Only for the Week

Natasha Bishop

53 pages 1-hour read

Natasha Bishop

Only for the Week

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Janelle is an OB/GYN in her early thirties living in Baltimore. She dedicates immense energy to her career and dreams of opening a health center for Black women called Labor of Love. Her natural introversion makes large events exhausting. She struggles to establish boundaries with her demanding family during the destination wedding.

Key Relationships

Romantic Interest of Rome Martin

Younger Sister of Amerie Cross

Ex-girlfriend of Arnold Hightower

Best Friend of Evelyn "Evie"

Daughter of Mrs. Cross

Daughter of Mr. Cross

Friend of Dani

Rome is a successful video game designer and company founder who also runs a philanthropic organization. He acts as the best man for his longtime friend Arnold. He harbors a strong attraction to Janelle and prioritizes her comfort, using his resources to arrange quiet moments for her away from the wedding chaos.

Key Relationships

Romantic Interest of Janelle Cross

Younger Brother of Jalen Martin

Friend of Micah

Uncle of Kam

Amerie is Janelle's older sister and the bride in the destination wedding. She recently experienced the failure of her fashion line, feeding her personal insecurities. She expects constant attention from her bridal party and often treats Janelle poorly to secure favor from their parents.

Key Relationships

Fiancée of Arnold Hightower

Older Sister of Janelle Cross

Daughter of Mrs. Cross

Daughter of Mr. Cross

Friend of Dani

Arnold is a successful sports agent and Amerie's fiancé. He previously dated Janelle before starting a relationship with her sister. He avoids conflict and allows Amerie to dictate social dynamics, occasionally resorting to passive-aggressive behavior rather than addressing problems directly.

Key Relationships

Fiancé of Amerie Cross

Ex-boyfriend of Janelle Cross

Friend of Rome Martin

Cousin of Cortez

Supporting Characters

Evelyn is Janelle's former college roommate at Howard University and her closest confidante. She readily defends her friends from any perceived slights and refuses to tolerate Amerie's disrespectful behavior during the trip.

Key Relationships

Best Friend of Janelle Cross

Adversarial Acquaintance of Christian

Acquaintance of Jalen Martin

Jalen is Rome's older brother and a retired professional basketball player. He recently left his athletic career to focus on raising his young son. He provides a strong family presence for Rome and acts as a direct foil to Janelle's fraught family dynamics.

Key Relationships

Older Brother of Rome Martin

Father of Kam

Acquaintance of Evelyn "Evie"

Dani is a former model who currently works as a fashion and lifestyle influencer. She owns her own tequila brand and treats the destination wedding as a partial working vacation. She actively supports Janelle against Amerie's harsh demands.

Key Relationships

Friend of Janelle Cross

Friend of Amerie Cross

Romantic Interest of Micah

Micah is a talented artist and one of Arnold's groomsmen. He is highly perceptive and quickly notices the growing connection between Rome and Janelle. He disapproves of Amerie's treatment of her sister and offers his artistic skills to support Janelle's health center.

Key Relationships

Friend of Rome Martin

Romantic Interest of Dani

Christian is one of Arnold's groomsmen. He approaches dating casually, which frequently draws Evelyn's ire. He participates in the wedding party activities and supports Rome during group conflicts.

Key Relationships

Adversarial Acquaintance of Evelyn "Evie"

Cortez is Arnold's cousin. He behaves arrogantly and speaks disrespectfully toward women. His unwanted advances toward Janelle force Rome and the other groomsmen to intervene.

Key Relationships

Unwanted Pursuer of Janelle Cross

Mrs. Cross is Janelle and Amerie's mother. She demonstrates clear favoritism toward Amerie. She criticizes Janelle's choices and assumes her younger daughter harbors resentment over the wedding.

Key Relationships

Mother of Janelle Cross

Mother of Amerie Cross

Wife of Mr. Cross

Mr. Cross is Janelle and Amerie's father. He initially takes a passive role in the family conflicts. He clearly appreciates Janelle's presence and attempts to include her when Amerie tries to isolate her.

Key Relationships

Father of Janelle Cross

Father of Amerie Cross

Husband of Mrs. Cross

Kam is Jalen's young son and Rome's nephew. He is an avid fan of the video games his uncle designs. He provides a connection point between Rome and Janelle.

Key Relationships

Nephew of Rome Martin

Troy is a young coworker of Arnold's who attends the destination wedding. Amerie attempts to set him up with Janelle as a distraction, adding to Janelle's mounting frustrations.

Key Relationships

Coworker of Arnold Hightower

Guest of Amerie Cross

Tamara is a candidate for the office manager position at Janelle's new health center. She shares Janelle's dedication to addressing healthcare inequality for Black women.

Key Relationships

Potential Employee of Janelle Cross