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After that cliffhanger last week, I was dying to see how we’d start this episode. I mean, is Conrad still just sitting in the parking lot, totally wrecked, wondering why he ever let Belly go. Is he realizing how he’s probably lost her for good? Or maybe, Belly and Jeremiah finally came to their senses and decide to slow down and actually listen to their parents?

Nope. We open with Belly putting a Band-Aid on her heel. Not exactly what I had on my bingo card, but okay, Jenny Han, I trust you. (Symbolism, maybe? Band-Aid on a broken heart? Trying to cover up the emotional mess of their engagement with something simple?)

Jeremiah’s interning at Adam’s office, and Adam leaves a pacifier on his desk because apparently everyone’s calling him a nepo baby. Which, fair, but honestly, I’d call him a baby for other reasons. Like, not graduating on time because he didn’t read an email? Or thinking the best way to fix cheating was to propose? Make it make sense. 

So, it’s been two weeks. Laurel refuses to even acknowledge the wedding. Adam’s not budging either. And Steven? He’s offering zero help convincing their parents. So yeah, we know where everyone stands. Meanwhile, I’m over here wondering how Conrad is even functioning. If anyone needs a decade to process this, it’s him. After all, it’s been 4 years and he still hasn’t been able to move on from Belly, so he might need a lifetime to unpack that he may have actually lost her this time. 

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Belly’s working double shifts trying to save for this wedding. And what does Jeremiah do? Sends her just enough money for one round of drinks for her and Taylor for her 21st. One round. Really, Jere? You couldn’t spring for round two? We know Conrad would’ve.

Belly asks Laurel to go dress shopping and Laurel gives her a very hard no. Like, zero hesitation. She’s made it very clear she’s not supporting this marriage. Also, I’m calling it now, Denise and Steven? Something is definitely happening there. That is not just workplace banter. So I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot more of her this season, might even be his plus one to the wedding…if it happens.

Jeremiah asks Steven to be his best man and for a second I was like, wow, he forgot about Conrad? But then he said “co-best man,” so okay. Points for remembering. Steven, of course, immediately flips his stance on the wedding once he gets a title. Now he’s all in, already planning the bachelor party.

Wedding dress shopping is emotional. Belly’s clearly crushed her mom’s not there, but she’s got Taylor and Taylor’s mom. And then the dress moment hits, everyone tears up and it’s really sweet. (Even though, as a Team Conrad girlie, I selfishly hope she never wears that dress, unless it’s at their own wedding.)

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Outside the shop, Belly calls Jeremiah crying because she really thought Laurel would come around. Instead of just being there for her, Jeremiah brings up how his mom isn’t around either. While I feel for Jeremiah, maybe read the room? This moment was about Belly. He could’ve just tried to console her rather than make it about him.

But okay, I spoke too soon. Jeremiah drives a few hours to come see her. He brings a gift, a key to the summer house and tells her it’ll be hers in six weeks. I won’t lie, that was precious. And the best part? He came to talk to Laurel and try to convince her to get on board. He knew that would mean the world to Belly.

He gives Laurel this heartfelt speech about how yeah, maybe they’re rushing, but he knows Belly is his person. He says Susannah would’ve supported them because she believed family was the most important thing, and what better way is there to become family than this wedding. Laurel shuts it down. She says they’ll unfortunately never know what Susannah would’ve thought, and that she still won’t support it. She loves them, but she doesn’t think they’re ready for forever.

Laurel makes it very clear she won’t be at the wedding. That leads to a massive fight and Belly storms out. She’s done being told what to do. Then, Belly and Jeremiah head to Cousins, and surprise: Conrad is there. The moment he and Belly lock eyes? It’s like they’ve seen a ghost, but the yearning in his eyes says it all. The tension? Unmatched. You can’t tell me those feelings are gone. Everyone thought he went back to California. Turns out he’s been hiding out at the beach house, avoiding everyone. And it’s obvious he’s not taking the engagement well at all.

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Jeremiah finally pulls Conrad aside and asks him to be co-best man, and Conrad immediately changes the subject. Then he straight-up says maybe they shouldn’t rush into this wedding. Jeremiah, not having it, says if Conrad can’t stand beside him for real, then he doesn’t want him there at all.

Meanwhile, John tries to convince Laurel not to miss Belly’s wedding. He tells her that sometimes, you have to let your kids make their own mistakes. He even brings up their own marriage and says he knows she sees it as a regret, but she clarifies: It wasn’t marrying him that was the mistake, it was doing it all too young. She never found herself first. And she doesn’t want Belly to lose that part of herself, too.

Then comes the bombshell: Belly’s not going to Paris anymore. She says she doesn’t want to be away from Jeremiah that long after the wedding. And Jeremiah? Relieved. He didn’t want her to go anyway. (And once again, I say: Conrad would’ve told her to chase her dream.)

Steven finds out Taylor’s mom’s ex opened credit cards in her name and now she owes $10k. And Steven, who in my opinion has had a massive glow-up this season (and I’m not just talking about his maturity btw, if you know what I mean), offers to pay half to help Taylor’s mom keep her business. Taylor, being a selfless daughter, gives up her New York internship to help her mom with the debt. 

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Still waiting on some more Bonrad flashbacks or moments, Jenny Han. I’m begging and getting sort of impatient. Conrad literally has his bags packed, flight booked, ready to head to his new job and then he sees Belly crying over how unsupported she feels. And in that moment, you see it all on his face. He can’t leave her like this. She’s hurting, and he loves her. Always has and always will.

Conrad decides to stay. He agrees to be the co-best man. He says he’s supportive now, not because he actually is, but because he saw how much Belly needed someone. Even if it breaks him, especially meaning that he loses her forever once they do get married, he’ll do it, for her if it means seeing her happy. 

Oh, and Conrad made her muffins as a belated birthday gift and when she seems surprised, he reminds her he always remembers. She hugs him to thank him and the look in his eyes says it all. He’s still so in love with her he can’t even hide it. And then we get the final line: “What have I done?” We finally get a glimpse into how hard all of this is for him. And could it be? Are we finally getting Conrad’s perspective next episode? I really hope so. Guess you’ll have to tune in next week to find out. Goodbye for now. 

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