Rome and Janelle are preparing for a night out with local philanthropists Baltimore Gives Back. Rome dreads mingling with people he dislikes and does not know well; as he drinks in Janelle’s beauty in her evening gown, he explains that Arnold usually represents their group. He privately realizes that the wedding has shown him that his friendship with Arnold may be broken in ways that cannot be repaired, even if Janelle is hopeful for the future.

At the event, Janelle notices Rome’s mood and suggests that they re-enact an elevator sex scene from a romance novel. They ride to the top of the building, and Janelle has an intense orgasm. At the reception, Rome introduces Janelle as his girlfriend. She teases him for doing so without asking, and he offers, “[W]ant me to get you a promise ring from a gumball machine right quick?” (233). Rome does ask Janelle to be his girlfriend, but she teases him that she needs time to evaluate. Rome resolves to make it easy for her to agree.

Janelle wakes up in bed, luxuriating in now sharing a home with Rome. On her way to work, Janelle ignores a call from her mother. At work, she interviews candidates for Labor of Love’s new office manager. Several interviews do not go well, frustrating her. The final candidate of the day, Tamara, has an impressive résumé outside of healthcare. Janelle impulsively asks why she is switching to a new field. Tamara explains that she has had friends lose children or die because the medical field neglects and underdiagnoses pregnancy complications in Black women. Janelle is moved, knowing that this means that Tamara shares her mission and values.

Later that day, Janelle arrives home and is relieved to see Rome there, as they have been too busy to see each other lately. She finds the living room decorated with twinkling lights, and Rome has set out a fancy meal. Janelle is relieved that he continues to make time for her despite the challenges of their careers. They dance together, secure in their new space.

Janelle and Rome are attending BlerdCon, a fan culture convention for Black “nerds.” They run into Evie, Jalen, and Kam, though Evie does not explain whether she and Jalen are there on a date.

Weeks later, Rome has Kam help him test the video game he is designing for his proposal. Kam asks him how people know they are ready for marriage, and Rome explains that he doesn’t “function as well without her” (246). Kam asks if his divorced parents felt the same once, and Rome assures him that their connection was valid, even if they are not together now. Later, he meets Dani to show her the engagement ring he has designed for Janelle. She congratulates him and offers to help with any of his plans.

On a busy day at Labor of Love, Rome arrives unexpectedly. Tamara seems unsurprised to see Rome, teasingly asking to meet his brother. Rome tells Janelle that he has a surprise for her and refuses to tell her where they are going. They arrive at the airport, and Janelle notices that the plane at their gate is going to Cancun. Rome explains that they are going back to Tulum to make new memories, as their first trip was shrouded in secrecy and drama, saying, “I want to experience Tulum out loud with you” (253).

They arrive at the same resort where the wedding was held. Rome promised Janelle that he had packed everything she would need, but her first suitcase only has waist beads, thigh chains, and flimsy underwear. However, he then shows her another suitcase he had hidden that contains clothes and toiletries. They spend the evening having sex. When Janelle learns that Evie believes her to be at home, she is amused that Rome kept the trip a secret from almost everyone.

Later, they go on ATV rides and race. Rome wins, which means he gets to choose a prize. Janelle is frustrated that he won’t reveal what he has chosen, but she enjoys their sumptuous dinner at Tulum Tower. They go back to the nightclub they visited during the wedding trip, and Rome tells her that he has decided on his victory prize: He will give her an orgasm in their beach cabana.

Janelle and Rome discuss their wedding. He admits that he no longer trusts Arnold enough to have him be a groomsman. He pushes Janelle to realize that she does not truly want Amerie in her wedding party, and Janelle realizes, “I’m a recovering people pleaser” (262). She tells Rome that she is looking forward to marrying him.

Later, Janelle tours a new house that Rome picked out. They agree that the space is ideal, with enough room for the children they hope to have someday. Janelle confesses that she may be pregnant and agrees to take a test in the house’s bathroom. The result is negative, and Rome asks if her disappointment means that she wants to have children sooner than they previously agreed. She tells him that she will consider it, deciding, “Wherever we go from here, I know we’ll be more than okay” (266).