With Eleven nearly an adult and Hopper and Joyce's relationship having ended before it really began, Hopper is back on his usual daily grind. When picking up Eleven one evening from Mike's house, Karen Wheeler somehow manages to talk him into a blind date with a friend of hers. Though he's hesitant, she tells him there's nothing to lose if it doesn't work beyond an hour of his time, so he agrees.

At the restaurant, a woman approaches him who is far from what he's expecting. One of his first questions to her is to ask her age, to which she informs him she's about 10 years above what her looks imply (youthful face), but also still about 10 years younger than him (30s vs 40s). Despite their age gap, they click immediately, to the point that when he learns that Eleven is staying at Max's that night, she ends up staying over with him.

Come morning, Mike brings Eleven home from Max's on his bike and catches the fact that Hopper has her over, leading to some awkward jokes. Nonetheless, Eleven doesn't seem upset and is happy Hopper is seeing someone, though he's not sure if she's being honest or not.

The two meet again for coffee and then he invites her for a fancier date, and it's after picking her up from the library he realizes he's that she's been keeping him from knowing where she lives. When he questions her, she explains she lives in a hotel, as she was only here for a book signing (where she met Karen). However, she informs him that she's more of a traveler and doesn't have any intention of leaving while the two of them are seeing each other.

When he finally is allowed to drop her off at her hotel, which is rather shady looking due to her budget, she ends up attacked by two thugs around the building. Thankfully, Hopper, who came to return an earring that had fallen off in his truck, gets their in time to protect her. After cops arrive and Hopper hands the one he caught over, the other having fled, and her having a decent cut and bruising on her face, he tells her that she will be staying with him for a while.

Between their growing relationship, Joyce's jealousy and distrust of the woman, Eleven's adjustment to a new figure in her life, and many comments about Hopper's girlfriend's age, they are doing well. However, it isn't long before a new danger arises and Eleven is being hunted by a powerful company, forcing the new woman to begin revealing the secrets she's been keeping.