about Paris, but Levi says that it’s only for one year; they can write and visit.

Dani and Levi travel together to the Hamptons for Sarah’s wedding. Dani tries to keep the anxiety of being apart from Levi for a year out of her mind. At the rental house, Bella says that Dani must stay with the other bridesmaids, but Levi wants them to stay together. Sharing a bed is a big step, and Dani admits that she’s nervous. Levi pulls her close, and they hold each other all night while they sleep.

Levi gives Dani a dress that he bought her for the wedding. He has sewn a custom daisy label on the inside. He reveals that he got the New York Times job but turned it down for a teaching position in France. He doesn’t want to lose any more time with her, so he’s coming to Paris with her. Dani worries about him leaving Rhea and Claire, but Sarah and her new husband are moving to the city and will help Trish.

Dani visits her father’s grave on his birthday. She feels guilty for relying on the emails to grieve. She deletes the email drafts and vows to herself to visit his grave more often when she returns from Paris.

The day of Dani’s runway show arrives, and Levi brings her daisies. She’s taking a risk modeling her own clothes, but it feels empowering. The show is a success, and Dani’s mother, aunt, and friends are all there to witness it. She’s certain that her father is watching and is proud of her.

Three months later, Dani reflects on how her love for Levi has grown and matured since high school. They spend the summer before leaving for Paris catching up on all they missed over their four-year separation. Levi tutors Dani in French.

As they settle into life in Paris, Dani slowly makes friends and looks forward to her aunt and friends from home visiting. Paris Fashion Week approaches, and Dani and her classmates anxiously await the chance to be part of the iconic event. Levi’s teaching job keeps him busy, but he always makes a point of setting aside time for Dani.

Levi recounts his version of the kiss that he and Dani shared at the ball. He admits to having wanted to kiss her since high school. Once it happened, he was almost certain that Dani wanted it, too. He describes the moment: “It was home, she was home” (275). Hearing about the possibility of her moving to Paris was painful, but he began contemplating whether he could leave his family to be with Dani. Then, out of the blue, she ran away, leaving him even more confused.