“No, but I’ll take it,” she says. “Malibu and pineapple juice?”

Malcolm starts making her drink, and it instantly takes her back to college. On the nights when he worked as a bartender, she’d stay for his entire shift to keep him company. But instead of sitting at the bar, delirious and lovesick, she danced for hours, having the time of her life. Eventually the club offered her a job, the start of her illustrious go-go dancing career.

Every memory and every story. My friend Joy this and my Malcolm that.

“We haven’t done this in a while,” she says.

Malcolm places her drink on the bar with a coaster. “I know. We’ve been busy.” He doesn’t look at her as he wipes the counter down and goes back to prepping the food.

Busy growing up, working, and building their lives up from nothing. Side by side and alone, together. “You look tired,” she says.

“Yeah.”

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah.”

“I guess I’ll leave you to it.”

“Okay,” he says. “I’ll see you out there.”

Joy approaches Fox and Summer, joining them near the edge of the lake. Her hoodie has bear ears on the top—Fox tugs at one of them, and she doesn’t mean to look up at him with sad eyes and a pout, but she can feel it on her face and see it in his eyes.

“What’s wrong?” he asks immediately.

“Are you okay?” Summer looks concerned . . . and wobbly. She’s flushed from the chest up and her eyes are glassy.

“Are you?” Joy asks. “You’re kind of red there.”

“I’m perfect.” Summer drains her beer and hiccups. “I think I need another one.”

Fox sighs. “I’m cutting you off at five.”

“Ew. No,” she says with a snort, already walking away.

Joy’s eyes widen in surprise. “Does she always get so . . . sassy with you when she’s drunk?”

“Yeah, and it’s all downhill from here,” he says. “Now, what’s with the sad face?”

“Something’s up with Malcolm. It’s like he doesn’t want to talk to me,” she says, watching the water. “Did something happen while I was upstairs?”

“Not that I know of.”

“He should be happy. They’re going to flit away to some festival together tomorrow for his big confession. Oh god,” she says with a groan. “And that’s why he’s upset. He’s stressed about that especially considering what happened today. He gets like this at work too.” She rolls her eyes and sets her drink down. “He’s impossible to deal with the night before important meetings or presentations. I’ll be right back.”

Malcolm is beside the bar now, preparing to carry the meat out to the barbecue. Joy takes the tray out of his hands, sitting it back down on the bar. “Hey, hey, I have returned. I need to talk to you.”

“What?”