Keep up appearances because this shared moment isn’t real.

Joy drags her teeth across her bottom lip before pulling it into her mouth. Are constant reminders that they’re only pretending supposed to be an integral part of fake dating? Striving to “keep up appearances” sounds no better than going through the motions—dry and repetitive.

She isn’t sure she wants to do that. How boring. Performance or not, there’s no reason why they can’t have a good time. They should be taking this time to properly get acquainted. Eyes on the prize and each other.

Unless Fox doesn’t want to. Maybe this is all business to him.

“Finished.” He’s drawn a butterfly with oversized antennae wearing a three-pointed crown. “It’s called a Lange’s metalmark.”

“I love it. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Joy would never confess to having a romantic bucket list under oath, in a court of law. Its alleged existence may or may have not included a list of fifteen items she may or may not have wanted to experience someday. Hopefully with Malcolm, but seeing as how the alleged list began when she was in high school, she hadn’t had him in mind when writing it. His name filled in the alleged blanks much, much later.

If she had known she’d love sitting on a couch while a cute guy drew a temporary tattoo on her arm, she would have added it. Allegedly.

There’s also something on that alleged list she could do that night. “I kind of want to dress for dinner. I’m going to head upstairs and get ready.”

Fox doesn’t hide his surprise, replying, “Oh. Okay. I’ll see you later, then.”

Joy takes the time to properly unpack, hanging up her clothes so the wrinkles will fall out. She isn’t sure what she wants to wear yet. A poll on Rule of Thirds could help her decide, but she doesn’t feel like logging in. She must have posted close to twenty powershots of her on the boat. No need to punish her click-through rate any further.

According to the agenda, after the dinner they would watch a movie and then follow Summer’s lead for the rest of the night. She needs to be comfortable for that, but she isn’t quite ready for a pajama set. Her hand stills over one of the fancier dresses she brought. Because she has a date.

They’re “together” now. Joy has a “boyfriend.” Imagine that.