batted at my hand and turned away from me. Sympathy clawed at my heart, but he’d made up his mind to reject me. Jonah confirmed that thought when he said, “Can you leave now? I need to be alone.”
“Wil you be al right?”
I didn’t want to leave, but I understood he must feel embarrassed and exhausted after what had happened. I reasoned that I’d done everything I could right now. If I stayed any longer I’d just irritate him.
“Your window?” I responded, pointing over to it as I stood up.
The wind was making the drapes float eerily in the air, and there were stil shards of glass stuck in the wood frame.
“Not your concern. Red, I won’t be sleeping now anyway. I’l cal the super later.”
“He’l go postal when he sees that.”
“I’l think of something, that’s if someone hasn’t already cal ed him. Maybe that old woman across from you did the job for me?”
“Mrs. Kindle is sweet. She wouldn’t do that.”
“So stop fussing over me, then. I can take care of myself.”
I opened my mouth, closing it almost right
afterward. I needed to pick my battles, and this was one that could ride for the time being. I’d go back to my apartment, but I would be back tomorrow.
I just couldn’t leave him now. I couldn’t forget what we’d shared. My body stil buzzed with desire whenever he was near, but if friendship was al we could have, then I would accept it. I couldn’t imagine going back to the awkward conversations next to the mailboxes.
We were beyond that, weren’t we?
“I’l give you my cel number,” I said, diverting over to the smal whiteboard on the wal next to his drawing station, scribbling my number on it. “Wil you cal me if you need someone?”
“El e...” he warned, herding me toward the door.
“Okay, I get it, but I’m not leaving it here, you know that right? I’l be back later.”
“El e...” he repeated, but I cut him off. I stepped close to him, cupping his cheek with my hand and looking directly into his blue eyes.
“I will work out the enigma that is Jonah Quinn. You can’t hide forever.”
I didn’t listen to his protests, simply kissed him on his lips and left his apartment. I didn’t want to see the denial as it contorted his features and tried as best I could to focus. I needed a plan, a way in, because I was not about to let him get away. Something inside was screaming at me to save him, and it couldn’t be overlooked. I could see for myself that he needed someone; I would be that person. So with my mind made up, I went back to my apartment, knowing I wouldn’t sleep.
I had a name and a medication or two to Google.
I tried to sleep, but having been awake for more than twenty-four hours, I was now beyond tired. I tossed and turned, pushing and tugging my duvet every which way, al in the hope of getting comfy enough to soothe myself to sleep.
It didn’t work.
It was obvious comfort wasn’t my problem.
Eventual y, I gave up and climbed out of bed with a huge groan. I pul ed on a large, slashed neck sweatshirt and some shorts, before meandering into the kitchen to brew some coffee. It was days like this that I was glad my job wasn’t your typical nine to five. Today would have been a sick day. Meow fol owed, jumping up onto the kitchen counter and purring. He glared at me, waiting until I paid attention to him.
“Feeling left out, Puss?”
His tail flicked in answer as he nudged my hand with his head.
“You’l have to wait. Coffee comes first.”
He continued to purr and rub himself along my
arm as I poured the ground beans into the coffeemaker. I grabbed a mug from the shelf and placed it onto the counter, flicking through a magazine while I waited for my coffee to brew. The world would seem a much better place when I was caffeinated. When I heard the spluttering of the machine, I sighed, thankful it was done. As I began to pouring it, my phone rang. I wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone, but answered it anyway.
“Where the hel
“Wil you be al right?”
I didn’t want to leave, but I understood he must feel embarrassed and exhausted after what had happened. I reasoned that I’d done everything I could right now. If I stayed any longer I’d just irritate him.
“Your window?” I responded, pointing over to it as I stood up.
The wind was making the drapes float eerily in the air, and there were stil shards of glass stuck in the wood frame.
“Not your concern. Red, I won’t be sleeping now anyway. I’l cal the super later.”
“He’l go postal when he sees that.”
“I’l think of something, that’s if someone hasn’t already cal ed him. Maybe that old woman across from you did the job for me?”
“Mrs. Kindle is sweet. She wouldn’t do that.”
“So stop fussing over me, then. I can take care of myself.”
I opened my mouth, closing it almost right
afterward. I needed to pick my battles, and this was one that could ride for the time being. I’d go back to my apartment, but I would be back tomorrow.
I just couldn’t leave him now. I couldn’t forget what we’d shared. My body stil buzzed with desire whenever he was near, but if friendship was al we could have, then I would accept it. I couldn’t imagine going back to the awkward conversations next to the mailboxes.
We were beyond that, weren’t we?
“I’l give you my cel number,” I said, diverting over to the smal whiteboard on the wal next to his drawing station, scribbling my number on it. “Wil you cal me if you need someone?”
“El e...” he warned, herding me toward the door.
“Okay, I get it, but I’m not leaving it here, you know that right? I’l be back later.”
“El e...” he repeated, but I cut him off. I stepped close to him, cupping his cheek with my hand and looking directly into his blue eyes.
“I will work out the enigma that is Jonah Quinn. You can’t hide forever.”
I didn’t listen to his protests, simply kissed him on his lips and left his apartment. I didn’t want to see the denial as it contorted his features and tried as best I could to focus. I needed a plan, a way in, because I was not about to let him get away. Something inside was screaming at me to save him, and it couldn’t be overlooked. I could see for myself that he needed someone; I would be that person. So with my mind made up, I went back to my apartment, knowing I wouldn’t sleep.
I had a name and a medication or two to Google.
I tried to sleep, but having been awake for more than twenty-four hours, I was now beyond tired. I tossed and turned, pushing and tugging my duvet every which way, al in the hope of getting comfy enough to soothe myself to sleep.
It didn’t work.
It was obvious comfort wasn’t my problem.
Eventual y, I gave up and climbed out of bed with a huge groan. I pul ed on a large, slashed neck sweatshirt and some shorts, before meandering into the kitchen to brew some coffee. It was days like this that I was glad my job wasn’t your typical nine to five. Today would have been a sick day. Meow fol owed, jumping up onto the kitchen counter and purring. He glared at me, waiting until I paid attention to him.
“Feeling left out, Puss?”
His tail flicked in answer as he nudged my hand with his head.
“You’l have to wait. Coffee comes first.”
He continued to purr and rub himself along my
arm as I poured the ground beans into the coffeemaker. I grabbed a mug from the shelf and placed it onto the counter, flicking through a magazine while I waited for my coffee to brew. The world would seem a much better place when I was caffeinated. When I heard the spluttering of the machine, I sighed, thankful it was done. As I began to pouring it, my phone rang. I wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone, but answered it anyway.
“Where the hel
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