Page 55 of The Romantic Agenda
“Oh.” Joy’s gaze flicked to his thumb ring.
“Yeah. And he died in a car accident five years ago.”
“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. Whenyou 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?”
“Thoughtfuland attentive. Youcareso much about other people’s well-being it’s practically bleeding out of you.”
Joy balls her hands into fists to stop them from shaking. Her mind feels like a hamster on a wheel, just running in circles for dear life. Why does her chest feel so tight why is he looking at her like that why is he saying such nice things why isn’t he freaked out why does he want to help her why why why why why why— “Summer said you were emotionally closed off,” she says. “This is not that. I want a refund.”
He laughs. “You want to know me and I want to help you. You’re a good person, Joy. You made me, a stranger, a birthday cake, the best cake I’ve ever had in my life. I owe you one.”
Joy turns to the goat. “You can eat my sweater now.” She deserves that because she certainly doesn’t deserve someone as wonderful as Fox so committed to helping her. “I got it during Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale. I hope it’s delicious.”
“And,” he says with a grin, “you’re not exactly unpleasant to be around.”
“Not exactly? Don’t know how I feel about that.”
“Good.” He laughs again.
Fifteen
Going to Glass Bead Winery & Vineyards sounded great in theory—until Joy saw the helicopter waiting to take off.
In the car, she drifts toward the front seat like a vengeful ghost. “The agenda didn’t say anything about a helicopter, Malcolm,” she seethes into his ear. “I thought we were driving and stopping by the cabin first. I smell likegoat. Adorable baby goat.”
He turns to her with a smirk. “That’s your fault, darling.”
“I can’t go to a fancy winery smelling likegoatinwrinkledclothes.”
Summer giggles in the front seat.
“First time for everything.”
“If it helps, I also smell like goat,” Fox says, tone completely flat. “We can make up a cover story about how we rescued them from near death on the freeway and returned them to their farm. We had to hold them the whole way to keep them calm and camestraight there to make our appointment. We even have the pictures to prove it. People love animal rescue stories.”
