Friday night, Lanie's Apartment

Kate tops off her wine glass before joining her friend on the couch. Before she sits, her phone vibrates with a text and Kate can't help but blush as she reads it.

Rick: Putting Alexis to bed for the night. I'd invite you over but I need my beauty sleep for our date tomorrow morning. Have a good night :)

"What's that look?" Lanie asks cheekily.

"Nothing, nothing, just–"

"Rick?" Lanie guesses.

"Yeah."

"You really do like him," Lanie smiles. "How are things going?"

"Well, he's taking me out to brunch tomorrow," Kate reminds her. "And I know we've only been a thing for a few days but I..."

"You what?"

"I think..." Kate sighs. "I think I might be in love with him?"

"Usually I'd call you crazy but Kate, I've never seen you this...happy before," Lanie says. "It's refreshing."

"C'mon, I'm not always gloomy," Kate says.

"No, but certainly not always this chipper, either," Lanie says. "I know you said the sex was amazing, but I can tell it's a lot more than that. There's a glow. A happiness glow."

"Fine," Kate obliges. "I am happy. Really happy. Rick makes me happy."

"Goes to show you really can't judge a book by its cover."

"Oh, no, I was still right about all those things I thought about him in the beginning," Kate laughs. "But there's a lot more to him, too."

"Kate, I know you don't rush into anything, let alone something serious, so what makes you so sure about him?" Lanie asks.

"I don't know," Kate admits. "Like you said, he really does just make me happy. He's so thoughtful and funny, and kind. He sends me 'good morning' and 'good night' texts and posts that 'remind him of me'. And I just feel so...safe. Like I can be all of myself around him. A guy has never made me feel like that."

"It's a pretty great feeling," Lanie agrees. "I'm happy for you, Kate. You deserve this."

"Thanks, Lanie," Kate smiles. "And, uh, thank you, for being such a great friend."

"Girl, you know I'll always be here for ya. Now, let's get you some sleep so you're well rested for your date tomorrow!"


Saturday morning, La Brioche Restaurant

She should've known. She should've freaking known. A nemesis that becomes a friend that becomes a confidant that becomes a lover, it was like a cheesy romance novel. Of course it had all been too good to be true.

It was 10:40AM on Saturday morning and Rick was humiliatingly late for their brunch date. Kate had texted and called more times than she'd be proud to admit, and reality was sinking in. He'd stood her up.

He'd really stood her up. Unbelievable.

How did he go from texting her about the date last night to not showing up for the date in the morning? She feels herself about to spiral and pulls together some logical explanations. Didn't he at least deserve the benefit of the doubt? What if something came up? What if there was some type of emergency with Alexis or his mother? Maybe he's dead in a ditch somewhere?

Stop it, Kate. Stop defending him. And the spiral begins.

She reminds herself that this is who he is: a habitually late, selfish, jerk. Even if he'd convinced her of the contrary recently, her gut instinct was never wrong. Yes, he was funny, compassionate, and kind, too. But that wasn't enough. She deserved better. She deserved someone who is there for her.

She hated him, a little. For showing her his funny, kind, compassionate side and then blowing her off. She hated him, a lot. For making her feel safe enough to share the darkest parts of her with him and then blowing her off. She hated him, most of all. For making her fall in love with him and then blowing her off.

After settling her bill, Kate walks back to her apartment for her backpack and then to Bobst where she finds an empty table on the first floor. She pulls out her laptop and navigates to the semester project she and Rick had nearly completed over the last few months. They'd planned on doing the finishing touches and sending it off to their professor today and Kate saw no reason not to do that. That way, she wouldn't have to ever see Rick again, and in that moment that was exactly what she wanted.

After an hour of proofreading, she downloaded the final draft and turned it in.

To Rick: Project's turned in. Please don't sit by me in class anymore.

She hits send on the text and then stuffs her phone in her pocket so she can walk home in peace, trying so hard to shut off her mind from the hurt and anger she felt brewing inside. It was for the best to just shut this down quickly. It wouldn't sting as much that way.

But then the worry starts. What if he really was dead in a ditch somewhere? What if there really was some type of emergency? Was she the asshole?

No, it was still him. He's not dead in a ditch and if there really was an emergency, he would have answered any of her many texts and calls. He was the asshole, always has been.

