“Oh.”

“Grief makes you do things you normally wouldn’t. She didn’t have anyone else. I was there and—” He exhales in a huff, waking his sleeping lamb, who bleats in distress before closing its eyes again. “Within a month, we both knew it wasn’t going to work, but I’m the one who broke it off. I made a promise to myself. I would always, always look out for her. Me and Fiona, we take care of her, you know? She’s family now. So no, we’re never dating again. Neither one of us wants that.”

“Oh.”

“If Malcolm asks to make things official, Summer will say yes. I can’t stop that. If it’s going to happen, it’ll happen. But I can try to help you before it gets to that point because I know I’m right.”

“Oh,” she says again and then shakes her head to make herself stop. “Oh, no. No. Fox, I don’t know if this is a good idea anymore. You don’t have to do this with me. Malcolm and I are . . . complicated. You just met me. You don’t need to be dragged into our mess.”

“I’m already here. Tell me, what did he say exactly? Because I think he’s assuming you’re not interested in dating, period. When you first told me you were asexual, that’s what I did until I asked questions to clarify.”

“We honestly haven’t talked about it in years.”

“Well, there you go. To me, it sounds like he’s assuming that’s still true.”

“Even if that’s what he thinks, he’s fine with it. I feel like if I say anything now, it’ll be a burden on him. I’d be making him responsible for my feelings when he just told me he needs to stop doing that. I have to respect his wishes.”

“Then don’t say anything to him. Let’s keep going, me and you, see what happens. I’m telling you we’re not out yet.” Fox leans in as close to her as his lamb allows. “Joy.”

His deep rumble softened into that tender cadence she heard the night before. She wants to ask him to say her name again, and almost does, but stops herself.

“I’ve been hearing about you nearly non-stop for a month,” he says. “And the thing is, Malcolm didn’t lie. Not once. The terrible jokes, how smart and stubborn you are—it’s all true. I tried to call you out for eavesdropping and you wished me a happy birthday because that’s the kind of person you are.”

“Petty? Passive aggressive?”

“Thoughtful and attentive. You care so much about other people’s well-being it’s practically bleeding out of you.”