Rebecca "Spud" Fry is a survivor. After recovering from a car crash where her entire family was killed, she's bounced back in a new way: as a YouTuber vlogging about her recovery. In between visits with her physiotherapist, and her best friend Josie West to watch movies, she vlogs and writes a book. It's simple, but it's a good life she never thought she'd be able to have again.
Josie West is the granddaughter of Cormac West, grocery store business magnate. Her family is powerful, large, and can't take no for an answer. And now, they're coming for her: on a weekend when Josie was supposed to watch movies with Rebecca, and record an episode of her podcast, her family comes knocking. Cormac's birthday is coming up, and there are family matters to attend to. Josie's been invited to the Outer Banks for vacation -- nonnegotiable -- but they also invited Rebecca, too. As her girlfriend. Josie's always had a crush on the older Rebecca, ever since they met in their physiotherapist's office, so being her girlfriend -- even pretend -- is the perfect way to travel. What could go wrong?
As the vacation progresses, more sides of the West family emerge. Both Rebecca and Josie must face their limitations, as individuals and within a group, in order to hopefully return home once again happily.
Josie left the theater on shaky legs. She walked up the stairs, and was shocked to find most of the lights of the house off. It was only ten at night, but with all the kids around, plus all the time in the sun the past little while, she shouldn’t have been surprised that everyone was tired. There would be planning for the party tomorrow, plus Cam had offered to go and get Cormac from the airport, and that was surely going to be a long ordeal. Everyone was so busy. Everyone had gone to bed.
When Josie entered the bedroom, it was dark. She flicked on the bedside light and saw nothing. She wondered if Rebecca had gone to the beach, or worse run away, and then she noticed the cracked balcony door. She stepped outside and found Rebecca there, looking out at the low roaring waves of the ocean.
"Hi," Josie said.
Rebecca nodded, smiled, and then looked at the landscape. "The night air feels so nice."
Josie put her hands on the railing, next to Rebecca's. The scene felt familiar. She wanted to touch her hands. She wanted to smoke, and then she was surprised when Rebecca said something similar, "I wish I smoked. Oddly."
"I was just thinking the same thing."
"Yeah?" Rebecca smiled. She paused for a beat. "Were we thinking of the same movie, then?"
Something familiar tugged in the back of Josie's brain. "Call Me By Your Name. Right?"
"Yes."
Josie remembered the scene now. When the couple was about to kiss, they went out on the balcony of their shared room and smoked, and then touched one another's hands. The couple was a gay couple, and it had been a beautiful movie. "I love it. I think it's one of my favourites."
"It's not horror, though."
"It's not," Josie said. She took a deep breath. "But I am very afraid right now."
Rebecca turned away from the road and looked at Josie. The moon was fuller, but did not cast too much light. Josie felt Rebecca’s stare, and then she felt her hand against hers. "Why are you afraid? I ... I want this too."
Josie opened her mouth. Rebecca's mouth met hers. They kissed -- and it was real this time. Mouths parted. Teeth ran against lips. And tongues, oh, Rebecca's tongue caressed hers. In a moment, it was gone, and Rebecca had pulled back. She surveyed Josie's face in the low light and smiled. "Are you still afraid?"
Josie nodded. But she also kissed, because now she knew what it felt like, and now she had all she wanted.
