Only for the Week

Janelle is frustrated due to her lingering feelings for Rome. Her irritation grows when she arrives for a jungle ATV excursion and sees Arnold’s cousin, Cortez, who is arrogant and disrespects women. Evie listens to Janelle’s complaints but assures her that she can handle any man who tries to pursue Janelle. As the group discusses who will ride alone or in pairs, Cortez flirts with Janelle and tries to insist that she ride with him. Meanwhile, Amerie tries to pair Janelle with Troy and is upset when she refuses. 

The group arrives at a cenote, a naturally occurring waterhole created by limestone erosion. The formations are common in Mexico. Rome and Janelle watch the others dive into the water from a cliff. When she asks if he will dive, Rome tells her that he will take his cues from her. Janelle knows he is using the cliff as a metaphor for their relationship and admits to herself that she is terrified of falling in love only to discover that their busy careers and lives are not compatible. Rome tells her that he prefers to know that he tried what mattered most to him, whatever the risks. Janelle does not answer but agrees to dive from the rocks.

Alone with her thoughts after the excursion, Janelle realizes that even if she is not sure what she wants after the vacation, there is no reason not to be with Rome for the rest of the trip. She takes Evie aside for advice. When Janelle explains the whole story, Evie asks what she is hoping for from their conversation. When Janelle says she was hoping for support, Evie tells her, “[O]r maybe because you know me better than that, you want me to tell you to woman the fuck up and go for what you want” (149). In response, Janelle teases Evie about her obvious interest in Rome’s brother. Janelle then goes to Rome’s room, and they passionately reunite.

Janelle and Rome have intense sex, and she teases him for his enthusiasm the previous night; he nearly destroyed both her dress and the thigh chain she wore as an accessory. Rome admits, “I was prepared to be on my Olivia Pope ‘you want me earn me’ shit […] but you showed up looking too damn tempting” (155-56). They agree to meet later for zip lining, and Janelle offers to let him stand behind her so that he can watch her body the whole time. Rome is amused and delighted, though mildly concerned about Arnold’s cousin spoiling their remaining vacation with his unwanted interest in Janelle. Janelle assures him that she will let him know if she needs help with Cortez. However, she is usually more than able to fend off unwanted advances.

Rome goes to lunch with his brother at a cigar bar. They catch up on family, including Jalen’s efforts to ensure that his ex-wife adheres to her supervised visitation. Jalen teases Rome that he is already preparing for his wedding to Janelle. Back at the hotel, Rome hears Janelle’s mother lecturing her for going zip lining knowing that Arnold would be present. Janelle points out that it was a large group and that there is nothing wrong with her spending time with her brother-in-law. Mrs. Cross suggests Janelle should have insisted on attending the spa outing as a supportive gesture. When he hears the topic switch to Janelle’s refusal to date Troy, Rome interrupts. He stresses how helpful Janelle has been and intentionally distracts Mrs. Cross with the story of the lost ring, clearly pleased when she leaves to go find Amerie. Rome follows Janelle to her room, pleased that they are no longer hiding their desire to spend time together.

Janelle sits alone in a restaurant, anxiously waiting for her parents to arrive. She has decided to confront her mother about her constant judgment and criticism. Her parents arrive, and her mother asks why Janelle asked to see them alone. Janelle explains that she cannot understand why her mother constantly implies she would pursue a relationship with Arnold now or threaten his marriage. Fed up and furious, Janelle points out, “[L]et’s not forget who dated Arnold first, so if you want to talk to someone about not being the woman you raised, I think you’re talking to the wrong daughter” (166). Janelle’s father quietly takes her side.

Rather than apologize, Janelle’s mother explains that she saw Arnold’s engagement to Amerie as an opportunity to offer Janelle support and advice she would typically rebuff. Janelle finds this manipulative and says so, unmoved by her mother’s tepid apology. Mrs. Cross becomes furious when Janelle indicates that she is leaving the restaurant and considers the conversation over. When her mother says that Janelle owes her sister a happy wedding, Janelle points out that they are talking about Amerie as though she were the only person who matters. Janelle tells her mother that she has now realized that her whole life has been about placating her sister. She is ready to listen to Rome and consider her own value.

After she leaves the restaurant, Janelle texts Rome to tell him that while she is not sure if her relationship with her mother can be repaired, she is relieved to have been honest. Her thoughts are interrupted when room service arrives, with a card from Rome celebrating her newfound assertiveness.

Hours later, loud knocking wakes Janelle from a nap. Arnold is there to see her, and Janelle immediately notices that he is drunk. She tries to steer him into the hallway, reminding him that her sister will be unhappy if she sees him like this. Arnold tells her, “[S]he ain’t worried about me. She just wants to show you up” (172). Arnold drunkenly rambles about their past and tells her that he should have stayed with her. Janelle emphatically rejects the idea and tells him that she will not keep his behavior a secret. After Arnold tries to kiss her without her consent, Janelle slaps him.

After Arnold leaves, Janelle shrieks in frustration but soon prepares to face the others for the bachelorette party. The women are all doing their hair and makeup together. Janelle tries to take Amerie aside so that she can explain her encounter with Arnold, but her sister rebuffs her. At the nightclub, Janelle drinks more than usual, upset about her moral dilemma. Evie pushes Janelle to explain what is bothering her and then insists Janelle tell Amerie the truth before Arnold tries to spin his own version of the story.

Janelle leads her sister to the bathroom and explains that Arnold kissed her without her consent. Amerie refuses to believe her and says that Janelle must be a terrible doctor, judging by the way she treats her sister. When she suggests that Janelle is trying to ruin the wedding because she is single and misses Arnold, Janelle, furious, tells her sister her own rudeness is casting a pall over the event, declaring, “[Y]ou two clowns deserve each other” (178). Janelle declares that she will stay in Mexico but that Dani can be maid of honor. Before they can talk more, Dani interrupts to announce that they all need to leave to find the men, who got into a fight.