This seems to be too much—a what the heck? expression breaks through Fox’s cocky demeanor. Overbearingly honest is her brand, he said it himself. That’s exactly what she would say even if they weren’t trying to make it seem real.

Joy winks at him, as if to say trust me, then pretends to do a double take over her shoulder.

Summer and Malcolm are side by side with mirroring blank expressions on their faces. They’re both just standing there, staring at them.

“What?” Joy asks. “Is something wrong?”

“No,” Summer says quickly. Malcolm doesn’t answer.

Joy shrugs, turning back around. She grabs the soap, squeezing it onto the sponge. “Why be cool when you can dazzle?” she says to Fox. “Good luck figuring that one out.”

“Oh, I will,” he says and then winks back at her.

Nine

The food delivery arrives right on time. Malcolm wastes no time shooing Joy and Fox out of the kitchen, but Summer stays behind. He’s going to teach her how to make . . . something. The dinner menu isn’t listed on the agenda.

Fox says, “Joke’s on him. Summer can’t cook. At all.”

“Malcolm’s a good teacher. There’s also recipe cards.”

“At. All.”

Joy laughs as they sit on the couch together. “What should we do, then? Sitting here is nice. It’s an extremely comfortable couch.”

“It is. But sitting might be too passive.”

Joy glances toward the kitchen. Malcolm and Summer aren’t worried about them in the slightest. All their focus is devoted to each other and the food.

Fox continues, “We need to come up with something they can see us doing while they’re cooking.” His arms are loose at his sides, but he taps his right thumb against his knee as he thinks. He’s wearing a gold band—there’s an engraving on it but the words are hard to make out.

“Like what? I don’t really know what couples are supposed to do.”

“The most important thing is we spend time together.” Fox scratches the side of his face. “I have an idea, but I’ll have to touch you.”

Joy eyes him, trying to keep her suspicions at a non-antagonistic level. “Touch me where?”

“Wherever you want. I’ll be right back.”

Fox rises from the couch and heads for the kitchen. He asks Summer something, she nods with a grin, and then he leaves, taking the stairs two at a time.

As much as Joy doesn’t want to admit it, the fish out of water vibes are thriving at the moment. Relying on him when his idea starts with I’ll have to touch you is mildly terrifying because it’s way too open-ended. She’s never dated, but she isn’t inexperienced.