Ellie has just returned home from her meeting with Jennifer and is reflecting on her relationship with John. In contrast to the passionate and soul bearing letters Jennifer received from Anthony she gets only the odd one-line text and “a host of noncommittal emails” (396). Sinking into a mood of self-pity and encouraged by several glasses of wine, she sends John an emotional text: “Please call. Just once. Need to hear from you. X” (396). Rory unexpectedly knocks on her door, asking if she’d like to go for a drink. She is too tired to go out, so he makes her a cup of tea instead and reads some of Anthony’s letters out loud to her. Rory then kisses her, and they have sex.

The next morning Ellie goes out to get coffee and croissants for them both. When she returns, Rory is getting dressed and leaving. He heard a message from John on the answering machine responding to Ellie’s earlier text. Rory says he doesn’t want to see someone who is sleeping with another person.