Overview

Hallie reels from Rio’s possessive demand to end her date and learns she was requested to lead a major full-home renovation—Rio’s project—jeopardized by their history. Under pressure from her firm to keep the client and facing mounting debts, Hallie seeks Rio out at team practice to plead for the job. Rio refuses on personal grounds despite a brief, warm reconnection, leaving the decision unresolved as he departs for a road trip.

Full Summary

Hallie vents internally about Rio’s “lose him” command and confirms she ended things with Brian on her own. At Tyler Braden Interiors’ team meeting, Tina announces Hallie was specifically requested for a full-house renovation by a client who loved Wren’s project; the client is a professional hockey player. Hallie, knowing it is Rio, declares a conflict of interest and declines, drawing visible disappointment from Tyler and envy from fellow intern Silas.

After the meeting, Tyler tells Hallie he wants to hire her long-term but needs more than one project to justify it, urging her to find work. Tina quietly advises that the real solution is to salvage this renovation, promising to stall reassigning it only until week’s end. Financial strain weighs on Hallie at lunch as she pays loans and tallies bills, convincing her she must try to reclaim the project to secure a path to full-time employment.

Hallie searches the team’s schedule, learns practices are open, and walks to the nearby rink. She waits near the players’ exit and is spotted when a teammate teases Rio about his old boombox. Rio freezes on seeing Hallie; teammate Zanders briefly probes, and Rio introduces Hallie only as his neighbor who moved in with Wren.

In a tense exchange, Hallie asks to lead his home renovation. Rio brushes past and refuses, but softens when she admits she desperately needs the job to secure her dream role at the firm. He counters that she should find work elsewhere—ideally in a different city—and reiterates he does not want her in his house after years apart and their painful history.

Coaches call Rio for departure; with a moment alone, he admits he thought he’d never see Hallie again and doesn’t want daily contact. A playful detour over his “classic” boombox and their old music tastes briefly revives their former ease, drawing mutual laughter and nostalgia.

Before leaving for the road trip, Rio tells Hallie he cannot give an answer yet, explaining that even five minutes with her feels like the past and he cannot let six months turn into that “after everything” between them. Hallie accepts the non-answer, emotionally depleted, and returns to work facing the risk of losing both the project and her future at the firm.

Who Appears

• Hallie Hart — intern designer; turns down Rio’s project due to history, then seeks him at practice to plead for the job; reveals financial stress and need for a major project to secure a full-time offer.
• Rio DeLuca — professional hockey player; requested Hallie for his renovation but refuses to work with her after recognizing her; shows lingering hurt and nostalgia; leaves for a road trip without deciding.
• Tyler Braden — Hallie’s boss; disappointed she declines the project; urges her to find more work to earn a permanent spot.
• Tina — Tyler’s operations lead; congratulates Hallie, then privately urges her to get back on Rio’s project and stalls reassignment until week’s end.
• Silas — fellow intern; resentful of Hallie’s opportunities, reacts smugly when she loses the project.
• Zanders — Rio’s teammate (number 11); notices the tension, greets Hallie, and leaves them to talk.
• Rio’s coaches — inform Rio of imminent departure for a road trip, prompting him to end the conversation.