Page 59 of Empty Net

I raise my brows. “Never?”

“Some of the guys have been here, but they’re idiots. I don’t have to impress them by showing them my apartment.”

“You’re trying to impress me?”

His cheeks redden, and he clears his throat. “Want to see more?”

I nod and let him lead the way from the kitchen into the living room, our mugs of heavenly lemonade in hand. To my surprise, a few paintings hang on the walls, something I don’t think I’ve seen in a guy’s place in…well, ever. The guys I’ve datedall have movie posters up or scantily clad women, nothing like the modern designs he has.

“Wow. I love these,” I say, stepping up to one featuring multiple shades of blue.

“I can’t take the credit for it. My family may call me Artie, but it’s my sister who is the artistic one. She did these. Incredible, right?”

“I have questions. First, your family calls youArtie?”

“Unfortunately.”

I can’t help laughing at the pained expression on his face.

“It’s cute.”

“It’s terrible, and you know it.”

“No, seriously. I like it…Artie.”

“Watch it,” he says, eyes narrowed over the rim of his mug as he brings it to his lips, and it’s kind of…hot.

He’s not truly mad, but something about the idea of seeing a grumpy Fox excites me. I don’t think I’ve seen him like that before.

He takes a drink and smacks his lips. “What was the second?”

“Huh?” I ask, already having lost track of what we were talking about, distracted by his adorable family nickname and scowl.

“You said you have questions. What was the second one?”

“Oh! How come you never told me you have a sister?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know. It never came up.”

“That’s definitely something your fake fiancée should know. Anything else you’re hiding from me,Artie?”

Another glare, and I delight in it far too much. “Nope. I think that’s about it. Just two younger siblings, one sister and one brother.”

“Hmm” is all I say, then I point to the photos lining the bookshelf tucked away in the back of the room. There are very few books for such a large shelf.

“Are these them?”

“That’d be them.” His grin is back in full force, and he walks me to the photos. “They’re twins, so I was the outlier for my parents. That’s Russ with his kids, and yes, they’re twins too.” He points to a man squatting down next to two nearly identical children. “And this is Regan with her dog Cricket. He’s like seventeen or something and still going strong. It’s wild.” He points to the next photo, a young couple in what looks to be a courthouse, both wearing casual clothes but clearly getting married. “And those are my parents, Bonnie and Roy.” He goes to the next picture. “This is all of us at Christmas this year.”

I study each picture, especially Fox in his Christmas pajamas that match the rest of his family’s attire.

“Your whole family is beautiful,” I tell him, unable to take my eyes off them.

They all look so happy, like an actual loving family. I can’t remember the last time mine took a photo together that wasn’t for a paper.

“Are you kidding? My brother is ugly as hell. And my sister’s index toe is freakishly long.”

I laugh because he sounds exactly like a big brother should sound. I’d say the same thing about Sadie, too, and I wonder briefly what she would think of my deal with Fox. She’d probably laugh, then air high-five me from thousands of miles away for messing with our parents.

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