Page 185 of Those Who Are Bound

Killion had read her mind. “He’s not here. He’s in Oregon.”

She’d tried not to react. Why hadn’t she thought of that as a possibility? After all, he had been planning on moving there before he’d met her… she’d simply been a slight hindrance. A bad bet. Plans forestalled.

But now, he was able to get his life back on track and close that loop.

The shearing of her heart surprised her. She should be happy that he was gone so there would be no opportunity for her to see him with a wife and, one day, children. She should be happy that he was moving on.

She should be, but she wasn’t.

However, it made showing up at the dinner somewhat easier. And bittersweet. Truth be told, she’d hoped they’d have one of those moments where they ran into each other on the Plaza, maybe at the pizza parlor.

Maybe in Parkville, but she never could think of a good enough excuse to go there… unless she needed new boxing gloves. Or to visit the trains. Although, she’d been to the City Market a few times, bypassing all the closer ones. But no, he’d returned to Oregon. So there would be no glancing up from the selection of summer squash to find him staring back at her over the rim of a cup of coffee.

Seated with them at the round table was a family of three, the son approximately ten years old, and their new employee, a young woman who didn’t look old enough to have graduated from high school. But through conversation, Elliott knew she was twenty-three. She now worked for a custom printing shop in Olathe.

The eight-seater was currently seating six: the family of three and their employee, Killion, and Elliott. When Elliott had arrived, Killion had informed her that his mother wasn’t going to make it. A car service had been arranged to collect the woman—Elliott knew that, because she and Lucy had arranged it—but the assisted living staff had called Killion and let him know that his mother wasn’t well enough to make the drive.

“I’m sorry,” Elliott said as she took her seat, tucking her skirt beneath her. Also, for Killion, she wore a dress. But shewassorry; she knew how much he’d wanted his mother here.

And he cleaned up well, looking good in his suit. The formality wasn’t required. People were dressed in everything from shorts to suits and dresses. And although wearing the latter, Elliott’s had a short skirt, and she was wearing boots.

“Nah, it’ll be fine. We’ll take a selfie, and she can see me with my harem; it’s all good.” He grinned at her and wagged his eyebrows.

Elliott swatted his arm and shook her head at him.

“What? I have two of the hottest chicks in KC here for me tonight; I’m going to milk it. Snapchat, Facebook, Insta: I’ll be a star.”

“One night, that’s all you get,” she said.

“Seriously?” he asked incredulously.

“Not that!” She laughed. “Ugh, you’re like my brother.”

He made a face of disgust. “I’d rather you say my dick is small. The brother thing means I have no shot, like, ever.”

“Because you don’t.”

The woman spoke up. “There’s a child at the table.”

Elliott and Killion looked across at her, then at the oblivious boy playing on his phone. His parents were eyeing them just as warily. But the point was well-taken. Therewasa child at the table.

The reprimand reminded her of the time Jonah had taken her to the climbing wall. And it made her wryly wonder if children were something she’d ever have since she couldn’t behave properly in front of them.

No, she never would. It was a lightning-bolt moment of realization. The only man she’d want them with was the man who stood to lose his soul if she allowed him to stay with her. Well, not literally.

Maybe literally.

Lucy walked to the front where a podium and screen were set up. Two other people were up there with her. Elliott assumed that they were co-chairs or co-coordinators. She hadn’t reviewed the program.

The overhead lights were turned off to provide a better view of the images on the screen.

Elliott was dropping her attention from the lights to Lucy when she sensed someone move behind her. The chair Killion’s mother was to have occupied, to her left—so slightly behind her—made a noise as it was pulled out.

Killion was turning, as well, at the interruption. Elliott didn’t need to see his open expression of welcome to their new party to know. She sensed him.

Jonah.

As he sat, he reached in front of her and shook Killion’s hand.

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