Five minutes before the banquet, Ryan and Indy finalize their cover story. When Indy emerges from her bedroom in a shimmering pink dress with a high slit, Ryan is momentarily speechless. She straightens his tie, and he compliments her makeup, which flusters her. Indy refuses a jacket, insisting her outfit deserves its moment in the spotlight.

In the car, Ryan spots paparazzi and tries to turn back to protect Indy’s privacy. She stops the driver and insists she wants to attend, joking that she is starved for attention. On the red carpet, Indy naturally handles the photographers while Ryan is stiff. She repositions his arm to her waist and asks him to kiss her cheek. He refuses and pulls her inside instead.

Inside, Kai Rhodes, a baseball player for the Warriors, is immediately drawn to Indy. Ryan possessively introduces her as his roommate and physically separates them when Kai holds her hand too long. After Kai leaves, Ryan explains that Kai’s ex left their infant son with him and disappeared.

Ron and Caroline approach. Ryan awkwardly introduces Indy as his girlfriend, prompting a look of disapproval from her. Indy charms Caroline while Ron watches Ryan skeptically, and Indy takes Ryan’s hand to close the distance between them. When Ron mentions that he graduated from Dartmouth, Indy says that’s her dream school. When Caroline asks how they met, Indy says Stevie introduced them. Ryan pulls her close and says they keep the details private. Caroline invites them to dinner the following week, and Indy accepts on their behalf.

Later, Ryan sits with Ethan and Annie Jeong, who know the truth about Indy and Ryan’s arrangement. Ethan reveals that, as team captain, Ryan is expected to host a team dinner every other month. Ryan is reluctant to have the players in his private space but ultimately agrees, and he insists that the Jeongs keep his arrangement a secret.

Still at the banquet, Indy reflects on the evening. Though Ryan was awkward, she enjoyed holding his hand but feels guilty because of her past with Alex.

Stevie joins her at the bar and explains Ryan’s reserved behavior protects his image, and Indy recalls Alex telling her to tone herself down or simply look pretty. Zanders shows Indy a text from Ryan asking him to watch her because other men are staring at her. Rio joins them and provokes Zanders by complimenting Stevie before Indy pulls him to the dance floor.

Rio reveals that he took ballroom dance lessons for six years to improve his skating. After two songs, he notices Ryan staring with obvious jealousy and tells Indy it looks genuine. He also reveals that Stevie told Zanders about the fake relationship, and Zanders told him.

Indy joins Ryan at a table. He gives her his jacket and interrogates her about Rio. She assures him they are just friends. When Stevie and Zanders join them, Ryan visibly relaxes and begins tracing the fabric on Indy’s thigh.

Indy confesses this is her first real date. She and Alex simply fell into a relationship without formal courtship. Ryan asks about Dartmouth, and Indy reveals she got in but stayed near Chicago for Alex, having learned to downplay her intelligence because men were often intimidated by it. Ryan becomes angry, cups her face, and insists that when she is with him, she should be her full self. Overwhelmed, Indy deflects by saying they need to work on his public acting. Ryan pulls back and agrees.

The day after the banquet, Ryan returns from practice consumed with thoughts of Indy and finds her on a video call with her parents, Abigale and Tim. Tim is deaf, and the family communicates through sign language. Ryan introduces himself, with Indy signing and Tim reading his lips. Tim asks if Ryan will watch after Indy, and Ryan promises he will. Indy explains the concept of a sign name, and Ryan finds their communication beautiful. After the call ends, he asks how he could learn sign language, and Indy offers to teach him.

Indy finds a pink coffee cup in the fridge, and Ryan explains that he made her coffee before practice and chilled it so ice would not dilute it. He also reveals he stopped ordering regular bacon and now only gets the vegetarian version for both of them. Indy gives him a warm smile, and Ryan briefly worries she is romanticizing his practical gestures before realizing he wants her to feel at home because he genuinely wants her there.

After a bad game, Ryan admits at the press conference that his team had too many turnovers. His poor performance stemmed from worrying about Indy driving for a rideshare service that night.

Zanders waits for Ryan outside the locker room and reveals he traveled to Nashville to speak with Ryan and Stevie’s father. He asks how Ryan feels about him proposing to his sister. Ryan gets emotional but gives his blessing. Ryan asks whether Indy is safe on the road. Zanders confirms she draws attention but is not interested in anyone romantically, adding that she seems happier lately. Then he laughs and points out that Ryan’s feelings for her are obvious.

Ryan arrives home to an empty apartment. He calls Indy repeatedly but only reaches her voicemail. Then he calls Stevie, who is unconcerned but agrees to text her. Indy finally responds, saying she is still working and will drive until the bars close to earn more money. When Ryan asks why she needs money so badly, Stevie says it is not her place to share.

