After Ryle gives Lily the apartment keys, Lily considers returning home but cannot make herself enter the building. The apartment, Allysa’s proximity, the kitchen, and the bedroom all feel tied to Ryle’s violence, so Lily goes back to Atlas’s house, which feels like her only safe place. When Allysa texts, Lily lies that she is in the emergency room because she hit her head at work, then realizes she is hiding the truth the way her mother once did.

Two unfamiliar men arrive at Atlas’s door for their regular Friday poker night. Lily, frightened at first, confirms with Atlas that Darin and Brad are friends and lets them in rather than forcing Atlas to cancel. When Darin asks about Lily’s injury, Lily bluntly tells the truth about Ryle’s attack, her stitches, her pregnancy, and her hiding at Atlas’s house; Brad’s oddly practical response breaks the tension and makes Lily laugh.

Jimmy arrives, and Lily joins the poker game, finding the group’s teasing and irreverence unexpectedly distracting. When Atlas gets home, he is surprised to see Lily laughing with his friends and becomes protective when he hears how much Lily has told them. Lily reassures Atlas that their joking makes the situation feel less heavy, then learns more about Atlas’s restaurant circle and wonders about his supposed girlfriend, Cassie.

Lily casually asks whether Cassie usually attends poker night, and Darin reveals that Atlas has no girlfriend and has never mentioned anyone named Cassie. Jimmy’s question forces Atlas to admit that Cassie does not exist. After the friends leave, Lily confronts Atlas, hurt and confused because Atlas’s lie may have kept Lily from choosing him before Lily became deeply involved with Ryle.

Atlas explains that he once returned for Lily after leaving the Marines. Atlas found Lily at college, saw Lily laughing with friends and kissing another man, and decided Lily was happy and deserved more than Atlas could offer, so Atlas reenlisted. Atlas also admits he lied about Cassie when Lily later appeared happy with Ryle, partly from jealousy and partly because Atlas did not want to disrupt Lily’s life.

Overwhelmed by Ryle, the pregnancy, and the unresolved feelings for Atlas, Lily asks Atlas to take her back to her apartment. Atlas checks the apartment for safety, and Lily tells Atlas that she has too much to overcome and cannot heal with Atlas actively in her life. Atlas accepts the boundary but says Lily should only call in an emergency because nothing between them can be casual. After saying goodbye, Atlas returns briefly, embraces Lily, and tells Lily that if she ever falls in love again, she should fall in love with him because Lily will always be his favorite person.