Beach Read

Through their window notes, Gus apologizes for getting “weird” the previous night. January realizes she needs to proceed with caution because she understands how relationship-phobes function. They exchange phone numbers through their window notes but vow to continue writing notes anyway. January makes some progress on her book but takes a break to drop off some items to Goodwill. When she returns, she finally explores the beach.

While enjoying the breeze and the sand, January thinks about how alone she feels. She misses her dad, despite his flaws, and misses the connection she used to have with her mom. She misses having someone who loves her waiting at home for her, like when she was with Jacques. She even misses her quirky neighbors and laments the fact that Shadi is so far away. She feels like she has no one around except Gus. The thoughts weigh so heavily that she sits down in the sand and cries. She pulls herself together only because a seagull poops on her head. As she is heading back up to the house, she runs into Gus, who was coming to see her. Seeing her sadness, he embraces her tightly.

Later, January takes Gus to a drive-in playing a Meg Ryan triple-feature.