Six summers earlier, Poppy and Alex take their Vail trip after Sarah agrees to it. Poppy is relieved that the unsettling spark from New Orleans seems to have faded, because she would rather preserve her friendship with Alex than risk losing him. They settle into an easy rhythm of biking, hiking, eating outside, and dancing together, and Poppy tries to view the trip as safely normal.

Even in that calmer atmosphere, Poppy notices new boundaries. Alex calls Sarah twice a day but keeps those conversations private, which makes Poppy feel that some parts of him are now closed off to her. While they are at lunch, Poppy remembers Lita from Tofino, contacts Buck for her information, and books a rafting trip with Lita, turning a stray memory into a new adventure.

The next day, Poppy and Alex meet Lita, who is sober, married, pregnant, and now living a much more settled life. On an easy beginner rafting route, Lita tells wild stories from her old Tofino days, and the outing becomes funny and unexpectedly reflective. When Lita talks about how people remain connected across time and distance, Poppy explains that travel comforts her because airports make her feel less alone in the world.

On the drive back, Alex is troubled by Poppy's admission about loneliness. Poppy reassures him that she has other people in her life and privately reflects that Alex's mailed stories have also kept her company. Alex then confesses that he did not even understand his own loneliness until he met Poppy, says she made him feel known, and promises that no matter how their relationship changes, he will always love her. Poppy tells Alex that she loves him too, but she keeps the full romantic depth of that truth to herself.

The next day, on a mountain hike, Poppy steps off the trail to take a photo, rolls her ankle badly, and cannot walk. Alex calmly checks the injury, comforts her through pain and panic, and jokes with her until she can laugh again. When it becomes clear that she cannot put weight on her foot, Alex lifts Poppy into his arms and carries her down the mountain, leaving her even more certain of how deeply she loves him.