Besides being unsure about wanting kids, one more obstacle nagged at Joy: whether she’ll be a good romantic partner for Malcolm or not. She has being a supportive best friend mastered and down pat. They’re already affectionate. They have ten years of history behind them. They barely have any secrets. But something must change when the shift from friend to girlfriend occurs. There has to be some additional element she’s never experienced before.

What else will Malcolm expect from her? Will she be able to handle it?

Spending time with Fox can be her chance to find out if she’s even capable of going beyond connecting with someone. This is safe. It’s practice.

No one has to know she’s pretending it’s real. No one has to know she’s preparing for the real thing with Malcolm later.

Maybe she should wear something Fox would also like. Or something she thinks he would like, since she doesn’t know him well yet. She’s never gotten ready for a date before but has seen her sister and former roommates do it. There’s the shaving, the plucking, the running around with nerves, the outfit changes, the agonizing over which perfume to wear, the makeup and hair . . .

Joy used to love those nights—doing everything she could to help them feel beautiful, feel prepared and ready to conquer the world. Clothing and makeup as armor. Confidence and daring as their weapons of choice. And the way they would gas each other up, taking photos and laughing. That’s what she remembers most: the laughter and happiness. How supportive they all were of each other.

Her very first date and she’s getting ready alone. Being honest, that seriously bums her out a little. So, of course, she calls her sister.

“What are you doing?” Grace says when she picks up.

“I need help. I technically have a date tonight.”

Grace’s reaction goes from disbelief to screaming to full-blown witch-cackling when Joy tells her about Fox’s idea. “That’s diabolical and I fucking love it! Yes! Take me to the closet right now.”

Joy’s white floral lace maxi dress number won the night. The deep V-neckline on a princess-seamed bodice, the short cap sleeves, the delicate buttons in the back, the flowy skirt; no shoes, just summer fairy queen vibes; lips and toes painted a vibrant plum color—the perfect balance between casual and ethereal. She painstakingly piled her braids up into a high ponytail to show off her teardrop-shaped amethyst earrings.

“Okay,” Summer says when she sees her. “Next time you go shopping, you have to take me with you. Please, please teach me your ways.”

Joy isn’t sure if she can trust the awestruck cadence in Summer’s voice because she’s been fooled before. But . . . it felt like a genuine compliment? If Malcolm hadn’t looped his heartstrings around her, Joy suspects she might like her.