Page 30 of Those Who Are Bound

“I didn’t mean to snoop, it was just… here!” Lucy sat back in her chair and gave him a look of innocence—his alert that she was going to transfer the heat from herself to him. “How was your morning, loverboy?”

He didn’t mind this heat, but he wasn’t ready to divulge yet, even to Lucy. So he looked out over the parking lot of the neighboring apartment complex, drinking his iced tea.

Lucy reached out and slapped his arm playfully. “You’re being coy! You’re in to her!”

“Let’s not devolve into being teenagers.”

“Oh my god, you are!”she screeched.

He mockingly put a hand to his ear. “You’ve deafened me.”

Lucy ignored his teasing. “I get to plan your wedding.”

“Slow down.”

“And if you have a girl, you will name her after me.”

“Slowwaythe hell down.”

Lucy laughed. “I know. But I’m happy. I thought your bags were packed for Oregon. I mean, I thought the U-Haul was loaded and I’d see you… who knows when? Once a year, if I was lucky? So, hopefully, this makes you stick around a little bit longer.” Then Lucy frowned. “She’d better not fuck this up.”

Jonah laughed softly. “We just met.”

“But she is smoking hot. And her tits are perfect, not oversized jugs like—”

“Lucy!” He tossed her an exasperated look.

Giggling, Lucy kept it up. “I’m just saying. She seems natural. You like natural. I mean, nothing fake. Environmentally friendly; she won’t take a long time to decompose, let’s say.”

“You’re enjoying this.” It was a statement. He was enjoying it, too. He enjoyed her banter and the possibility that Elliott represented.

“Oh, I am. When was the last time you dated?” Lucy put a finger to her chin as though she was seriously thinking about it. “Oh, right, that soccer mom from St. Joe.” She shuddered.

“Allison was nice.”

Lucy dramatically dropped her head back on her chair and made a snoring sound before saying. “Nice and fake.”

“Lucy Moore!”

“I can be judgmental about other women, Jonah; I’m a woman.”

“You can’t; it goes against what we believe.” He gave her a stern look. “No judgments.”

“Until it comes to you and what’s best for you,” Lucy amended. “And then, I will judge away because whoever you end up with, I’m stuck with, too. So, I approve of Elliott. She scares the shit out of me, but I approve.” Leaning toward him, she asked mischievously, “Did you kiss her?”

Jonah gave her a look. “Okay, you just lost your invitation for pizza tonight.”

Lucy sat back up. “Oh! Wait, no, I retract the question. I’m starving.” Reaching over, she closed the laptop. “I promise, I’ll back off.”

“Fine. By the way, did you send out an email about Easy Street Events?”

“I did.”

“You spammed me?”

“It’s not spam! It’s my job, and ultimately, it benefits your girlfriend, so… yeah, I sent out an email.”

“She’s not my girlfriend.” He stood up.

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