Just for the Summer

Content Warning: This section includes discussion of panic attacks, anxiety, PTSD, depression, and past child neglect.

During a lunch break in the hospital cafeteria, Emma’s best friend, Maddy, shows her a Reddit post. The post originates from the AITA (“Am I the Asshole?”) subreddit, and the poster, Justin, asks if he’s the asshole for naming his ugly rescue dog after his ex-best friend. Like Emma, Justin has a streak of all his exes finding The One directly after dating him. His latest ex-girlfriend, Faith, continued this streak by settling down with his best friend and roommate, Brad. Brad has recently moved in with Faith, leaving Justin to cover the rent of their two-bedroom Minneapolis apartment. Unable to afford it, Justin moved into a cheaper studio in the same building, but unfortunately, its low price is because of the unsightly Toilet King plumber billboard just outside the apartment windows.

Maddy convinces Emma to DM Justin about their shared Good Luck Charm dilemma, as her past seven boyfriends have all gotten engaged within six months of their breakup. Maddy’s internet sleuthing locates Justin’s Instagram, which reveals that he’s a software engineer, his father died unexpectedly a few years ago, and he has three siblings, Alex, Chelsea, and Sarah.