Right in Front of Me

Carly Mason is a successful but shy 'bridal stylist' in Los Angeles who prefers to be a 'Bridal Ninja,' working behind the scenes rather than seeking the spotlight. After a high-pressure job for a celebrity client, she takes a vacation at a lodge managed by her friend Sydney. Upon arrival, she discovers her college social circle is there for a wedding, including Matt Harper, the man she almost dated before graduation. Feeling like an outsider, Carly is initially hesitant to join the festivities until she meets Nick Rivera, the lodge's sous-chef. Their introduction is rocky when Carly sends back Nick's experimental Filipino fusion empanada for being bitter, leading to a conversation about their shared pressures: Carly’s mother pushed her toward high-status schools, while Nick’s parents wanted him to be a doctor rather than a chef. Nick notices Carly's awkwardness around Matt and offers to be her 'dating coach,' advising her to 'play it cool.' Meanwhile, Carly uses her professional skills to save the bride's wedding party from a color-coordination disaster, earning her an invite to the wedding events. As the weekend progresses, Nick and Carly grow closer; she encourages him to stop playing it safe under the traditionalist Chef Edward and to pursue his dream of opening a fusion restaurant. Carly even sets up a lunch for Nick with a potential investor, Georgina. At a raffle-won private dinner, Carly finally gets her 'date' with Matt, but the evening is awkward. Matt hates cilantro (claiming it tastes like soap) and is clearly still pining for his ex-girlfriend, Lily. Carly realizes she is more comfortable being her 'weird' self with Nick—sharing tiny forks for dessert and eating spicy wings—than she is trying to impress Matt. The conflict peaks when Nick’s lunch for Georgina fails to secure an investment, and Chef Edward fires him for going 'off-menu' and being late. Devastated and fearing he can no longer support his grandmother (Lola), Nick pushes Carly away, believing they should have kept their dreams to themselves. Months later, Carly has finally taken Nick's advice and launched her own clothing line, CJ Mason. Sydney reveals that while Georgina passed on Nick, the other guests at the lunch were so impressed that they became his investors. Carly visits Nick’s new, successful restaurant, where she meets his Lola. Nick apologizes for walking away, and Carly confesses that she finally stopped being a 'back-up singer' in her own life. They realize they are each other's perfect match and share a kiss in the restaurant.