Only for the Week

Janelle packs for her sister, Amerie’s, wedding. Janelle is exasperated during a call with her mother, as she cannot convince her that she is happy about the wedding: Her mother is convinced that Janelle’s relationship to the groom makes her job as maid of honor emotionally wrenching. Janelle declares to herself, “[T]he wedding hasn’t even started yet and I’m already exhausted” (2). Her best friend, Evie, arrives early. The two are part of a solid quartet of friends that includes Amerie and their other best friend, Dani. Evie and Janelle attended Howard University together and were also longtime roommates, so their bond is particularly close. Janelle is hoping that the trip will be relaxing but dreads her sister’s intense approach to wedding planning. Janelle rarely takes vacations given the stress of her work as an obstetrician and gynecologist.

At the airport, Evie and Janelle immediately find two of Arnold’s groomsmen, Micah and Christian. Micah is friendly with both of them, but Evie and Christian banter with an adversarial edge. Evie dislikes Christian’s casual dating and tendency to discard women quickly. Janelle is soon distracted by the arrival of the best man, Rome Martin. Rome was rarely present when she was dating Arnold, but she has always found him attractive and charismatic. Janelle tries to tell herself, “I don’t have time for those deep onyx pools of trouble” (6). Janelle finds herself bantering with Rome about which of them will give a more moving wedding toast.

Tension rises in the group when Janelle realizes that everyone else is seated in first class but that she is not, as her sister never told her that they upgraded their tickets. Janelle is hurt that Amerie overlooked her but insists that she will stay in coach. Janelle senses Rome’s gaze on her.

On the plane, Janelle is surprised when Rome sits next to her. He explains that he traded seats with a woman who discovered her boyfriend was unfaithful. Janelle, outraged on the woman’s behalf, takes a photo of the boyfriend and captions it to advertise his infidelity and dishonesty, using AirDrop to send it to all the plane’s iPhone users. Rome is impressed with her bold wit. As they take off, Janelle explains that she loves the feeling of leaving her problems far away. Rome surprises her by immediately understanding why she does not watch the plane take off when she returns home: It signals a resumption of burdens. After arriving in Mexico, Janelle feels reluctant to leave Rome when her sister orders her bridesmaids to follow her.

Rome is largely lost in thought about his attraction to Janelle. He has been drawn to her since they met despite his loyalty to Arnold. He remembers admiring her goals to advance health equity for Black women and women of color, realizing, “[S]omething in Janelle’s soul spoke to me that night” (20). To avoid his attraction, Rome took a temporary work assignment in California supervising his game design company’s latest project. He is both relieved that Janelle is still single and concerned that Arnold moved on so quickly, as it speaks poorly of his friend.

At the group dinner that evening, Rome sits with Janelle and immediately compliments her appearance. She offers Rome a taste of her mezcalita in a moment that soon turns sexually charged. Rome finds that he no longer wishes to hold back and is eager to pursue her.

The dinner conversation grows tense when Amerie begins peppering Janelle with wedding questions and becomes obviously upset that Janelle does not have the perfect ribbon for her bouquet, meant to honor their aunt’s cancer treatment. Dani defuses some of the tension by offering to help Janelle finish her wedding errands. Rome proposes a toast to the couple.

When Janelle prepares to leave the table to go for a walk, Rome gives in to his impulse to follow. He asks if the wedding is difficult for her, and Janelle assures him at length that she always understood that she and Arnold were never truly compatible. She resents the idea that her single status is something to grieve, telling him, “If you want to get real about it, I’ve been happier being alone and keeping things casual than I ever was with Arnold” (28). Rome, relieved, tells her that most people are likely overwhelmed by her certainty in herself, but he assures her that he is happy to be in any kind of proximity to her. They kiss passionately. Janelle tries to apologize afterward, but Rome suggests that this is a moment to do something for herself, telling her, “I need to make you feel good right now or I just might explode” (29). Janelle, emboldened, kisses him again.

As she kisses Rome in her hotel room, Janelle tries to focus on the intensity of the moment rather than its implications. She knows that this encounter will have to be kept secret, as no one around them will understand that their attraction is real. Her family will assume that she is seeking a dramatic way to draw attention away from Arnold and Amerie because she is upset about their relationship. Rome senses her hesitation and urges her to concentrate on their chemistry. When Rome tells her that he is desperate for her, Janelle teases him for going too slowly, but he tells her not to rush him, calling her “J.” She reacts strongly to the nickname, realizing, “[H]e’s never called me J. before. No one has, but I like the way it so easily rolled off his tongue” (33). They have passionate sex, and Rome brings her to multiple orgasms, insisting that he needs her to pursue her own pleasure.

