Page 188 of Those Who Are Bound

Elliott had already lost interest in the topic of the food. She wanted to know about Christy and where Jonah had gone with her. But she wasn’t going to ask, no way. He was already giving her those knowing looks that told her he knew she was bothered.

Instead, she stabbed at her own meatless meatloaf. It was tasty. Beside her, though, she heard Killion snort, then murmur to Lucy, “You’re taking me for pizza after this.”

Killion was eating the macaroni and cheese.

A cry went up across the table, as well. As his parents tried to calm him, Killion chimed in, “I’m with you, kid. Nothing can take the place of real cheese.”

“This isn’t real cheese?” His pitch was several octaves high.

Lucy shot Killion an annoyed look.

Elliott ducked her head and laughed. She glanced back at Jonah, who was also smiling.

Killion and the woman struck up a conversation, de-escalating the macaroni situation, but Elliott wasn’t paying attention. She was still too wrapped up in Jonah.

Obviously on the same wavelength, Lucy bent down and whisper-yelled, “You didn’t answer me about Christy.”

“She’s fine, Luce. Call her tonight.”

“I will!”

Elliott was now looking at Lucy, trying to read the answers on her face. She knew Christy. Was it someone from church? It made sense.

Jonah pushed his plate away, catching her attention. Placing his elbow on the table, he leaned in again. He braced his other hand on the back of her chair. Surrounding her without touching her, not even his leg this time, and she wanted that contact back. Tilting his head, he studied her face while she side-eyed him, slowly pulling the fork from her mouth.

“Ask me who she is,” he prompted.

Chewing slowly, her heart clogging her throat, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to swallow. She forced out around the suddenly dry meatloaf, “Why do you think I care?”

He watched her face a few seconds more, then perused her, his eyes roaming over her. Every tingly part of her upped its ante; perking harder to gain his attention. It worked, his gaze lingering on her needy breasts, then moving back up to her face. “Ask where I’ve been.”

Putting aside her fork, she said, “It isn’t any of my business.”

He reached up and adjusted a lock of her hair; it didn’t require moving, she was sure, but she didn’t mind his need to touch her because she needed it—wanted it—too. And, as before, there was a possessiveness to his actions, like he wanted to remind her that she was his.

Only, she wasn’t.

“Rock climbing.”

Elliott’s eyebrows drew together. “Rock climbing?”

He nodded, his stare intent. “In Oregon. With Christy.”

She tried to ignore the stab of jealousy. “Yay, you?” Okay, the sarcastic response was a dead giveaway that she was bothered.

“Christy is my ex.”

She had to resemble a cheap plastic doll because she just blinked.Blink, blink, blink.He went to Oregon to rock climb with his ex-wife? “I thought she was married with kids.”

“She is.”

“Is shestill?”

He chuckled. “Yes.”

“So, a group of you went rock climbing. Why do I need to know that?”

“A group of us didn’t go. Christy and I went. She’s a good friend. She’s an even better advisor. And a solid climber herself.”

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