A wildfire begins to rage in the back of Joy’s brain. Stay cool. Stay calm. It’s not his fault. She turns on the tap and quickly washes everything, setting the clean dishes onto the drying rack. After wiping her hands, she leans against the sink, watching Fox from across the room. Stay cool. Stay calm. It’s not his fault. “Malcolm said she invited you because it’s your birthday and you two had plans.”

“We did, but she could have canceled them.”

Joy nods, biting her lip. “He asked me to keep you company so he could spend time alone with Summer without you getting in the way. I didn’t think anything of it. I don’t think he did either.”

“I guess we can agree to disagree on that. Doesn’t change that something is happening around us. And that something is trying to push us together.”

“What’s your story, then? No fair you’ve got my number and you haven’t given me yours.”

“I don’t have a number.”

“Lying liar.”

“Only that time.” Fox’s amused half-grin barely lasts two seconds and it stuns the shit out of Joy. She flinches from the force of it, eyebrows leaping without her consent. It’s undoubtedly sexist to ask someone to smile, but oof. Finding out what kind of jokes he likes magically shoots to the top of her to-do list. “Summer and I used to date. We decided we’d be better off as friends.”

“ ‘We’? Or she?” Joy asks, knowing she won’t get an answer. And she doesn’t. “I get it.”

“You do?”

“Two strangers, both alike in dignity, and in love with our best friends who are interested in each other.” Joy takes the seat on his left. There’s no harm in being honest with him. “Not to bare my soul a smooth four hours after meeting you, but this is old hat for me. His partners come and I’m still here when they go.”

“Here waiting?”

“Not exactly. Things . . . changed for me this past year. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being friends with someone you may or may not be in love with as long as you don’t expect anything in return. My love for Malcolm isn’t conditional. I just haven’t figured out a way to be honest with him about things yet.”

“About said changes?”

“You’re a smart one,” Joy teases. “This whole best friend setup is really blowing my mind, though. Why would she bother doing all of this?”

“Aren’t you supposed to be obsessed with bad puns?” Fox’s friendly assessing squint nearly makes her laugh. “I’m surprised you didn’t say ‘The Ex-Trap.’ You know, like The Parent Trap.”

Joy laughs. “Okay, one, I am, and that was excellent. Unfortunately, two, it doesn’t exactly fit because I’m not Malcolm’s ex.”