The fourth episode of Season 3 of "The Summer I Turned Pretty" unfolds two weeks after the chaotic lunch revelation, where Belly and Jeremiah announced their impending marriage to their families. With the grand ceremony just four weeks away, Jeremiah is immersed in an internship under his father's wing, while Belly toils away at her restaurant shifts.
Today marks Belly's special day – her birthday! Jeremiah dials her number, his voice brimming with warmth as he extends his wishes. Their conversation drifts to the financial preparations for their wedding, painting a picture of young love striving against the odds.
After hanging up, Belly descends the stairs to find a delightful breakfast surprise awaiting her, orchestrated by her doting parents. She attempts to enlist Laurel's company for wedding dress shopping, but Laurel declines, her resolve unshaken in her belief that this wedding is a premature blunder.
Jeremiah, meanwhile, seeks a heart-to-heart with his father, only to receive a chilly reception. Matters worsen at work as he's labeled a "nepo baby," facing whispers of privilege. Despite this, he approaches Steven with an enthusiastic request to be his best man, with a caveat – for now, their arrangement must remain a secret.
Elsewhere, Taylor grapples with financial woes alongside her mother until Belly's call interrupts, inviting her to join in wedding dress hunting. Their quest leads them through regular stores, searching for that perfect white dress. After numerous tries, Belly stumbles upon her dream gown, yet her joy is tarnished by the absence of her mother by her side. Later, she confides in Jeremiah, wondering how they can navigate this journey without their mothers' support.
That evening, Jeremiah stages a surprise visit at Belly's home, bearing a cake and a meaningful gift – a key to the summer house. He also presents Laurel with flowers, hoping to broker a conversation about their wedding. But Laurel stands firm, urging them to at least postpone until after school. The discussion escalates into an acrimonious spat between Belly and Laurel, with Laurel's harsh words wounding deeply. Heartbroken and frustrated, Belly decides to vacate her family home for good.
The pair finds refuge in the Cousins' summer house. The next morning, they're astounded to discover Conrad already there, having secretly resided there the entire time. His lies about the summer job persist, promising it will commence shortly. Belly ponders returning to either of her parents' homes, but Jeremiah insists he's comfortable having her stay at the Cousins'.
Together, amidst the uncertainty and conflict, their love story continues to weave through the complexities of family, dreams, and the unforgiving march of time.
While jogging, Agnes called Conrad with thrilling news: he had secured the internship at Garth. Upon returning home, Conrad and Jeremiah, eager for adventure, headed out for a surfing session. During their time in the waves, Jeremiah steered the conversation towards the wedding, only to discover Conrad's misgivings about rushing into matrimony. Infuriated and feeling misunderstood, Conrad stormed back to the house and unloaded his thoughts to Belly.
Belly, distressed, quickly messaged her father, who confronted Laurel, urging her to allow Belly the freedom to navigate her own life's path. He made it unequivocally clear that should the wedding proceed, he would be present, standing by his daughter's side. Meanwhile, Conrad purchased a plane ticket, planning his return to the west.
Over the weekend, Steven and Denise found themselves working late in the office, an unexpected encounter that blossomed into a heartfelt connection. As Jeremiah prepared to return to work, Belly struggled to say goodbye, the reality of separation hitting her hard. Moved by the emotion, she decided to cancel her trip to Paris, opting instead to stay and be with Jeremiah.
Steven reached out to Taylor, sharing his latest findings on Scott. It turned out Scott had fraudulently opened lines of credit in Lucinda's name, saddling her with a mounting debt. Steven offered to help with the repayments, but Lucinda politely declined his assistance.
In the sanctity of her bedroom, Belly gazed upon her old debutante ball dress, memories flooding back. She recalled her first night in the room, exquisitely decorated by Susannah, yet overwhelmed by loneliness and fear. Laurel had comforted her, wrapping her in a reassuring embrace all through the night. Now, tears streamed down Belly's cheeks as she thought of her late mother. Conrad, en route to the airport and catching sight of her distress, chose to remain silent.
Back at home, Taylor confessed to Lucinda her decision to forgo the New York internship and had already contributed towards settling half of her mother's debt. Waking from a nap, Belly found a text from Jeremiah: Conrad had changed his mind and agreed to be the best man. Descending the stairs, she found Conrad still there, observing her and Jeremiah's evident happiness together. He had even baked her some birthday treats, which earned him a heartfelt hug from Belly. As she embraced him, Conrad couldn't help but wonder, "What have I done?"
