Wild Love

Ford drives Cora to school, and she asks if they can have more campfires. She also asks how long Rosie stayed last night, and Ford avoids eye contact, knowing what she’s insinuating. Ford reminds Cora that Rosie is his best friend’s little sister. Cora says that all the fathers at the school pickup have noticed Rosie, which gives Ford a pang of jealousy. Ford asks Cora if she wants to listen to the artist’s sample tracks later, and she jumps at the chance.

At work, Ford listens while Rosie negotiates with a contractor named Sebastian, who only agrees to take the barn job if Ford joins the bowling league. Distracted by memories from last night, Ford tries to focus on work. He can’t go bowling that evening because he planned to have another campfire dinner with Cora. Rosie offers to stay with her while he attends. Rosie leaves a page from her diary on his desk, dated the night when she discovered that Travis was cheating on her and Ford picked her up from the party. She writes about Travis’s betrayal and how Ford quickly rescued her. She once thought that Ford was a jerk, but his actions that night changed her mind about him. Ford wants to keep things professional to disguise his feelings, including calling her “Rosalie” instead of “Rosie” at work. He says that he would only use her nickname if they were having sex. His remark visibly hurts Rosie, but she plays it off, saying that she wouldn’t have sex with him anyway. Ford says that he raced to get to her the night he came to rescue her.

Despite sitting across from each other, Rosie communicates with Ford via email for the rest of the day, dropping passive-aggressive digs in each correspondence and ensuring to sign her name “Rosalie.” Rosie leaves for lunch, and Ford takes photographs of the barn. When he returns, Rosie is on the phone with his father and confidently handles Ford Grant Sr.’s demands to speak with his son. After she hangs up, Ford thanks her for buying him some time from having to explain Cora to his parents. She says, “Sometimes we need a minute to get our bearing before we have the big conversations, yeah?” (135), referencing something that Ford said to her after she failed a test in high school and was scared to tell her parents. Rosie brings him another page from her diary, recounting the incident. Rosie was preparing to tell her parents about the bad grade and found them sitting at the table with West and a bag of marijuana. Ford was there, and her parents forced him to take her outside. Rosie told Ford about the test, and he forged her mother’s signature, saying that some conversations can wait. In her diary, Rosie wrote that she feared that Ford thought she was unintelligent, but he says he didn’t.

Ford rides with West to bowling night, and Rosie is staying with Cora. Ford comments that they don’t often use a babysitter since Oliver has selective mutism and only speaks to West and Mia. Ford thinks about how much fatherhood has changed West and reformed him from his previous ways. Though his relationship with Mia didn’t work out, West’s children improved his life. West introduces Ford to the other team members at the bowling alley, Sebastian (“Bash”) and Clyde. Though Ford is initially skeptical of attending a “dad’s night out,” he has a good time even though their team loses.

Rosie and Cora eat pizza and watch a movie together. Cora tells Rosie that she can wear pink because she’s “pretty.” Rosie says that there are no rules for who can wear pink. Cora asks if Rosie is returning to the city to be with Ryan. Rosie says that it won’t be for Ryan if she decides to return. Internally, she’s decided to end it with him amicably. Rosie says that Ford is a good father, as exemplified by him coming to school to pick her up with her. With a knowing glance, Cora laughs and tells Rosie that Ford didn’t tag along for her. Rosie files that away, along with Ford’s admission about the night he came to get her, as things she can’t stop thinking about. Rosie has been reading through her diary searching for confirmation that she hated Ford when they were kids, but its entries prove otherwise.

Ford returns from bowling and finds Rosie asleep on the couch. He gently touches her legs and thanks her for staying with Cora. Rosie freezes at his touch, but not from discomfort. Ford says that she can stay there, but she says she needs to go home. Rosie goes upstairs and leaves her pink scrunchy on Cora’s nightstand. Ford follows her and catches her lovingly gazing at the sleeping Cora. Ford walks Rosie home, and they stop on the dock and take in the beautiful scenery. Ford tells Rosie to send him job references so that they can make her position “official.” The statement plunges her back into the boardroom and the scene of the assault. Rosie tearfully tells him what happened. Ford wraps her in his arms as she cries and confesses all the ways she feels her life is falling apart. Ford affirms that she is allowed to fall apart after what happened. He’s angry that Ryan didn’t defend her and pledges to “ruin” Rosie’s former employer. Rosie asserts that she doesn’t need anyone’s help. Later, she falls asleep, rests peacefully after unloading her burden, and admits that Ford’s protectiveness feels good.

Ford stays up late researching Rosie’s company and her boss. The next day, Cora wears Rosie’s pink scrunchy to school and can’t stop talking about her. As he drives to the office, Ford mentally analyzes everything he needs to accomplish to open the new studio. When he arrives at the office, another ripped-out journal page is on his desk. The entry recounts when Rosie punched a girl at school for making fun of Ford. The entry dates to when Rosie was still in high school; Ford was almost 20 when he tried his best not to fall in love with her. After Rosie told him what happened to her in Vancouver, Ford knows that he must give her space to process everything, which will be a struggle.

Ford decides to be brave and tell his parents about Cora. They are traveling but plan to spend the summer in Rose Hill. Ford’s mother answers, and he doesn’t waste any time telling her about donating sperm and how this led him to Cora. His mother is candid but knows that Ford’s father may react differently. However, she says that once he meets Cora, everything will be good. Ford feels relief now that his parents know the truth.

