The chapter opens from Rosie's perspective as she confronts Ford about his plus one for an event at Emerald Lake. Ford casually tells her it's her—his "Dick Manager"—and the relief she feels overwhelms her emotionally. She retreats to her dock to process her feelings, and when she returns, Ford has left her a container of chicken wings, all flats (her preference), with no drumsticks.

The next morning, Ford arrives to find Rosie answering a call from his mother, Gemma. Gemma and Rosie bond over teasing Ford, with Gemma suggesting that orgasms would improve his moods and even help with cramps. Rosie gleefully relays the advice while Ford suffers in silence. Rosie also leaves Ford another torn journal entry from her teenage years—one that clearly references a fantasy about him—which leaves him coughing in shock. Rosie then aggressively flirts, asking about Ford's dating history. He reveals he's only been with two women: a college girlfriend he broke up with because she wasn't right, and a later girlfriend who betrayed him during the Gramophone fallout by sleeping with his business partner when Ford tried to protect artist royalties. Ford admits he trusts sparingly now but tells Rosie he trusts her. He confesses he's only ever really wanted one woman, and the tension escalates as he draws an X on her underwear with his pen to mark her clit, then brings her to orgasm on his desk through her panties. The moment is interrupted by West's arrival; Ford rushes out to intercept him, and Rosie teases Ford as he leaves with West.

Later, Cora calls Rosie from school—she's in trouble for calling her social studies teacher a "chauvinist piece of shit" after he made a sexist comment about women not handling pressure. Rosie arrives at the school and witnesses Ford hugging Cora and wiping her tears, a deeply emotional father-daughter moment. Ford and Rosie go into the principal's office together, where they're mistaken for a married couple. Ford aggressively defends Cora while Rosie plays a moderating role before also siding with Cora. They negotiate for Cora to finish the class's curriculum independently rather than face suspension. Afterward, Ford holds Rosie's hand as they leave.

The next morning, Ford drops Cora at school and they share a tender conversation. Cora asks if Ford is mad at her; he reassures her she's his most important priority and that he'll always have her back. Cora whispers that she misses her dad every day but is glad she has Ford, then hugs him tightly. Ford returns to the office to find a painter named Scotty (Derek Scott) flirting with Rosie. Ford is visibly jealous and territorial, inserting himself between them. He and Rosie banter about her period pain, with Ford offering matter-of-fact comfort and suggesting she go home. She refuses. Ford leaves for errands and returns to find Scotty still eyeing Rosie, prompting him to email her suggesting they work from his house to avoid the "paint fumes."