After having sex on the balcony during the storm, Poppy and Alex lie together soaked and happy, talking with an ease that shows how fully they have crossed into a new stage of their relationship. They both admit the experience felt uniquely intense, and when Poppy wonders whether it only happened because Nikolai’s air conditioner broke, Alex makes it clear that being with Poppy was inevitable; the broken AC only changed the location.

Their intimate moment is interrupted when Nikolai arrives. Poppy and Alex scramble to cover themselves before he lets himself in, and Nikolai confirms that the air-conditioning problem affects the entire wing of the building. Because repairs will not happen until the next morning, Nikolai apologizes and offers a refund for the last three days of the stay.

Poppy quickly decides they should leave and asks for a full refund so they can find somewhere else to stay. Nikolai warns that last-minute bookings may be expensive, but Poppy insists they will manage, and Alex supports her decision by joking that Poppy knows how to travel cheaply. The exchange turns their romantic high into a practical next step: they need to continue the trip somewhere else.

Before leaving, Nikolai gives them a folded note left outside for “the newlyweds.” The note is from Stacey and Bob, the neighboring honeymooners, who say they suspected Poppy and Alex were the passionate couple next door and are leaving behind an unused hundred-dollar spa gift certificate. Poppy and Alex are touched, then amused by the gift and by their mutual failure to remember the couple’s names sooner.

The chapter ends on playful, affectionate conversation as Poppy and Alex joke about anonymous friendships and reflect that this trip will be unforgettable. With the broken rental behind them and a surprise gift in hand, Poppy finally asks the practical question of what comes next: they need to find a hotel.