Casey returns to the gynecologist for cauterization of her cervix. The doctor tells her she may have endometriosis, which could mean she can’t get pregnant. Afterwards, she and Muriel talk about their books over lunch. Muriel is stuck on one of her scenes, and she’s about to go to Rome for a conference with the publishing house she works for. Muriel asks Casey about her rewrite and offers to read it. Casey, embarrassed that she’ll be another writer friend burdening Muriel with their manuscript, refuses. Muriel convinces her to let her read it in two weeks, emphasizing the importance of the writer community. They walk around shops Casey can’t afford to shop in, and Casey tells Muriel about her date with Oscar. Muriel asks if she’s read his books; Casey hasn’t because she’s worried it will influence the way she looks at him. Muriel laughs and tells Casey that in Oscar’s sex scenes, he always uses the word sour.

After her Friday night shift, she and Oscar go for a walk with a slice of his mother’s carrot cake. Casey enjoys spending time with him and kissing him, realizing that “[t]here isn’t that feeling you get with most guys, like they’re barreling toward one place and one place only and seeing how fast they can get there without complication or too much conversation” (246).