My first reaction is to laugh at the absurdity of his request, but my smile quickly drops when I realize he’s not joking.
“I don’t think that’s possible.” I try laughing it off, but his face remains serious.
Leaning closer to me, he whispers. “Never again, Nora. Or he won’t be walking out of that room.”
Swallowing the fear from his cold promise, I take a step backward.
“I hate to say it but you’re scaring me right now.”
He exhales loudly and straightens his back. “I’m sorry.” He scratches the back of his head. “It’s not you I’m mad at. It’s him.”
“I know,” I reply truthfully. “But I don’t like violence, Jericho. You said it yourself. In any form.”
My eyes dart between his. His neck moves with a hard swallow as his gaze drops to the ground like a poor puppy who’s been abused.
“Just try to avoid him,” he mumbles still not looking at me. “Please.”
When I don’t respond, he finally lifts up his eyes to meet mine.
“Please,” he repeats, and it sounds different now. It’s obvious that me not being around my ex is important, but I don’t exactly know why. The intensity of Jericho’s—dare I say—hate toward him is unexplainable. Since the moment I met him, I have seen him from only one side. The good one. I never realized he also has this one. Dark, cold, and menacing.
All the things I don’t do anymore.
“Nora. Can you do it for me?”
“Why?”
He swallows again. “Because I’ll do something I’ll regret. And I really,reallycan’t afford it now.”
I feel my brows drawing together. “Can’t afford what?”
He looks troubled as he bites the inside of his cheek. His eyes are focused on my face when he opens his mouth?—
“Nora! Jericho! Just the people I needed to see.” Jonah’s voice comes from behind us, interrupting whatever Jericho wanted to say.
I like Jonah, I really do, but right now I’m ready to shove his face into the pile of snow conveniently located to our right.
“You did?” Jericho easily jumps into conversation with the widest smile I’ve ever seen on him. The man isbeaming, and Jericho doesn’t beam.
“Yes!” Jonah coos, coming closer. “Look at you two! I knew you’d get along.” With a wink, he gives Jericho’s shoulder an easy push. “And all your bitching was for nothing.”
“Bitching?” I ask Jericho with a glare, waiting for him to elaborate.
“No bitching,” Jericho replies too fast. “Jonah must have misread my messages.”
“Did I?” Jonah sounds confused, pulling his phone out of his pocket. “I don’t thi?—”
“Yes, misread,” Jericho repeats more firmly, making Jonah pause and instantly brighten his face.
“Yes, misread.” He laughs, pushing the phone back into his pocket. “I must have been thinking of someone else.”
Glaring between the two of them, I finally accept the idea that I’ll never hear the truth and change the topic. “What are you doing here today? The roads suck.”
“That’s exactly what I’m doing here.” He winces. “Got stuck here yesterday evening, so had to stayat one of the properties I’m selling. You guys don’t have any hotels around here.” His face turns snobby.
“Like you do.” I level him with a stare.
“We do.” He smiles back. “Dancing Pony. You forgot?”
