The American Roommate Experiment

Lucas confesses to eavesdropping on Rosie’s call. He asks her to trust him with her problems as she would Lina. He again asks about her dating history. Rosie launches into tales of woe, including a date who was volatile with her to test his prospective screenplay. Lucas is horrified and offers to be Rosie’s partner in a dating experiment. He is delighted to learn that she is the author of the book his sister loves, under the pen name Rosalyn Sage (with her real first name being Rosalyn). He voices wanting to spend time with her and gestures to his leg as an indication he should stay close to home. Rosie is curious but does not press him about the nature of his injury.

Rosie is concerned about a simulated romance interfering with their living situation, but Lucas assures her that he can compartmentalize: “I promise I will not fall in love with you and make things awkward, Rosalyn Sage” (129). She agrees to four experimental dates to help her writer’s block, despite her disappointment with Lucas’s promise of a fake romance (rather than a real one). They embrace as confirmation of their deal, and Lucas plans dinner.

Rosie writes Lucas instructions for meeting the four key phases of romance. She is worried that the experimental dates will confuse her emotions. As Lucas plans a date for the evening, Lina texts her that Lucas is in town but that she is under no obligation to entertain him. This adds to Rosie’s guilt for not mentioning their living situation. That evening, Lucas knocks on the door as if arriving to pick Rosie up and flirts with her. Rosie is both anxious and delighted, as this act is a departure from the casual Lucas. He also presents her with an “I <3 NYC” cap to match the one he bought for himself. He quotes Rosie’s instruction manual about first dates and reminds her that their meet-cute already happened when she mistook him for a burglar.

Rosie and Lucas arrive at a record store, where Lucas instructs her to pick an album: “[W]hatever you choose will be our soundtrack” (142). She accuses him of being overly sentimental, and he tickles her. She struggles to pick an album, as one reminds her of her high school prom date throwing up on her. Lucas talks about his family walking in on him during an intimate moment with his high school girlfriend; his grandmother punished him for this awkward moment by insisting he learn how to bake. Rosie is flattered when Lucas says, “I don’t go putting on an apron for just anybody” (148).

Back at the apartment, Lucas is curious why Rosie selected ABBA’s hit single, “Dancing Queen.” Rosie admits she knows the lyrics are sad, but every personal memory she has of the song is joyful. Lucas teases her about being a fan of the musical Mamma Mia and hints that her choice of song will feature in their next activity. He stops by Adele’s apartment to pick up a record player he left with her. Rosie is stunned by the gift but chagrined to learn he helped a stranger move furniture to acquire it.

Lucas plays the song and dances; Rosie is clearly charmed. They dance joyfully, suddenly caught up in the chemistry between them. Suddenly, the record stops and Rosie hears squeaking: The box that contained the record player contains a rat. Rosie, terrified of rodents, jumps into Lucas’s arms, and he sets her atop the kitchen counter. She calms down and expresses concern about his leg, but he does his best to ignore the pain.

As Lucas shepherds the rat into a box, there is a knock at the door. A middle-aged woman arrives, introducing herself as Adele’s daughter, Alexia. She thanks Lucas for regularly spending time with her mother, as she and her wife have struggled to find care workers to keep her safe during the day. She explains that Lucas resembles her late father, Mateo, explaining why Adele is drawn to him and often calls him by this name. After Alexia leaves, Lucas takes the rat outside, reminding himself of his obligation to Rosie.