Page 22 of F Is for Honey Bee

Kijani’s expression softened. “He’s the most beautiful bumble-wolf I’ve ever seen.”

“Shouldn’t he be a honey-wolf?” Jonah felt a flutter in his stomach. He loved that they could joke and tease each other, instead of arguing and being angry all the time like it had been with his previous boyfriends.

He and Kijani seemed to click so effortlessly.

“That would make more sense.” Kijani slid his arm around Jonah’s waist as they walked down the midway.

As the night sky filled with stars, they found themselves sitting on the grass by Kijani’s motorcycle, watching as families drifted to their cars, trying to get their over-sugared kids into them.

Kijani sat there with the stuffed bee resting on his lap, as if it was his turn to watch “junior.”

It had been one of the best days Jonah had ever had.

Chapter Seven

“How’re you feeling?” Arlo curled his fingers around the edge of the large tray of unsorted mail Jonah was working on.

“You asked me that earlier.” Ever since Jonah had gotten to work this morning, Arlo had been hovering around him like an anxious puppy. Did he think Jonah was going to break down at any moment from the trauma Flint had caused?

If he didn’t stop, Jonah was going to find a rolled-up newspaper and swat him away.

Honestly, it was annoying. Jonah didn’t want a puppy yapping around him. He wanted a wolf who could make him howl. A wolf who turned his brain inside out with just one kiss.

Even now, Jonah’s thoughts drifted to that kiss they’d shared two days ago in Kijani’s kitchen. It still had him panting. Still had him so hot he felt like he was baking under the sun’s rays.

Then yesterday? The motorcycle ride and spending the day at the fair with Kijani still had Jonah smiling. It would have been an even better day if Kijani had kissed him at some point. Even without a mind-blowing kiss, he wouldn’t have traded their time together for anything.

Now Jonah really wanted that whole lotta good.

Especially since a shit-ton of bad stood right in front of him.

“But I saw you standing over here looking… I don’t know, maybe pensive?” Arlo leaned his forearms on the edge of the large tray, an over-bright fanatic shine in his eyes.

“People zone out, Arlo. You don’t have to run a vibe check on me.” Jonah started casing large envelopes and bulky items, using the “taco” method as he swung into a rhythm.

His back to Arlo should have been a hinty-hint-hint, but the guy kept talking. Lucky me.

“You’re being a dick again,” Arlo grumbled.

“This isn’t social hour at Fearless Fox.” Jonah grabbed the loose mail and continued sorting, frustrated when he had to tap a letter repeatedly so the address would show through the window on the envelope. “I have to get this completed in a timely manner.”

Jonah moved on to sorting parcels, wishing Arlo would go away. They’d been getting along at work, but ever since Flint’s arrest, he was becoming clingy, which was one of the many problems they’d had as a couple.

Arlo’s list of issues was as long as Santa’s list of naughty and nice children. Jonah had dealt with his obsessive clinginess when they’d been dating. He sure as hell didn’t want to deal with it again.

“Did you want to go for a drink after work?” Arlo asked as if Jonah’s snarky comment about the bar had been a suggestion.

How dense could one guy be? The wall between them was so obvious, yet Arlo seemed oblivious to it. Did Jonah have to put up a neon sign that read “Not a Chance in Hell” for his ex-boyfriend to finally get the message?

“Want I want is to get my work done.” Jonah moved the trays to the casing area and began to pull down the mail from the individual slots, sorting them according to his route.

“You’re starting to act like Flint again, like his hostility has rubbed off on you.”

“Because I’m trying to get my work done?” Jonah asked incredulously.

“Because you act like grabbing a drink with a friend is beneath you.” He flattened his lips while breathing heavily through his nose.

Flint had acted jealous, not high and mighty. But Jonah wasn’t acting that way. He just wanted for Arlo to leave him alone.

---