Alice plans to meet Theo Bouras at Fish Bowl for Cecil’s party. On her way, she exchanges texts with her mother, arranging a possible visit, and then arrives at the Bright-themed, packed venue. She orders a nonalcoholic drink and sits to wait for Theo. Hayden, also at the party, spots her and comes over; they banter about Cecil’s invitation and why Hayden attended.

Hayden begins to apologize “about the other night,” but Theo calls. Alice steps outside to hear him and learns Theo will not come, choosing to stay put before his flight. Disappointed and embarrassed, Alice decides to retrieve her bag and leave without explaining the real reason to Hayden.

When Alice hurries away, Hayden follows her onto the dark street and asks if she is okay. Alice snaps, accusing him of humiliating her and recounting his mixed signals: kissing her, rejecting her, and showing up at her date. Hayden, stunned, explains he thought she was joking about having a date because of the island’s demographics. He then insists he knows he initiated and stopped the kiss and says there is something he needs to tell her.

Hayden reveals that Margaret Grace Ives reached out to his agent after reading his book and asked to meet him for possible collaboration, meaning he did not find Margaret; she found him. Alice reels at the implication that Margaret may have already chosen him. Hayden says he felt bad and withheld this because Alice did the work of tracking Margaret down. Alice worries she is being used, but Hayden argues she would not be there if Margaret were not still open to her.

The tension turns physical: Hayden gently wipes Alice’s tears, they confirm neither has a partner, and acknowledge strong attraction. Though Hayden warns that a relationship cannot go well while they are competing, they kiss intensely against Alice’s car until passersby interrupt. Alice invites him over, but Hayden refuses, fearing it will compromise their work and lead to resentment.

They agree, tacitly, to prioritize the competition over pursuing the attraction—“maybe some other time” after the project. Before they part, Alice asks whether they could forgive each other if one wins; both recognize their pride might prevent it. As they separate, Hayden adds that Margaret lies to him too, suggesting both writers are receiving inconsistent or untruthful accounts.