Poppy reflects that vacations let people become freer, looser versions of themselves, but her current trip has been shaped by nonstop rain instead of the sunny fantasy she wanted. On her last night in town, she ends up in a sticky locals' bar called BAR, looking for a specific man: her best friend, Alex Nilsen, who stands out immediately because he is reading on his phone, dressed too formally for the weather, and radiating quiet discomfort.

Poppy approaches Alex by pretending to be a flirtatious stranger at the bar. Alex responds with dry literalism and then turns the bit around on her, describing his terrible vacation companion in ways that clearly mean Poppy herself. Their banter reveals that Alex is recovering from a breakup with Sarah and that Poppy has decided to push him back toward dating rather than let him retreat into isolation. The exchange also shows their long-established rhythm: Poppy is impulsive and playful, while Alex is restrained, observant, and quietly funny.

As they sit together, Poppy reflects on how well she knows Alex beneath his controlled exterior. She thinks about his anxious family background, his repression, his hidden silliness, and the fact that he keeps taking annual summer trips with her despite disliking change. Poppy also admits how deeply she loves him as a friend and how much she wants him to be happy. When she suggests leaving, Alex pays, puts an arm around her shoulders, and easily returns her affection, confirming the depth and comfort of their bond.

Outside, Alex drives them back through the storm to their rental house on Sanibel Island. Their conversation shows that the week has been a failure as a glamorous beach vacation: the weather has kept them off the shore, and Poppy has barely gotten useful travel-blog photos. Instead, they have spent most of the trip hiding in bars, shops, and their bungalow, making small memories together. Because of that, Alex unexpectedly suggests they take a photo together in the car so they can remember the trip as it really was.

The picture Alex takes is terrible, but Poppy refuses to let him delete it because its ugliness captures their real, rain-soaked selves and the truth of the trip. In that small moment, both of them affirm that the memory matters more than appearances. The chapter ends with Alex proposing that next year they go somewhere cold and dry, and Poppy happily agrees, reinforcing their yearly travel tradition and the emotional importance these vacations hold for both of them.