Janelle wakes the next morning and finds Rome has wrapped her hair for her and also sponged down her legs. She is further charmed when she finds he charged her phone for her. They discuss their plans for the day— the women have a lengthy spa excursion planned, while Rome’s day is likely to be more relaxed. Rome surprises Janelle when he urges her to come to him again for sex, saying that he wants to help her relax when her sister is obviously adding emotional burdens to her life. Janelle is overcome at the idea of pursuing something just for herself. She agrees that they can see each other for one week, until her parents and the other guests arrive. Rome brings her to orgasm again but has to leave before Janelle can reciprocate. He texts her from the hallway, assuring her that they will have sex again soon.

At the spa with her sister and friends, Janelle poses for photos for Dani’s Instagram, as she is a former model turned influencer. The group mood sours when Amerie insists on a regular schedule of excursions and errands with no time for lunch. When Dani assures Amerie she has found the bouquet ribbon she asked for, Amerie suggests that perhaps she chose the wrong maid of honor. This deepens the tension, but Janelle holds in her anger and emotional pain.

In their massage rooms, Janelle and Dani commiserate over Amerie’s demands. Dani laughs when Janelle suggests therapy for all of them, offering to go first. Dani promises to do her best to help resolve the tension with Amerie. Janelle leaves the massage early after texting Rome, hoping he will keep his promise to relieve her stress with sex.

After having sex with Janelle in a closet near the spa, Rome realizes that his feelings for her are only growing. He already balks at the idea of ending things in a week. 

Rome goes swimming with Christian, Micah, and Arnold. Janelle arrives, and Rome can immediately tell that she is feeling renewed emotional strain. When the others leave, Janelle admits to Rome that she is exhausted from Amerie constantly finding tasks for her to accomplish. Rome asks Janelle how she would spend her time if she had a choice, and when she suggests reading by the water, he tells her to ignore her sister. Janelle refuses, insisting she owes it to Amerie to make her wedding frictionless. Rome, undaunted, asks her, “[S]o you’ll just take all the stress on yourself?” (57). Janelle retorts that he promised her relaxation, and Rome jokingly agrees. Privately, he hopes that Janelle will realize she is just as important as her sister is. Rome assures Janelle that he is happy to keep spending time with her, dismissing her fears of being demanding. He later finds her in the hallway and gives her a passionate kiss, just for the sake of seeing her alone.

Later, the entire wedding party goes to a popular nightclub together. Revelers wear glowsticks around their necks, as the club periodically goes dark. Micah pushes Rome to admit he is seeing Janelle, assuring him that it is understandable and that Arnold and Amerie have no room to be critical. Micah refuses to answer Rome’s questions about his obviously complicated relationship with Dani.

Rome makes note of the color of Janelle’s glow bracelets so that he can find her in the dark. They find each other at the bar and embrace when the lights go out. Rome is determined to bring Janelle to orgasm with his hand. When the room is illuminated again, Rome gets them more drinks from the bar, making sure Janelle watches him swirl his fingers in his drink as he decides “the taste of her is exactly what this drink was missing” (65).

Beside a sleeping Rome, Janelle is torn between the exhilaration of breaking the taboo of public sex and her increasing sense that her sister fears Janelle wants Arnold back. After he wakes up, Rome urges her to clear her schedule for the day, reminding her that she promised him a week together. He has her confirm that she agreed to trust his judgment and embrace whatever relaxation he proposes, and the other bridesmaids help convince Amerie to give them leisure time.

Janelle is surprised when Rome tells her to dress for the day in a swimsuit. Rome tells her teasingly, “I’m just impressed you’re listening. Let me find out you’re a good girl after all” (71). As they drive to their mystery destination, Janelle and Rome discuss their favorite animals. She explains that as an introvert, she loves sea turtles, who are similarly solitary. While she may seem social, she prefers the company of those she trusts. Rome asks if this includes their group, and she says she is not really close to Micah or Christian. Janelle admits that she finds Rome’s prior distance from her confusing, and Rome assures her that who he is now, the man eager to be with her, is “the real [him],” assuring her, “[Y]ou’ve never been the problem” (73). Janelle is relieved at this and amused when Rome realizes he is also an introvert.

Emboldened by the new honesty between them, Rome asks if Janelle can explain the strange tension he has noticed when she is around Amerie. Janelle, frustrated, says that she has asked her sister to explain the friction but that Amerie constantly downplays it. She changes the subject to ask if Rome is close to his brother, a former professional basketball player. Rome explains that he has always admired his brother and now loves to spend time with his nephew, Kam. Rome is surprised and intrigued when Janelle reveals that she has played the video game he designed for Kam and that she also enjoys other titles. Rome owns and runs a video game publishing company.

