The Dixon Rule

Diana rides back to her apartment complex with Gigi and Gigi’s friend, Mya Bell, fuming over Shane’s decision to meet with Lynsey despite her plea not to. She vents about the situation, with Gigi defending Shane, insisting he’s completely into Diana. However, Mya takes an outsider’s perspective, pointing out that Shane’s choice to speak with Lynsey doesn’t look good, especially after Diana confessed her feelings.

As they pull into Diana’s apartment complex, the mood shifts when they spot Percy’s car parked out front—a clear violation of the restraining order Diana filed against him.

Shane meets Lynsey at a pub, where she confesses that she misses him. Skeptical, Shane points out the timing of her feelings, noting that she only seems to miss him now that he’s with Diana. He accuses Lynsey of treating him like an accessory in their relationship, where he gave everything and received little in return. When Lynsey dismissively refers to Diana as an “airhead cheerleader,” Shane defends her, praising Diana’s ambition and success in everything she pursues. He tells Lynsey their relationship revolved entirely around her, with him making all the compromises. He ends the conversation, firmly stating that they broke up for a reason and he’s happy with someone else now.

After leaving the pub, Shane tries calling Diana, but she doesn’t answer. Gigi doesn’t pick up either. Growing uneasy, he contacts Ryder, who reveals that Diana and Gigi never showed up at Malone’s. Alarmed, Shane rushes back to Meadow Hill, where he sees a police cruiser parked outside the apartment complex.

Shane rushes into Meadow Hill, fearing something has happened. At Diana’s apartment, Gigi answers the door and explains that Percy was outside when they arrived. They called the police, who dealt with him, and Diana is now in the shower. When Diana emerges, Gigi and Mya leave to give them privacy.

Shane confesses his love for Diana, admitting that he only met with Lynsey to confirm his suspicion that their relationship wasn’t as good as he once thought. He reassures Diana that he made it clear to Lynsey they’re never getting back together. Calling Diana his real girlfriend, Shane expresses how much she means to him.

When the conversation shifts to Percy, Diana explains that the restraining order wasn’t written clearly enough, allowing him to avoid consequences on a technicality. Shane is frustrated by the situation but focuses on being there for Diana.

Diana and Shane spend Thanksgiving with each other’s families. During their visit to Shane’s family, he notices his mother in a quiet, solemn mood. Curious, Shane finds his father in his study, sorting through an old cardboard box. His dad gives him his Chicago jersey, and Shane asks him to sign it before officially passing it on. While chatting, his dad mentions how happy he is that Shane is with Diana, noting that she’s a great match for him. Shane feels grateful for the encouragement and support.

A few days later, Shane and his team win another hockey game. However, when he returns to the locker room, he finds several missed calls from his mom. Concerned, he calls back, only to hear the news that his father has been hospitalized.

Shane rushes home to Vermont. At the hospital, his mom delivers heartbreaking news: His father, Ryan, has pancreatic cancer. She explains that they’ve known for six months, but Ryan insisted on keeping it from Shane and Maryanne to maintain a sense of normalcy. The cancer is inoperable and so advanced that Ryan has only a few days left to live. Shane is devastated by the revelation, struggling to process the limited time he has left with his father.

Shane spends a private moment with his father in the hospital. Ryan explains his decision to keep his diagnosis from Shane and Maryanne, saying he wanted their remaining time together to be filled with joy, not sadness and misery. He asks Shane to promise to take care of his mom and sister after he’s gone. Overwhelmed with emotion, Shane cries at his father’s bedside. Three days later, Ryan passes away, leaving Shane heartbroken but determined to honor his father’s wishes.

Five days after Shane’s father’s passing, friends and family gather at the house to pay their respects. Shane is surrounded by loved ones, including Diana, who stays by his side throughout the visitations, offering comfort and support. Even Lynsey attends to offer her condolences.

During the gathering, Shane’s mother asks if he can take care of Maryanne for a couple of weeks while she handles the estate and begins searching for a new house. Shane readily agrees, determined to fulfill his promise to his father and support his family during this difficult time.

