Love Affair

Love Affair is the seventh episode of the second season of The Summer I Turned Pretty. It is scheduled to premiere on August 11, 2023 on Prime Video.

Synopsis[]

Some hangovers are worse than others. Belly wakes up to a reminder of the mistakes she made last night. But is it too late to fix everything?

Plot[]

Laurel wakes Belly up, having gotten her panicked voicemail, which Belly doesn't remember leaving. Laurel is furious that Belly lied for days and is done with her. She won't let Belly use Susannah as an excuse anymore. They have a brutal argument that ends with Laurel slapping Belly across the face for saying that Susannah wouldn't forgive Laurel for abandoning her boys. Belly runs out of the room and the Fisher boys emerge from their room.

Jeremiah finds Belly on the beach and gives her company at her request. He's sorry about what happened with Laurel. Belly believes everything's a mess. She knew that Jeremiah and Conrad talked in the fall about her, but she had no idea that he came to Jeremiah to beg for his blessing. Jeremiah doesn't want to talk about it right now, and she apologizes. She keeps trying to make things right but is messing up. He assures her it's not just her. He and Conrad are mad at each other for a lot of things. She starts to defend Conrad but Jeremiah asks her not to. She tells Jeremiah that whatever he thinks he saw last night, he's wrong. There's nothing left between her and Conrad. Jeremiah knows there will always be something between them. Belly wonders if her mom was right and maybe they should all go home.

Laurel finds the kitchen a mess and the graffitied wall. She confronts Steven and Conrad about the condition of the house, believing they moved Susannah's belongings. They tell her about Aunt Julia and the situation with the house. Laurel thought Susannah spoke to her lawyers about the situation before she died, which angers Steven because Conrad had to find out from a For Sale sign. Conrad's father knew but did nothing to help them. Everyone came to work something out with Julia but failed. Conrad repeats Laurel's sentiment that at least his mom isn't there to see it, and leaves the room. Steven knows they messed up, but at least Belly was there for everyone, unlike Laurel.

Jeremiah and Belly walk back to the house to find Laurel on the porch, wanting to talk. Jeremiah heads inside to start cleaning. Laurel and Belly sit on the porch. Laurel apologizes for hitting her, which is something she never did before. Everything Belly said before was right - she has been angry that Susannah isn't there anymore. She didn't let herself feel it because if she let it out, all the other stuff would come out too, which Belly understands. Laurel thought she was doing the right thing by being strong for everyone, but was wrong. She should have been there for Belly or let someone be there for her. Belly tearfully asks if Laurel forgives her, which is an instant yes. They embrace each other, have forgiven one another, and cry together.

Taylor, Steven, Jeremiah, and Skye clean up the kitchen when Laurel comes in. Laurel apologizes for not being there for everyone. Her biggest mistake was thinking Beck and Julia came to an agreement before Beck died. She wants to talk with Julia and see if something can be done. Jeremiah hugs Laurel as thanks. Skye suggests that they make the house look less shitty before Julia gets there.

Later in the day, Taylor decides to leave as the situation is more of a family thing. She asks Steven to drive her to the bus station, but he refuses, instead giving her his car keys to drive herself. When he walks off, Belly asks what the situation is between them. Taylor isn't sure yet but knows Steven's obsessed with her. She tries to convince Belly to come to camp, which an entering Jeremiah questions. He tells her not to worry about the house as they'll figure it out. She wants to see it through and he leaves the room. Taylor wants to make sure Belly is looking after her heart and not just others. Belly assures her that she's got it. Steven kisses Taylor goodbye in the driveway and she speeds off.

Julia comes into the house as everyone is cleaning. She's horrified at the condition of the house. Laurel asks Julia if they can chat outside while the kids clean up. They head to the dock where Julia recalls her father trying to force her to swim despite her fear of water. Laurel knows that Julia and Beck had their issues, and the kids made the situation worse, but Susannah loved the house. The boys' grief and the house are tangled up in one another. She's hoping Julia will back out of the sale. Julia doesn't believe Beck wanted to talk to her. She found out about the cancer in a letter about the trust. Laurel insists it wasn't a conversation Beck wanted to have with anyone. Julia admits Susannah wanted her to keep the house in the family, which baffles Julia as the family never did anything for her. Her parent's divorce was a war and she was always in the middle. Her dad married her stepmother six months after the divorce. According to her mom, it was Susannah's job to make her dad care enough to give child support. Susannah never listened when Julia tried to tell her. Julia never felt part of the house or family, since Laurel was always there with her kids. That wasn't Laurel's intention, which Julia knows. It's also not on Susannah - it's just being there in the house stirred up things she thought she got over. She couldn't bring herself to write Susannah back or get on the plane for the funeral. Laurel assures her it's not too late to make it right.