They arrive at a dock, and Rome reveals that he has rented a yacht for the day so that Janelle can read next to the water. Janelle knows Rome is wealthy and that the luxury is well within his means; her real focus is on how clearly he has listened to her preferences. When she tries to suggest that it would be rude to ignore him and read, Rome tells her to give him a romance title of his own so that they can both relax. Janelle explains the core plot of her new favorite series, and she and Rome read companionably.

When Janelle finishes her book, she and Rome discuss the characters. Janelle strips to her bikini, comfortable with her larger body and pleased to see that Rome is clearly drawn to her as well. After a luxurious lunch on the boat, Janelle realizes Rome has given her a memory to cherish even if she cannot see a future for them beyond the week. While Rome naps, Janelle bikes into the small nearby town with Evie. They visit some local stores, and she finds a small sculpture of two sea turtles for Rome.

Rome is delighted that Janelle is now spending most of her free time with him. He finds being apart from her unbearable and asks her to join him in the resort’s gym for a workout. In the gym, Rome watches as “she walks toward [him] with the confidence of a queen, knowing she has [him] wrapped around her finger” (85). They retreat from the gym for sex, only separating because Janelle has more errands to run.

Rome joins Christian and Micah for lunch. When Christian is out of earshot, Micah asks if Rome is serious about Janelle. Micah is skeptical when Rome tells him the arrangement is supposed to end tomorrow. 

Arnold asks Rome to help him buy candles that Amerie asked for so that she will not know he forgot. Janelle, who hears the conversation, offers to accompany him. They stop at a fruit stand on the way, and when Rome insists on paying, Janelle teases, “I give you one romance book and you don’t know how to act” (93). At the candle shop, Janelle tells Rome that she is considering expanding her birth center idea, Labor of Love, to include mental health and other wellness services. Rome urges her to pursue the concept, expressing confidence in her vision. When Janelle says she has an ideal building in mind, Rome realizes he owns the site already, as he and the wedding party run a philanthropic organization for the Black community. Rome keeps the information to himself but assures her he will support her project going forward.

Later, Rome reads texts from Janelle admitting her fatigue and desire for comfort. When she expresses fears of bothering him, Rome asks her to come to his room. Janelle, near tears, says that Amerie has constantly been saying cruel things about her life and choices and that she is tempted to leave the resort early and let Dani take over her responsibilities. Rome tells Janelle that she can love Amerie but need distance from her. He asks her to treat him as her refuge and kisses her passionately.

After they break the kiss, Rome explains that he has a specific plan for the evening. He wants their sexual experience to involve basic BDSM, specifically gradual sensory deprivation and light bondage, so that Janelle can give up control and heighten her arousal. He later blindfolds her, reciting words of affirmation about how accomplished and generous Janelle is and about how much he wants to bring her pleasure and ease. He brings her to one orgasm and then adds headphones so that she can feel him but not see him as he penetrates her. Knowing she cannot hear, he confesses his love. Afterward, Rome helps Janelle bathe and listens to her fall asleep.

Janelle dreads her time with Rome ending when the other guests arrive. Part of her feels they could pursue a lasting romantic partnership, but she ultimately decides this is unrealistic. However, Janelle is thrilled that her sister has planned an excursion to swim with sea turtles. She assumes that Amerie has done this in a spirit of goodwill. During the snorkeling, Janelle is overjoyed at seeing the turtles in their natural habitat and holds hands with Rome briefly.

Back on the boat, Micah asks Janelle if she enjoyed the outing and looks at her knowingly when she explains it was a lifelong dream. He explains that Rome planned the entire event over Amerie’s objections. Micah tells her that when Rome commits to a person or idea, he does so without reservations. Janelle realizes that he knows about their relationship. She changes the subject to Micah’s painting, imagining him doing a mural for her health center. He agrees to help, hinting that her relationship with Rome makes refusing impossible.

At the wedding rehearsal, the group sings favorite songs they would walk down the aisle to. Janelle catches Rome watching her sing Brandy’s “Have You Ever.” The catered rehearsal dinner feast that evening includes THC-infused dishes. Amerie finally relaxes under the influence of the cannabis, and Janelle finds herself able to enjoy her sister for the first time in months. Alone with Rome, Janelle thanks him for the ocean excursion. He promises her “whatever [she] need[s] and want[s], whenever [she] need[s] and want[s] it” (115).

In her room, Janelle tells Rome that she is preparing a sensory experience for him and has him put on earphones so that he can’t hear her movements. She performs oral sex on him with an ice cube in her mouth. Janelle later wakes Rome to give him the sea turtles she purchased earlier. He is unhappy when she explains that the gesture is thanks for their week together, which is now over. Janelle realizes, “I’m too scared and he’s not scared enough so there’s nowhere else for us to go” (118). Rather than argue, Rome thanks her for the gift and leaves.