Ryan waits on the couch until Indy arrives home near three in the morning. He admits he was worried about her safety, and Indy teases him about caring. To solve the issue, Ryan tells her she no longer has to pay rent and should put the money toward whatever she is saving for. He adds that, as his girlfriend, she should attend his games and mentions their upcoming overnight trip with the Morgans.

Indy notices the ice pack on his shoulder and offers a massage. The physical contact is intense for Ryan. He asks if she did this for Alex, and she says that Alex received plenty of attention from others. Indy confesses that Alex made her feel both inadequate and overwhelming at the same time. Ryan pulls her close and tells her she cannot diminish herself for someone else. Indy admits she is realizing Alex’s affection was more about display than genuine care.

They are inches apart, and Indy hints she wants their relationship to progress physically. When Ryan says he should go to bed, Indy whispers a plea for him to stay. Believing he cannot handle a purely physical relationship with her, Ryan stands and retreats to his room, concluding that one night with her would devastate him.

As they pack for the overnight trip with the Morgans, Indy complains about camping in winter while Ryan explains he is looking forward to time outdoors without public scrutiny. He notices the detailed embroidered doodles on her shoes that represent important people and places in her life and wonders what he would need to do to earn a spot on them.

In Ryan’s Range Rover, Indy questions why Ryan does not own more opulent vehicles. He explains he finds extravagance unnecessary and donates half his income to charity, primarily supporting Chicago public schools. Indy is visibly moved, and Ryan tries to downplay it by suggesting she assume it is for tax purposes.

They arrive to find Ron in full outdoor gear. Ryan briefly considers turning back, overwhelmed by an extended sleepover rather than a brief dinner, but Indy encourages him. Their cabin has glass walls and one bed. Ryan draws the privacy curtain and offers to sleep on the floor, but Indy insists they share.

As they prepare for dinner, Indy buttons his coat and suggests he work on casual public touching. They flirt, and Indy comments that if they were intimate, everyone would know because she is not quiet. Ryan has an immediate physical response and asks if she is trying to send him to dinner aroused. Indy notices and suggests it is one way to convince Ron they’re really a couple. Flustered, Ryan tells her he needs a minute alone.

Indy texts Stevie that she saw evidence of Ryan’s arousal and wants to sleep with him but will not. She joins the others at the fire, where Ron is grilling hamburgers. Indy worries about politely declining the meat until Ryan arrives with a cooler containing vegetarian patties, taking responsibility for not mentioning her diet. Annie remarks to Indy that her fake boyfriend is more considerate than her real husband.

After dinner around the fire, Ron asks about their plans for children. Indy chokes on her drink, and Ryan honestly admits they have not discussed it. He then invites her to sit on his lap. Under a blanket, his hand covers her thigh, fingers slipping between her legs, and Indy feels his accelerated heartbeat against her back. Caroline reveals she and Ron were unable to have children, which makes Indy think about her own fertility concerns.

Ryan inadvertently steers the conversation toward basketball, and Ron gently reminds him they are there to relax as family. Ryan stiffens, realizing his mistake. Indy saves him by announcing she has never seen him play in person, and Ron offers her his courtside seats for the next game. Ryan whispers his gratitude, and Indy replies they are a team.

She teases him with her dessert, and Ryan warns her not to make suggestive sounds while on his lap. He takes a bite, getting marshmallow on his chin. Indy wipes it away with her thumb, and Ryan captures her finger, cleaning it with his mouth in a charged moment. Indy reminds herself he is just acting as if he’s interested in her, albeit more convincingly now than at first.

Ryan opens the canvas on the cabin roof, creating a skylight. He finds Indy fresh from the shower, standing in a towel, and gazing at the stars. They accidentally collide, and her towel falls. Ryan holds her against him, hands on her bare back, and tells her to retrieve the towel. As she bends, she brushes against his arousal. Flustered, Ryan escapes to the shower, where he masturbates while fantasizing about Indy, then resolves to refocus on his career once they leave the campsite.

When he emerges from the bathroom, he finds Indy has left his side of the bed free of her usual pillow barrier. They get into bed, leaving space between them, until they hold hands. Ryan confesses he does care about her. Indy asks if he trusts her, and he says yes, adding that she makes him feel able to be himself, which means everything to him.

She asks why he doesn’t date. Ryan reveals his last girlfriend tried to get pregnant to secure child support. In return, Indy reveals she’s saving to freeze her eggs because she has Diminished Ovarian Reserve, a condition in which her eggs are aging faster than normal. She wants to have biological children and admits Alex made her feel desperate for this desire. Ryan, angry on her behalf, pulls her to his chest and tells her there’s nothing desperate about pursuing what she wants. Indy settles against him, resting her head on his bare chest. Ryan wraps both arms around her and traces patterns on her ribs as her breathing slows, then kisses her forehead.