Rosie emails Ford about creating sweatsuits with the recording label name on them. Ford responds and rejects the pink sweatsuits with floral designs. Rosie also wants to change the name, citing that “Rose Hill Records” is too predictable. Bash meets them at the barn to go over the renovation plans. Ford tries to concentrate on business but can’t stop thinking about his and Rosie’s interaction the previous night. Ford gives her a check for $100,000 as a “signing bonus,” and she says she can’t accept it. Ford doesn’t consider it a handout but asserts that it’s in the budget and that she is “worth every penny” (123). Rosie starts to say something, but Bash returns, saying that he found mold in the barn.

Rosie and Ford play Monopoly with Cora. Rosie is winning and jokes about taking all Ford’s money. He replies, “I don’t care if I lose fake money as much as you do” (176). The mood shifts as Rosie gets angry. Cora summons them to the kitchen for help reaching snacks on a high shelf and then locks them in the pantry so that they can work out their problems. Both Rosie and Ford remember when they were once in a closet together during a round of “seven minutes in heaven.” Nothing happened, but Rosie made everyone think she made out with Ford to improve his reputation. Ford can barely tolerate how close he is to her now and isn’t sure how long he can maintain their professional relationship. He assures her that his comment had nothing to do with the money and that she is a valuable employee. Rosie is about to ask him if he ever thought they could have been together when Cora opens the door to let them out. Ford says that they’ve “called a truce,” leaving Rosie perplexed.

Rosie settles into a work rhythm, spending time with West and hanging out with Cora and Ford. She is intent on proving to Ford that she deserves the advance. Ryan is coming for the weekend, and she dreads the inevitable. Yet, watching Ford and Cora play records on the record player together, Rosie knows that she’s making the right decision to stay in Rose Hill. At the door is Willa, Ford’s sister, who lives in Chestnut Springs, and surprisingly, Ryan, who has arrived early. Willa is angry with Ford for keeping Cora a secret and demands to speak to him immediately. Rosie forces Willa to wait outside so that she and Ford can argue away from Cora’s listening ears.

Rosie awkwardly hugs Ryan and feigns happiness that he’s there early. Rosie reluctantly agrees to leave work early and spend the day with him. She finds Ford and Cora frozen on the couch, having overheard Willa’s rant. Cora excuses herself, and before Ford goes to talk with Willa, he touches Rosie on the waist and asks if she is okay. She nods and asks him the same. After he looks at her hungrily, Ford says no, he’s not.

Rosie shows Ryan the bunkhouse where she’s been staying. His judgment is palpable, making Rosie feel pathetic. Ryan’s family is wealthy, and his privilege has always been a difference between them. Ryan knows that Rosie is ending things, and both agree that they haven’t missed one another in the month they’ve been apart and that breaking up is the right step. Ryan plans to visit Rosie’s parents before leaving. Meanwhile, all Rosie can think about is that Ford is not okay.

Cora doesn’t understand why Ford didn’t tell Willa about her. He explains that he prefers to keep his life private, especially after dealing with the paparazzi all his life. Plus, Willa used to work at his bar and constantly intruded into his personal life. Ford apologizes to Willa for keeping the news secret, citing that it was unfair that Willa had to hear it secondhand from their parents. Willa softens and introduces herself to Cora, whom she sees as Ford’s twin in female form. They bond instantly over a shared love of music, and Ford’s heart swells seeing them together. However, he can’t stop thinking about Rosie and is jealous that she’s with Ryan.

Ford and Willa go to a bar to catch up. Willa lives on a ranch in Chestnut Springs with her husband, Cade, and two children, so Ford doesn’t hear from her much. She’s still angry that he kept her from knowing she had a niece, but Will admits that Cora is a great kid. Rosie and Ryan are at the bar. Willa and Ford join them in the booth, and the mood is tense. Ford rudely questions Ryan about not visiting Rosie for a month. Rosie defends Ryan, which infuriates Ford. Rosie drags Ford outside, demanding that he apologize to Ryan, but doesn’t tell Ford that they broke up. Ford refuses, saying, “He doesn’t deserve you” (212). Rosie argues, but Ford tells her to stop talking and kisses her passionately.

Rosie doesn’t want the kiss to end. Ford stops because he tells her that she must be single. When she tells him that she broke up with Ryan, Ford leaves to apologize. Rosie begs Ford to stay, and he walks back to her and explains that him being her boss complicates things. Rosie is left standing alone outside, wondering what he means.

Willa sees Ford and Rosie making out and tells him that he should have told Rosie how he felt long ago. Ford expresses his concern about being her boss and what West will think, but Willa reminds him that West has been his best friend for many years and will support his happiness. Ford finds Rosie asleep on the couch in the office and must restrain himself from cuddling with her. He gently wakes her up and apologizes for the previous night. Rosie isn’t sorry that they kissed and asks Ford what he will do when she begs him to kiss her again. Ford worries about what happened at Rosie’s last job and wants to create a safe working environment for her. Though Ford has laid the boundaries, he knows it will only entice Rosie to break the rules. Rosie leaves to say goodbye to Ryan, and Ford goes for a swim to relieve his stress.