Scarlett receives a text from Mei, saves her contact, and asks for help reviewing armstand videos. With NCAA men and women competing separately, she notes the women will compete at home in Avery for the first time. The swimmers are tapering, and Pen drops by for coding help, feeling steadier and blocking Theo’s number. Pen describes Lukas’s restless taper habits, prompting Scarlett, who misses him after weeks apart, to text him.

Lukas replies instantly and invites Scarlett to Maples Pavilion, where a casual volleyball game is underway. Scarlett joins Lukas and Johan and meets Dora from volleyball. There is playful banter and Swedish asides. Johan privately reveals that months ago Lukas said Scarlett was out of his league. Lukas then takes Scarlett’s hand, and they leave together; outside, he kisses her, both of them abandoning recent distance.

They find an empty meeting room. Lukas stops Scarlett long enough to ask for honesty, insisting what they share is more than sex. Scarlett begins to admit her feelings, and they have tender, equal sex, lingering and careful. Lukas asks to say what he feels; she begs him not to, needing to settle things, especially regarding Pen. Overcome, he nevertheless says it in Swedish, and she, overwhelmed, cannot fully reciprocate but tells him she must make things right first. He accepts this, gentle and patient.

As they dress, Lukas’s phone buzzes: Pen is sobbing. He calms her enough to learn where she is, then grabs Scarlett’s hand. Together, they leave immediately to go get Pen.