“What’s that?” She giggles and feels stupid for doing it but can’t stop.

“Think of it like a cheat code,” he says, laughing too.

Fox lifts himself up, and she holds her arms open for him, bringing him close. He kisses her mouth and says, “You’re too beautiful. I almost can’t believe you’re real.”

“Fox, no. Don’t say that.” She buries her face in his neck, practically her new favorite spot. “It’s so cheesy and I love it.”

Downstairs after dinner, Fox and Joy are still wrapped up in each other, snuggled under the blankets on the couch watching a movie. She shifts to the left, head landing perfectly in the crook of his neck.

Fox says, “You should go to bed.”

“I’m not sleeping.”

“You’re resting, yes, I know.”

Joy groans in complaint. “It’s not my fault. If I hold out a little longer, my second wind will kick in.”

Malcolm and Summer are still missing in action. The sun went down hours ago, it’s so far past her bedtime her shadow person is probably pissed that’s she’s late, and everyone knows you can only watch so many Nicolas Cage movies before your hold on reality begins to slip. If Joy hasn’t lost count, the credits for their third completed film are rolling on the screen. She snuggles closer to Fox, breathing in deeply. “I’m fine.”

His hands are on her thighs and her back.

“I’m awake.” Joy closes her eyes again. “We’re moving?” she says, voice thick with sleep. “Where did the couch go?”

“It’s still there.” Fox is carrying her up the stairs.

“This is cheating, oh my god.”

“Cheating how?” He sets her down in front of her door, holding her steady by the hips.

“I don’t know.” Joy rubs her face in defeat. “It just is.”

Fox leans in, and she tilts her head upward to meet him in the middle. At the last second, he bypasses her lips in favor of her ear. “Good night, Joy,” he whispers before leaving a kiss on her cheek.

Joy supposes that’s acceptable. Not what she wanted, but it’ll do. There’s still tomorrow. She still has roughly thirty-plus hours left to spend connected to him. Not that she’s counting. “Good night.”

Joy flies through her nighttime routine in record time and collapses into bed. She’s asleep before remembering to turn off the lights and turn on her makeshift nightlight. And she’s in full-blown snoring mode when someone knocks on the door.

The sound jolts her awake, heart racing with the sudden fear that only being caught unaware and defenseless can bring. “Yeah?”

It’s Malcolm. As expected. Hasn’t he visited her every night so far?

“Hey. You asleep?”