She arrives at her apartment before pulling out her phone again and just as she does, she receives a call from Rick. She hits ignore and begins ascending the stairs to her third floor walk up.

A text arrives as she rounds the first landing: I'm so sorry.

She scoffs a bit.

Another arrives as she rounds the next landing: Please don't hate me.

That ship has already sailed.

And the trifecta: Can you let me in?

Let him in? He's not...is he? Oh no. Kate looks up as she arrives on her floor. Down the hallway, she sees his figure knocking on her door. Trying to stay undetected, she quickly turns around and starts descending the steps again, but it's too late.

"Kate?" Rick calls out. "Kate, please! Please, just, talk to me?"

She stops in her tracks and turns back toward him. She can barely convince herself to look at him, but she glances up and says, "I don't have anything to say to you."

"That's fair," Rick acknowledges. "I know that you don't owe me anything, but at least let me apologize?"

"Okay," Kate says. She crosses her arms and waits for his apology.

"Oh, um, could we...at least?" Rick gestures toward Kate's apartment, hoping not to have to continue to make a scene in the narrow hallway. Wordlessly, Kate shrugs but unlocks her apartment and pushes the door open. She gently tosses her backpack on her couch and then takes a seat in the kitchen, softly rubbing her temples to ward off the tension headache that was forming. Rick paces, not sure if he should sit too.

"Stop pacing it's stressing me out," Kate tells him.

"Right," Rick says. "Can I?" He places a hand on the chair next to Kate and she nods, so he takes a seat. He reaches for her hand, but she doesn't grab hold of his, so he just starts talking. "So, I accidentally stood you," he chuckles nonchalantly.

"Is this a joke to you?" Kate scoffs.

"Not, not at all. I'm so sorry. Like insanely sorry. I have absolutely no excuse. I just overslept," Rick says.

"You overslept? You have an infant. How did you oversleep a 10AM brunch?"

"So basically, after I texted you last night, Alexis had a hard time getting to sleep, so we were up pretty late and then she finally went down so I started getting ready for bed too but then I started thinking about how much I was looking forward to seeing you and that's when I got a scene idea for my new book. I started writing and before I knew it, it was like 4AM. Meredith came at 7:30 to get Alexis but I was still pretty tired from being up so late so I decided to go back to sleep, but the alarm I set for 8:45 was for 8:45PM instead of AM so I didn't wake up until you sent me the text about the project being finished. It's so stupid, but that's what happened."

"Yes, that is really stupid," Kate agrees.

"So, do you...forgive me?" Rick asks.

"Rick..."

"Cuz, I really am so sorry. I never meant to hurt you," he says.

"Well, you did. You really freaking did," Kate tells him. "So, sure, I forgive you for the mistake, but I don't think it's a good idea for us to be together."

"What? Kate, I...you want to break up?"

"Yes," she confirms. "I think that's what's best for me. It took a lot for me to put myself out there at all, and I know it wasn't on purpose, but this morning was so freaking embarrassing. And if it was the first time something like that happened I'd maybe be able to move past it, but like, it's a pattern for you to not be there when you say you will and I just really can't deal with that right now."

"Kate, I understand, but your birthday party, I didn't have anyone to watch Alexis, I couldn't..."

"I know, Rick. I know. And I'd never want you to be in a spot where you feel like you're choosing between me or your daughter, but with everything going on with all my...stuff, I just feel really vulnerable and I need someone who can always be there when they say they will," Kate says. "And I know that you have a greater responsibility that can sometimes keep you from being there, so it's just easier to end it now, before anything gets too serious."

"Kate, I am already serious about you," Rick says. "Serious as a heart attack and—"

"Rick, please..." Kate gulps back tears. "I think you should leave."

"Kate, please don't do this," Rick pleads, his cheeks now stained with tears also.

"I can't," Kate sobs. "Please just get out, okay?"

He stands up from the kitchen table, not wanting to go but not wanting to upset her more. She follows him as he slowly walks to the door. He turns to face her as he stands in the entryway. He softly wraps his arms around her and kisses her forehead as tears trickle down both of their cheeks.

"I'm so sorry, Kate," he whispers to her one more time.

"I know," she replies, reaching her hands up to hold his arms into the hug a bit longer.

Then she lets go, and he does too.