Jo takes Sebastian to Uncle Rick’s barge, the Marge, where his immediate joy is palpable through their telepathic link. They swim out rather than signal for pickup, and Sebastian orders a nonalcoholic specialty margarita, charming Uncle Rick. Jo realizes she is thinking of him again as “Sasha,” noting how natural it now feels between them.

They sit close on the rocking boat, with Sebastian steadying Jo by pulling her legs over his lap, heightening their mutual attraction. A charged moment nearly turns into a kiss before Uncle Rick delivers drinks and breaks the spell. They spend the afternoon floating, talking about Sebastian’s past—sneaking into bars to hear unknown bands, hating flying more than buses, tipping generously, sobriety since his Corvette crash, and his best friend in Renegade—while the shared melody grows louder in their minds.

Through small, intuitive gestures—water when Jo’s throat is scratchy, shifting into shade for Sebastian’s sunburned shoulders, tucking Jo’s hair, and using decoy names when onlookers stare—they grow comfortable. When Uncle Rick closes the barge, Sebastian avoids returning to his Airbnb, and Jo is torn between obligations at the Revelry and time with him. Sensing her crowded thoughts, Sebastian suggests they stay by the ocean to quiet her mind.

On the beach at dusk, Sebastian explains he often clears his head alone in a private box at the Fonda Theatre, sometimes prompted by a venue manager, Tania, who also convinced him to teach an after-school music program. Jo recognizes the loneliness in his routine and asks if he fears she wants something from him; he admits the fear and, more deeply, that he does not know what she would want.

Jo invites Sebastian to lean on her shoulder and promises she will not betray his trust. To reassure him, she tells him—knowing he can hear her thoughts—that she does not want anything from him and, if he wants it, the song can be his. Sebastian refuses to accept that outright but insists the song will not be terrible and shows unwavering confidence in Jo’s talent.

Curiosity about each other’s ordinary, intimate details grows for Jo, surprising and frightening her with its intensity. When Sebastian asks who is playing at the Revelry—a local Jimmy Buffett tribute—he suggests going. Jo worries about drawing a crowd but decides to use her keys and a back way in so they can continue the evening together.