“Yeah,” Bobby said, “obviously.They’re all way too attractive.”
“Look who’s talking,” Fox said.
Bobby had the good grace to blush.
“I like that you’re way too good-looking for your job,” I told Bobby.
“Uh, thank you.”
“So does Mr.Cheek.”
This time, his “Thank you” was less enthusiastic.
“And those ladies with the sports bras you stopped and gave a citation for littering, theyreallyliked it—”
“Okay,” Bobby said loudly.
“—and that’s why one of them tried to—” Bobby covered my mouth, and I started to giggle, but I managed to get the rest of it out: “—put the ticket in your pants.”
“All right,” Bobby said.He wrapped me in a bear hug.“Enough.”
Fox’s growling was entering a crescendo.
The familiar music began to play again—the beginning of the next episode.
Relaxing his hold on me, Bobby kissed my cheek and said, “I’m going upstairs.”And then, after a beat: “To bed.”
I glanced at the TV.“But Fox said the one after this—”
“Dash: I’m going upstairs.To bed.”
“Uh huh—oh!”
Bobby kissed me and left.
I lasted about two minutes.I had no clue what was happening in the episode; I was squirming in my seat.
Fox gave me a pointed look.Then, with a sigh, they grabbed the remote and paused the show.They sighed again.I had the impression that if they’d had a scarf, they’d be dramatically throwing it over one shoulder, or dramatically winding it about their neck, or dramatically getting it caught in a plane propeller.
“Go,” they finally said.
“For real?”But I was already halfway to the door.
Fox wore a little smile.“Ah,” they said.“Young love.”
Found Family
This story takes place beforeRetool.
1
I opened the freezer.Inside, next to the bags of vegetables, and the carefully wrapped meals Indira had made in advance, and, most importantly, the cartons of ice cream (I spotted an untouched Moose Chunks that I hadn’t known about), the ice maker glittered.
“See?”I asked.
“I see a freezer,” Bobby said.There was a tone.I think it was because he didn’t appreciate that I’d made him get his gun, which he held low at his side.
“The ice maker,” I said.
