The first deer’s ears flick again, drawing Joy’s eye. There are two small nubs on its forehead and a patch of white around its muzzle and down its neck. She’s never seen a deer before. It’s both bigger and smaller than she thought it’d be. It’s hair also has a grayish tint to it, not a solid Bambi brown that her scared brain initially thought. Judging by the tiny nubs, it must be young too.

“Hey, hey,” she whispers. “I’m just having some me time out here. You can go do your deer thing. I won’t move until you go.” To prove it, she sits on the ground and patiently waits for it to leave.

But it doesn’t. Not for a while.

Not until it hears the chime caused by a text from Malcolm:

Pack your bags. We’re leaving. Tonight.

Twenty-Six

Malcolm breezes into the house shortly after sending his text. He gathers his things, only sharing words and directions with Summer.

They’re packed and out of the cabin fifty-seven minutes later. All the non-perishable leftover food and drinks are set out for pickup to go to a local food bank.

Joy takes her time saying goodbye to the lake and all her favorite spots in the cabin like the hammock, the kitchen, and the front porch. It’s hard to believe that when she first arrived, she threw herself into the lake because she felt so suffocated by the situation she put herself in, and by Summer.

And now, as they’re leaving, she’s made her peace with Summer, facing an uncertain future with Malcolm, and saying goodbye to her fake boyfriend, who, according to Summer, has developed real feelings for her.

Oh lord, are those feelings mutual.

One last time, they all climb into Malcolm’s Jeep. Summer navigates again, playlist of warbly whiny boys back in rotation. This time, Malcolm frequently glances upward to check on Joy through the mirror. Instead of sitting behind him, Joy takes up the middle seat to be closer to Fox.

Fox holds Joy’s hand, and she rests her head on his shoulder. Every so often he presses a kiss to the top of her forehead. Malcolm’s text had been so sudden, Joy didn’t have time to process that going home also meant an early end to the deal with Fox. And now that she has there’s this peculiar encroaching sadness growing inside of her with every minute that passes, every mile they travel.