Chapter 25 Summary: Playful Emails and a Surprising Plus One
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
On Monday morning, Rosie is emotionally volatile: Ryan and Willa are gone, her period is due, and she cannot stop thinking about Ford’s kiss. To cope, she emails him with exaggerated professional snark, calling herself “Dick Manager” after Ford catches her doodling an obscene drawing in her planner. Ford responds in kind, signing off as “Sith Lord Ford Grant.” Their banter continues until Rosie spots a charity fundraiser request for a wildfire in Emerald Lake. She forwards it to Ford, who replies that he will attend with a plus one. Rosie spirals, wondering who he might take—Cora, a model, or someone else. Finally she asks outright. Ford stands, walks to her desk, and tells her: “You.” Overwhelmed by relief, Rosie makes an excuse to leave. When she returns, she finds a container of chicken wings (all wings, no drumsticks) waiting for her.
Key Events
- Rosie emails Ford with playful hostility, calling him out for avoiding eye contact and includes a spreadsheet of recording-booth experts.
- Ford spots her planner doodle (a penis) and jokes about it in his email reply.
- Rosie “improves” the doodle by adding a detail; she holds it up to him, then emails again with the subject “My Boss is a ____.”
- Ford snorts but quickly covers his laugh.
- Rosie sifts through the Rose Hill Records inbox and finds a fundraiser request for Emerald Lake wildfire relief.
- She forwards it with a sarcastic note, signing “Dick Manager.”
- Ford replies that he’ll RSVP with a plus one; Rosie obsesses over who that might be.
- She confronts him aloud; Ford tells her she is the plus one.
- Rosie, emotional and relieved, makes a hasty exit to her place, then returns to find chicken wings on her desk.
Character Development
Rosie: This chapter showcases Rosie’s vulnerability beneath her brash exterior. Her PMS-like irritability and her obsessive analysis of Ford’s “plus one” reveal how deeply she cares. She also reflects on Ford’s teenage social awkwardness, showing a new empathy for the man behind the billionaire facade.
Ford: Ford’s playful emails match Rosie’s energy, but he also demonstrates emotional openness when he sincerely tells her she is his date. The chicken wings (all wings, no drumsticks) are a thoughtful gesture that signals he pays attention to her earlier joke. His blush and earnest tone indicate he is no longer hiding behind sarcasm.
Themes, Symbols, and Motifs
Playful Banter as Connection: The email exchange becomes a safe space for both characters to express desire and tension without direct confrontation. The nickname “Dick Manager” and the “Sith Lord” joke underscore their comfort with teasing each other.
Food as Care: The chicken wings—specifically the exclusion of drumsticks—mirror Rosie’s earlier comment about the “superior piece of meat.” Ford’s act of bringing only wings is a nonverbal show of thoughtfulness.
Armor and Vulnerability: Rosie realizes that Ford’s standoffish demeanor as a teen was actually discomfort, not superiority. This insight helps her interpret his current behavior, bridging the gap between their past and present.
Period and Emotional Volatility: Rosie’s awareness of her menstrual cycle highlights the physical reality of her emotions. The chapter normalizes hormonal changes while still validating her genuine feelings for Ford.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 25 is a turning point in the Rosie-Ford dynamic. The email banter establishes their unique rapport, while the revelation that Ford wants Rosie as his date—not someone else—confirms the romantic trajectory. It also advances the plot toward the Emerald Lake fundraiser, which will likely be a key setting in future chapters. Additionally, Rosie’s reflection on Ford’s teenage awkwardness deepens her character development and humanizes him.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Rosie react so strongly when Ford mentions a plus one? Rosie’s reaction stems from her unresolved feelings after the kiss in Chapter 24. She is both jealous and uncertain—she doesn’t know if Ford is single, and the thought of him taking another woman to a public event triggers insecurity. Her emotional state is amplified by premenstrual hormones, but the core anxiety is real: she wants to be his date.
2. What does the chicken-wing gift reveal about Ford’s character? Ford remembered Rosie’s earlier email joke that chicken wings are superior to drumsticks. By bringing only wings, he shows he listens carefully and cares enough to act on her offhand preference. It is a small but meaningful gesture that contrasts with his usual reserved demeanor, proving he can be both playful and considerate.
3. How does Rosie’s understanding of Ford’s past affect her present view of him? Rosie notes that Ford, as the son of a famous rock star, could have become either a party animal or a withdrawn protector. He chose the latter, using words and facial expressions as armor. This insight helps Rosie see his current bluntness not as coldness but as a learned defense mechanism, allowing her to empathize with him rather than feel offended.