Avery calls Max on the new phone Alisa arranged for her. Max answers enthusiastically and turns on the shower to keep her parents from overhearing, treating the burner phone like a spy operation. Avery admits she has missed Max and tries to apologize for how one-sided their friendship has become, but Max stops her.

Max asks whether anyone has tried to kill Avery recently. Avery hesitates, then reveals that someone left a bloody cow heart and a knife in her bedroom. Max demands the full story, and Avery brings her up to speed on the recent chaos.

After hearing everything, Max summarizes Avery’s situation: Toby may be alive and may be Avery’s father, the Hawthorne boys remain complicated, people are after Avery, and the woman involved in trying to have Avery killed is now connected to Ricky. The conversation then shifts when Avery remembers that Max’s birthday is the next day.

Avery asks how Max is doing, making a deliberate effort to focus on her friend. Max insists things are fine, but Avery recognizes that as untrue because Max’s ex exposed private photos to her parents after betraying her. Max mentions possibly going on a long mission trip, hinting that life at home or school has become difficult.

Max redirects the conversation with humor, then presses Avery about Jameson Hawthorne after seeing a photo of them together. Max tells Avery that Avery is good at protecting herself but is now allowed to want things and pursue them. The call leaves Avery with both renewed connection to Max and a challenge to consider what Avery actually wants.