The kids are inside cleaning when Laurel and Julia return. Julia's decided to pull out of the sale, which thrills everyone. Jeremiah picks up Belly in a hug while Skye embraces their mom. However, they still have to convince Adam to buy the house from Julia.

Conrad takes the trash out at the same time as Belly. He opens the lid for her and they stand awkwardly. She's almost afraid to say it out loud, but she's feeling hopeful. Her mom's good at schooling Adam. Conrad thanks her for calling Laurel, as it's good to have her helping out. He wants to talk about last night, which was a blur for her. He admits she's right that he shouldn't have ended things the way he did. He thought he was doing the right thing by her. His going through a lot wasn't an excuse. He hates the thought of her regretting what they did the night spent at the house. It hurts to think about that night, but she doesn't regret that or any of the times they were together. She loved him and she knows he loved her too. If he could go back and do things differently, he would. They both hurt each other a lot and don't want to hurt each other again. She wants to at least try not to hurt each other again, offering to be friends. They hug before she goes back inside.

Skye finds Julia in one of the rooms. Julia wonders if she's crazy for giving the deal up. Skye assures her that she's sane, and adds they don't plan to disown her. Julia is proud of Skye for standing up for themselves but doesn't want Skye to make a habit of disagreeing with her. It's been a weird week, but a fun one. Julia wants to know everything. Skye admits to dancing, making an apple bong, and having their first kiss. Giddy over the information, Julia presses for more information.

Adam walks into the house and greets Laurel in the kitchen. The kids are giving them space so they can have an adult conversation about the house. Unbeknownst to them, the kids are around the corner, eavesdropping. Adam thinks Laurel came all this way to back him up, but she didn't. Julia comes into the kitchen to announce she changed her mind about the sale. As the conversation heats up, Conrad is ready to go in, but Jeremiah grabs his arm. He suggests Conrad let someone else try to solve a problem for once. Adam isn't going to let the boys squander their trust to let them buy the house. Laurel wants him to move some money around to buy it for them for fair market value. Laurel tries to interject, but Adam tells her to shut up as she's not part of this house. Conrad walks out of the other room to confront his father. Adam thought it would be best for everyone to let this place go. Being there is hard for him because Susannah is everyone there. Laurel reminds Adam how much Susannah loved him, and that she set her mind on Adam and making the house special for their kids. Jeremiah asks him to please do this. Adam won't let them use their trusts, but if they sell the Boston house it could give them enough, as he can't afford both houses. He asks if this is what they want, and the boys agree that it is.

Conrad walks to Jeremiah on the beach. Conrad knows Jeremiah is still pissed at him for last night. Jeremiah should have told him how he felt or had been feeling, about everything. Conrad assumed he would be fine because everything rolled off Jere's back. He should have looked harder and apologized. Jeremiah doesn't want to be the guy who's smiling all the time whether he's happy or not. Conrad is still surprised both Jeremiah and Belly laid into him on the same night. It was almost funny, but he knows he deserved it. He and Belly are friends now. But he doesn't want to keep fighting with Jere because they're all they have. They agree to talk about everything from now on. Conrad reveals he got into Stanford. He didn't want to say anything because he didn't want Jeremiah to think he was deserting him. He's not going and will stay at Brown.

The boys walk back to the house to say goodbye to Adam, who is heading back to Boston to get things in order. He apologizes to his sons for not being the best dad or husband. Conrad thanks him for helping to save Mom's house, and they hug before he leaves. Now alone, Jeremiah tells Conrad not to give up on his dream of going to Stanford just for him. Conrad knows he'll get his acceptance pulled for not going to his final tomorrow, let alone now that he's behind on studying. Jeremiah plans an all-night study session to get him ready.

Skye and Belly talk on the way out of the house about Cam, and Skye is “Team Cam-Cameron”. Laurel hopes Julia and Skye come out soon, and Julia is happy about the idea. Jeremiah asks Laurel to let the kids stay for one more night to help Conrad study for his finals, and she agrees. Julia gives Laurel the hotel room for the night. Conrad gives Skye food as a parting gift. Conrad tells Belly she doesn't have to do this. She knows how much Stanford means to him after he made her proof his essay five times. She wants to help. He goes back inside while she silently vows this will be the last thing she does for Conrad Fisher. Once he's there, maybe they can finally let each other go.

Steven eats the bacon on the counter which Jeremiah reminds him has been sitting out for a long time. Conrad comes in, exhausted, and they could all pass out on the counter. Belly tries to rally everyone but the boys want a power nap. Jeremiah appeals to her for a one-hour power nap. He calls her an angel, but she tells him to go before she changes her mind. While the Fisher boys sleep, Belly pulls Steven out for a mission.

