Page 37 of F Is for Honey Bee

Chapter Ten

“I tried to call you yesterday. I even swung by your house after work,” Arlo complained the following morning. “George said you called in sick. Why weren’t you home?”

“Because I wasn’t aware you’d become my nursemaid.” Jonah set his things on his worktable. “Just because I didn’t answer the door doesn’t mean I wasn’t home.”

He’d foolishly hoped for a day without Arlo’s annoyance. This was getting ridiculous, and Jonah needed to put a stop to the harassment.

“You could have at least answered when I called,” Arlo argued. “I only wanted to check on you. And you never told me when you were going to stop by and see my mom.”

Jonah’s frustration boiled over. “I don’t need you constantly checking on me,” he said through gritted teeth. “I’m also under no obligation to answer your calls or my door. I never asked you to come by. This harassment has to stop!”

“You’re labeling my concern as harassment?” Arlo’s nostrils flared.

“Why?” Jonah demanded. “Why are you suddenly coming by my house and why are you all concerned about me? Is it because I’m no longer with Flint?”

“You should have never dated that piece of shit,” Arlo ground out.

“Who I date is none of your goddamn business, Arlo.” Jonah slammed the tray of unsorted mail on his worktable, nearly toppling the cup of coffee he’d grabbed from Bluebird Café on his way to work.

“So I’m supposed to just stand by and watch you date a string of losers?”

Jonah’s days of dating were over now that he was mated to Kijani. “Can you identify the true issue with that question?”

“You dating losers,” Arlo snapped.

“No,” Jonah retorted with just as much anger. “You standing by and watching me. I didn’t ask for, nor do I want, your concern. You’re not my boyfriend or my wingman.”

“I’m your friend,” Arlo said, his tone more reasonable now. “Friends watch out for each other. I care about you, and I’m not going to see you hurt again.”

It was as if Jonah was talking to a brick wall. Arlo stubbornly refused to get it through his thick skull that Jonah didn’t want his excessive attention and concern.

“You shouldn’t be dating that deputy,” Arlo said. “I get it. That fiasco with Flint left you feeling vulnerable. A cop symbolizes protection to you. But it’s too soon for you to start a new relationship.”

Jonah’s breath caught in his throat, a feeling of discomfort creeping through his body. The only time Arlo had seen Kijani was in the employee parking lot, but Jonah and Kijani’s interaction had given no indication they were dating. “Have you been watching me?”

Arlo frowned. “What are you talking about?”

Moving swiftly past Arlo, Jonah made a beeline for George’s office. In their smalltown post office, there was no designated human resources department. George, the postmaster, handled all aspects of employee management, including addressing any grievances.

Jonah cursed when he didn’t see George in his office.

“He’s gone for the day,” Navy said from behind the counter in the lobby. “Had some family thing he had to take care of…again.”

At least twice a week George took off from work during his shift, but why did it have to be today of all days?

“What’s gotten into you?”

Jonah jerked at the sound of Arlo’s voice right behind him. He spun to find the guy only a few inches away. “Why are you following me?”

“Because you shot past me like your ass was on fire,” Arlo replied. “I thought maybe you were still sick from yesterday and were going to throw up.”

Jesus. “What were you going to do, catch my vomit?”

“You obviously came back to work too soon.” Arlo pulled out his phone. “I’m calling Brett to take over your route today.”

He didn’t stop Arlo. With Brett filling in for him, Jonah could get the hell out of there. He was completely freaked out that Arlo had been watching him.

“He’s on his way in,” Arlo said after he hung up. “I’ll drive you home. You look a little pale.”

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