Page 11 of F Is for Honey Bee

And of course, now that there was a wolf sleeping on his living room floor, that was when the guy decided to drop by.

Talk about the worst timing.

“I just saw you looking through your blinds,” Arlo called out.

Jonah jerked away from the window.

“I really need to talk to you.” Arlo repeatedly pressed the doorbell, the incessant ringing echoing through the house. “Come on, Jonah. Answer your door.”

“I can’t talk right now!” Jonah sprinted to the couch and grabbed the throw blanket then tossed it over the wolf. The blanket barely covered its midsection.

“I heard about Flint getting arrested.”

Jonah furrowed his brows as he stared at the door. It had only been two hours since Flint’s arrest. How in the hell had Arlo heard about it?

“I’m not leaving until we talk,” Arlo insisted.

Gritting his teeth, Jonah stormed toward the door. He’d had enough of asshole men for one day. Fine, if the guy wanted to talk, they were going to talk. Jonah opened the door and quickly stepped outside, slamming it behind him.

Arlo’s eyes widened as he took a step back. “Aren’t you going to invite me inside?”

“I would if I’d asked you to come over,” Jonah retorted, careful to keep his voice down so the neighbors wouldn’t get yet another show. “Don’t you ever stand on my porch and make a scene like that again.”

“It was the only way to get you to answer your door,” Arlo argued.

Jonah mentally counted to ten before responding. “What do you want?”

“Flint’s hostility must’ve rubbed off on you.” Arlo crossed his arms. “Forgive me for being concerned about you when I heard your boyfriend got hauled away in handcuffs.”

“I don’t know how you found out, but it’s none of your business.” Jonah stared coolly at him. “Your right to be concerned ended the night we broke up.”

Arlo’s eyes hardened. “You were a nice guy until you started dating that jerk.”

“Don’t twist the truth. I was a doormat until I finally ended things with you. Now what?” Jonah demanded with a bitter tone. “Flint gets arrested so you think you can swoop in and offer me a shoulder to cry on?”

He realized he was directing his anger and fear from Flint’s actions toward Arlo, as well as his fear of what could have happened to Kijani when that SUV blew up.

No two ways about it. Jonah was rattled and furious as the weight of everything pressed down on him, causing him to lash out at the first person who’d irritated him enough to unleash all those pent-up emotions.

“Just because Flint was a dick to you doesn’t mean you have to treat others that way,” Arlo bit out. “I thought we’d put our past behind us and were finally getting along, but I see I was wrong.”

“I’ve just had a really bad day.” Jonah pinched the bridge of his nose. Bad day didn’t even begin to describe what he’d been through in the past few hours. He felt chewed up and spit out, and the night wasn’t even over yet.

Arlo’s shoulders slumped. “I know I wasn’t a great boyfriend, and I’m sorry. Even though things didn’t work out between us, I still care about you, Jonah, and I want to be there for you…as a friend.”

Not once had Arlo apologized while they were dating, and Jonah wasn’t sure how to react.

Arlo continued, “I heard about Flint from a friend, and I couldn’t stand the thought of you being alone and vulnerable. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

Jonah rubbed the back of his neck. “Look, Arlo, I appreciate your worry, but now isn’t a good time.”

Despite the guy’s reasons for coming by, that didn’t make up for their past. Not by a longshot. Jonah didn’t mind them being amiable at work, but that was where it ended. He didn’t want Arlo showing up at his house or assuming they could spend time together off the clock.

“I understand.” Arlo smiled. “Maybe another time?”

“I really have to get back inside. I’ll see you at work.” Jonah reached behind his back and grabbed the doorknob. He didn’t like the hopeful look in Arlo’s eyes. If the guy thought there was a possibility of rekindling their relationship, he was sorely mistaken.

As Arlo headed to his car, Jonah prayed the universe wouldn’t throw any more bullshit his way. But deep down, he had a feeling the universe would only flip him off and do what it damn well pleased.

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