Diana helps Shane take care of his younger sister, Maryanne. During this time, Diana meets with a detective to review her statement, as the prosecutor has decided to move forward with the case against Percy due to his second assault charge. Percy, refusing to take the plea deal, ensures the case will proceed to court.

When Shane’s mother, April, calls to check in, she thanks Diana for her help and warmly expresses how much she loves having Diana as part of their family. The kind words touch Diana but also make her reflect on her distant relationship with her own mother. She realizes that her lack of effort in reaching out may have contributed to the strain. Diana calls her mother; both admit to their shortcomings and agree to work on rebuilding their relationship over time.

Shane struggles to focus on hockey, going through the motions and performing well, but his heart isn’t in it. His thoughts are consumed by worries about his family and the promise he made to his father. After winning his latest game, Shane speaks with Coach Jensen and informs him of his decision to take a temporary leave from the team to focus on his family.

Later, Shane tells Diana about his decision and reassures her that while he’s returning home for now, it doesn’t mean they’re breaking up. Diana supports his choice.

The holidays pass without Diana seeing Shane, apart from a brief visit over New Year’s before she returns to school for the new semester. One evening, Diana hears a meowing sound outside her door and assumes her neighbor Priya’s cat has gotten loose again. When she opens the door, however, she’s horrified to find Percy standing there. She tries to slam the door shut, but Percy forces it open and barges inside, enraged. Percy demands that Diana go to the district attorney and drop the case against him, claiming it’s ruining his life.

When she rushes to call 911, Percy knocks the phone out of her hand. Diana screams for her neighbor Niall, hoping his acute hearing will catch her cry for help. She yells that Percy is in her apartment and to call the police, but before she can say more, Percy hits her. In a violent rage, Percy punches and kicks Diana, blaming her for the loss of his fellowship. He doesn’t stop even when she loses consciousness.

Shane settles back home to take care of his mom and sister. With his mom returning to work and Maryanne going back to school, Shane focuses on working with the real estate agent and packing up the house. While organizing, Shane receives a text from Ryder about Briar’s hockey team playing Yale in the semifinals—a rare postseason matchup that excites Shane, even though he won’t be on the ice.

Eventually, Shane’s mom sits him down and urges him not to put his dreams on hold for her and Maryanne. She insists that they’ll be fine without him, urging him to return to school and his team. Their conversation is interrupted by a call from an unknown number. On the other end is Priya, who tells him that Diana is in the hospital after Percy broke into her apartment and assaulted her.

Shane rushes to the hospital. Upon seeing Diana’s bruised and battered face and body, he breaks down in tears. The doctors are keeping her under observation due to injuries, including damage to her kidney.

Diana shares that she has requested a counselor to help her cope, as her panic and anxiety have worsened since the incident. Shane promises her that he will never leave her side again and updates her on the conversation he had with his mother, which ended with his decision to return to Briar U and Meadow Hill. Shane tells Diana he loves her.

Shane returns to hockey, where his teammates express their concern for Diana. Shane reassures them that she’s recovering. When his coach inquires about Percy, Shane explains that Percy was arrested the night of the attack but has since been released on bail. He’s back in Indiana with his parents, wearing an ankle monitor, but the DA is confident he will serve time.

After practice, Shane visits Diana in the hospital. He asks about her mom, who flew in to be with her. Diana shares that her mom went to lunch with her dad and his girlfriend, Larissa—a significant step forward for the family dynamic. Diana then asks Shane about reuniting with his friends and team. She specifically asks about Will and Beckett, but Shane has no updates on how their situation is unfolding.

In a humorous back-and-forth, a neighbor adds Shane to the Meadow Hill group chat, where he starts texting about plans for the upcoming Valentine’s party. Diana promptly removes him, only for another neighbor to add him back. The cycle repeats, with Shane being added and removed multiple times, until Diana finally revokes the admin privileges of a persistent neighbor to stop the chaos. Just when Diana thinks she’s won, Niall adds Shane back to the chat. Diana jokes that Shane just bought a drum set, which prompts Niall to remove Shane himself.