The American Roommate Experiment

Lucas surprises Rosie with their second date, a late evening trip to her favorite neighborhood pizzeria, Alessandro’s, which is mysteriously closed. He reminds her that the second date is, in her words, “where curiosity turns into interest” (173). Rosie is relieved her book is progressing but still unsure if she will meet her deadline.

Lucas teases Rosie when he catches her looking at his behind when he opens the pizzeria door, but the flirtation is interrupted by her genuine delight in his setup for the date. He has lit candles throughout the pizzeria and has planned an evening of cooking for her there. They share an intimate moment as Lucas helps Rosie tie her apron. Rosie tells Lucas that her apartment repairs are delayed, and he makes her promise that she will tell him if their living situation ever makes her unhappy. She presses him about his own dating history, wondering if his surfing career has prevented any lasting partnerships. Lucas confesses that his injury has ended his career, and Rosie realizes he is not merely in the US for vacation, but for a longer recovery. When Lucas expresses doubt that he can be a suitable partner in his current state, Rosie tells him, “You’re way more than just that. You have more to offer too” (184).

The pair assemble their pizzas, and Rosie teases Lucas about being covered in flour. He flirts and ends up staring at her lips, asking if his second date is enough to convince her of their chemistry. However, before they can kiss, Lucas realizes their pizzas are burning.

Armas switches the point of view to Lucas, who castigates himself both for ruining the date and for failing to avoid giving in to his feelings. Rosie persuades him to order Japanese takeout, but he remains sulky throughout the night, denying he enjoyed it. He admits to wounded pride over how their date ended. He only becomes more upset when she assures him that his two dates have surpassed any of her past dates. He tells her, “Your standards are so low it drives me crazy […] you shouldn’t be content with a date that ends with you scraping an oven clean” (193). When Rosie admits she wishes they could have met at Lina and Aaron’s wedding, Lucas reminds himself that she deserves the man he was, not the person he is since his accident.

The next day, Lucas wakes in pain, as he has neglected his physical therapy since the accident and the cooking session has aggravated his injury. He contemplates his fatigue and sense of aimlessness, deciding to stay near Rosie. Suddenly, Lina arrives and interrupts his domestic peace. She is furious to find him in a towel and assumes he is having a casual fling with Rosie, who is in pajamas. Lina’s husband, Aaron, literally holds her back, and Lucas bluntly says, “Rosie and I haven’t fucked” (196). Feeling guilty, Rosie explains her flooded apartment situation, and Lucas covers for her, telling Lina that their living situation (and hiding it until she returned) was his idea. Rosie defends Lucas, telling Lina that he has been gentle, considerate, and helpful. Lina addresses Lucas, in Spanish so only Lucas will understand, reminding him that Rosie is her best friend and the best person he knows, which Lucas interprets as a reminder that he does not deserve her. Lucas tells himself that “women like her [don’t] go around with men who ha[ve] lost so much, who ha[ve] nothing left to offer” (199).

Lina takes Rosie out for a talk, leaving Lucas alone with Aaron, who reminds Lucas that he, too, is loyal to Rosie and does not want to see her hurt. Still, Aaron seems to have noticed Lucas’s feelings for Rosie, as he seems entirely content to believe Lucas’s assurance that she is safe with him.

In a coffee shop with Rosie, Lina explains her outsized reaction: While she loves Lucas, she knows him to be somewhat of a womanizer. Still feeling guilty, Rosie reflects that she has still not told Lina about the dating experiment and its positive impacts on her work. Lina admits that her real fear is that if Rosie and Lucas have an affair, Rosie’s heart will be broken, and she herself will have to be angry with one of her favorite relatives. Their family has also recently been worried about Lucas, who is known to experience panic attacks, though it is clear to Rosie that Lina does not know why. Lina explains that Lucas’s dog, Taco, has emotional support training from his prior owner and helped Lucas before he left Spain. Lina then invites Rosie to a Halloween masquerade ball she is attending with Aaron. She agrees to go since Lina has two tickets—meaning Lucas can also attend. This piques Lina’s curiosity, but Rosie assures her, “That’s never been in the cards for us” (206).

Rosie arrives home to find Lucas making dinner for Adele and Alexia, having recently rescued Adele from a kitchen mishap with her pressure cooker. Alexia is so impressed with Lucas’s work that she suggests he attend culinary school. She divulges that she is a famous chef, and Rosie encourages Lucas to consider the same path as well. He agrees to dine at Alexia’s restaurant, Zarato, with Rosie, when Alexia suggests it would be romantic. That night, Rosie comforts Lucas after a nightmare, relieved she can offer him reciprocal support.