Point of Retreat

On New Year’s Eve, Will Cooper begins writing in a journal, a resolution inspired by his late father. He reflects on the three years since his parents died in a car accident, which made him the sole guardian of his younger brother, Caulder. The responsibility forced Will to drop his university scholarship and brought an end to his relationship with his then-girlfriend, Vaughn Gibson.

Will recalls meeting Layken “Lake” Cohen the previous year. Their relationship was initially complicated by his role as her teacher, and their bond was soon tested by the death of Lake’s mother, Julia, from cancer. Looking forward, Will expresses his deep love for Lake and resolves to make the upcoming year perfect for them.

Will hosts dinner for his friends Gavin and Eddie, Caulder, and Lake’s brother, Kel, who invites their new 11-year-old neighbor, Kiersten, to join them. During their “suck-and-sweet” ritual (dinners when they discuss their days), Gavin announces his new job delivering pizzas, while Kel and Caulder confess to a school prank. After a debate about profanity, the group agrees to substitute the word “butterfly” for curse words.

Later, Will arranges for Gavin and Eddie to babysit so that he and Lake can have a private date night.