Page 210 of Those Who Are Bound

He glanced at her briefly. “I was there long enough not to be rude. But it’s not where I wanted to be, so I left.”

Elliott watched his expression for a few paces, trying to read into his answer. She finally looked away. They were coming up on the train tracks. “Are you upset that I’m here?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know why you’re here, but in a sense, you came to me. I’m not upset by that.” Giving her hand a squeeze, he added, “This isn’t my town, anyway, not that I would tell you that you weren’t welcome.”

Her heart squeezed. It was such a Jonah answer.

“How are your nightmares?”

There was a wistfulness to his tone, like he wanted to be there for her at night to ride them out. Of course, this was Jonah, so he probably did. She answered, “Still there. It will take some time. More than one conversation assuring me it wasn’t my fault, at least.”

“I’m at your disposal.”

“Are you so nice to all of your ex-girlfriends?” It’d been meant as a joke, but the words felt like razor blades; cutting. She resisted the urge to put her hand to her mouth to see if she was bleeding.

Jonah gave her a curious look, not answering. It was as though if he responded, he was confirming her status as an ex. She’d known ever since he’d sat down at Killion’s dinner that he had come back for her.

But for her? Or for her soul? Or was she grabbing at any excuse now?

Inside the pizza parlor, Elliott slid onto a barstool, still looking at him. She did like the beard. So much.

“Hey!” Russ said as he approached. “Damn, it’s good to see you. How are you? Jonah told me about the accident. You good?”

Elliott looked between Jonah and Russ, confused, but she answered, “Yes, I’m fine.”

“Scary shit, huh? And with your man here being off on the rocks, I hadn’t gotten my updates. But you look good.” He was beaming at them. “You both do.”

She looked at Jonah again, curious, but she played along. “Thanks, Russ. I’m completely mended.”

“Awesome; it’ll be great to have y’all back as regulars again.”

Jonah was giving her a small, secret smile. Watching him back, she responded to Russ noncommittally, “Yep. Can we have a couple of the local microbrews?”

“You got it. The usual on the pie?” After Jonah confirmed, Russ moved away.

Elliott frowned. “You didn’t tell him we broke up.”

Jonah shook his head. “It’s our business. Until we figure this out, it’s our business.”

Tilting her head, she said gently, “There’s nothing to figure out.”

“I’m calling bullshit on that. Because our feelings haven’t changed; yours and mine both. I’ve said it before. If you tell me I’m wrong, I’ll call you a liar. Last night almost ended differently.”

“Because you wanted to get laid?”

He growled.

“Is that what you were off consulting the rocks about? What did you say? Perspective and distance?”

He took a deep breath and looked around, as though grounding himself even now.

“You said you’d tell me about it, so tell me. What wise counsel did your wife—excuse me, ex-wife—provide?”

The look he tossed at her as he picked up his beer and took a drink was a mix of satisfaction and triumph. Setting his beer back down, he said, “I’m enjoying your jealousy.”

Elliott scoffed. “I’m not jealous.”

Liar. If she was a color, she’d be green. It did bother her that he’d been isolated with a woman he’d been married to; a woman whose opinion and advice he respected so much he would disappear with her for weeks.

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