That night, Belly wakes up Conrad with a spray bottle, but it doesn't work on Jere, who Conrad remarks can sleep through a tidal wave. She dumps the water on his head instead. He rolls over with a smile to say good morning. She let him sleep for an extra half hour. He wraps himself over her back as she leads him to the kitchen. The counter is covered in McDonald's food, coffee, and treats as part of a reward system. Conrad smirks and asks what else he gets, but Belly says that it's just the food. The group launches into their study session and Belly tosses out burgers to everyone when Conrad answers correctly. When everyone's energy dips, Belly plays a song Susannah loved and pulls Conrad up for a dance break. He refuses as he doesn't dance. Jeremiah, Steven, and Belly dance it out and Conrad eventually joins in. Belly never would have pictured this. It's different than if Susannah was here, but she thinks Susannah would approve. It feels pretty magical to her.

Belly wakes up in the middle of the night and sees Jeremiah, asleep on a blow-up pool float. She notices Conrad is missing and finds him outside on a pool chair. He remarks on Venus being an evening star, which is giving him hope. It's hard knowing how much he messed up with school. She knows he'll figure it out. If he's lucky enough to get another chance, they'll do anything they can not to mess it up again. She looks over at the house and starts telling him about her having feelings, only to realize he's asleep.

Laurel pulls up to the beach house and walks the backyard, remembering her time with Susannah. Laurel was working on her book while Susannah hounds Laurel to let her read it soon, teasing her that she doesn't know how much time she has left. She knows Laurel is trying to draw it out. But no amount of magical thinking will change what's happening. If she takes too long to finish the book she'll be destitute and Susannah will be long gone. Susannah hugs her friend and teases that if Laurel's sales don't skyrocket when she dies, she'll be pissed. They love each other. In the present day, Laurel wipes her tears and goes inside.

Jeremiah asks Belly if she's ready to go. She is but they have to do one more thing. The kids pose for a picture in front of the beach house. Jeremiah and Belly run off while Steven talks to Conrad, who thanks Steven for being there. Steven asks if Conrad is going to tell Belly. He wants to but doesn't know if he should. Steven admits that a few days ago things would be different, but today, he can't wait to see Taylor again. That's all to say that people change. If Conrad loves her, then he should tell her how he feels.

Laurel gives Belly a tray of coffee for her drive to Brown. She's not off the hook for lying, but Laurel is proud of her and knows Beck would be too. They hug and Belly bellows that she's coming with them. Conrad walks over to Laurel, who makes him promise to bring Belly home after the exam. He asks if she's still coming to the beach house, and Laurel promises he couldn't get rid of her if he tried.

Steven tells Belly that he's proud of her and that she did well. He reminds her to trust her gut in every regard. The group makes a plan to get back to the beach house for the fourth. The guys look at Belly and want to do a belly flop one last time. She agrees and they carry her to the pool, throwing her in. Jeremiah jumps in after her, and it isn't long before Steven and Conrad join them. They splash each other, play, and hold hands.

Conrad, Jeremiah, and Belly get into the car to start their drive to Brown. She looks out the window at the Beach House. Once on the highway, Jeremiah asks if she's cold but she likes it chilly. Conrad gives her a Brown sweatshirt that she puts on. She decides to play a song to bring up the mood. She and Jeremiah sing along while Conrad grumpily tries to study in the backseat. He eventually smiles and joins them in the song, calling them idiots. They arrive at Brown where Jeremiah and Belly wish Conrad luck. Jeremiah offers to show Belly around Finch since her guidance counselor said it was a good idea for her. She's surprised he remembered.

They spend the afternoon walking around Finch, doing cartwheels, selfies, piggyback rides, and laughing in the quad. She buys a Finch sweatshirt and they go to the trophy room. He asks if she's picturing one with her name on it, and she is. She pulls him into the gym to look at the volleyball championships. He knows she misses playing and she admits to it. She'll never be a super genius like Steven, but volleyball was something she was really good at. He knows that she is really good and could play at Finch if she wanted to. She decides to ask her coach if she can get back on the team when she gets back. He calls her hard to resist. He has selfish reasons for wanting to see her play at Finch, too. She could see herself there. She can see the two of them running around campus and him coming to all her games. Their late-night study sessions with 2AM pizza. They share a moment before he suggests they go back.

Jeremiah is quiet during the drive back. Once in the parking lot, they both lean against the car. Belly asks if he'll ever give her a second chance. If he falls for her again, he doesn't think he could take it if she changes her mind like last time. She wouldn't do that because it's different now. They aren't the same people they were - they grew up. She spent so much of her life dreaming of what it would be like to be with Conrad. But dreams aren't real, and now she wants something real. She turns his head to her. She wants him and asks if he he still, and he does. They kiss passionately against the car until the sound of someone clearing his throat stops them. They look up to see Conrad staring at them.