Rolling Up the Welcome Mat

Marissa and Niall's whirlwind romance begins the night they meet at a party in June 2017, right before his solo career takes off. From that night forward, they find themselves swept up in an intense and passionate relationship, one that moves fast and sees them secretly getting married just a few summers later. However, by the time a year has passed, the cracks in their marriage begin to show, and they start questioning whether the "I do" should have ever been said.

As Niall's music career skyrockets, Marissa increasingly finds herself alone, watching her husband's life unfold through a phone screen while he's on the road. The distance between them becomes more than just physical, as Marissa begins to realize how one-sided their relationship has become. The feelings of neglect bring up old patterns from a previous relationship, making it clear that they can't keep saying everything is "fine" when it clearly isn't.

One evening, Niall comes home unexpectedly to surprise her, rekindling the sparks of what drew them together in the first place. But despite that momentary reminder of their love, Marissa can't ignore the fact that things have changed. The presence of Lauren, a figure in Niall's professional life, makes her realize that Niall seemed to love her more in the early days of their relationship than he does now. Feeling that the love between them has shifted, Marissa gives Niall a choice-one that ultimately leads to their separation.

The fallout forces their loved ones to pick sides, and as Marissa navigates the end of her marriage, she finds herself surrounded by people who were once close but now feel like strangers.