Jonah’s pickup had been T-boned on the driver’s side by Eli. His vehicle had slammed into the ditch, rolling at least once and landing on its side—keeping Jonah from getting out. The frame had held up, but the driver’s door had crumpled into Jonah’s side.
The sight had pierced my heart. People blamed Eli. The alcohol. Some even got after Jonah for havingalcohol in his house, the stash his brother had raided. But I’d been the motivator. Eli wouldn’t have felt the need to drink if it hadn’t been for me.
Going to Jonah’s was a bad idea.
I almost stopped and turned around. I still had time to get home. The heavy gray clouds were starting to let loose their cargo. A few flurries landed on my windshield.
I wasn’t in an area where I could turn around. A snowflake landed in my line of vision, stark against the glass. I could make out its points if I dared take my eyes off the road for more than a second. More flakes fell. I could drop off the food and turn and burn. If I got stranded, I’d have to explain myself to my brothers, and to my sisters, which would be worse.
I pulled into the long driveway and wound around the trees. To anyone else, it’d look like he wasn’t home. I knew his pickup was in the garage, and he’d probably been in the shop so long the snow that was falling remained untouched. I parked behind the second stall that was full of lawn equipment.
Instead of going to the house, I went to the shop. If he wasn’t in there, I’d take his absence personally. It’d mean he’d been avoiding me when he’d spent so much time out there while I had been under his roof.
Cold snow dotted my hair and ears, falling into my eyelashes. I hefted the two grocery bags I’d gotten him when I reached the shop door and knocked.
I waited.
Nothing.
I knocked again.
I waited.
Nothing.
Hehadbeen avoiding me. Hurt heated my face and melted the snow faster than usual.
I trudged across the driveway to his house. Should I just leave the groceries and his winter clothing and text him? I hadn’t gotten his number when I’d used his phone, but my family would have it. No, I didn’t want the inquiries that would come if I asked them for it.
Embarrassed and second-guessing myself, I climbed the porch that encompassed the width of his cabin and knocked on his front door.
I waited.
Nothing.
Was he hiding?
I knocked again. And again I got no answer. Great. Now for the entire storm, I’d sit at Mama’s house and bathe in self-recrimination.
I was about to turn when another thought occurred to me. What if he was hurt? What if he couldn’t answer?
My heart rate sped up and the idea blossomed into dread. Was Jonah okay? I couldn’t leave until I knew. I tried the handle, and surprisingly, it turned. He’d locked all the doors when I’d been here, but he was leaving them open when he was alone. He was a thoughtful man.
Warmth sparked in my chest, but the anxiety grew. Was something wrong?
I stepped into the living room and listened. He wasn’t watching TV and the kitchen light was off. Both rooms were open in front of me and I could see down the hallway to the bathroom and his bedroom. The hallway was dim as well, along with the upstairs, but a sliver of light filtered through from under the bathroom door. I heard water running.
Relief poured through me, crisper and more refreshing than the outside air. He was taking a shower.
I could leave the groceries, hang his gear up by the back door, find something to write a note on, and get going. He had no idea he had company, and now that I could be mostly sure he was okay, I could go with a clear conscience.
Stuffing my disappointment away, I toed out of my boots. I’d miss him but he’d have the groceries and wasn’t that the point of my trip? I needed to get home. The snow was falling heavier, forming a curtain outside the big picture windows.
I padded to the kitchen and placed the bags on the table. I looked around for paper, but couldn’t find anything. The water shut off. Maybe I should call to him from the hallway?
Then I’d scare the shit out of him and he could slip and fall. No, it’d be better if I was gone completely. I scurried to the front door and was stuffing my foot into a boot when the bathroom door opened and Jonah emerged.
Air evacuated my lungs. He had a towel draped across his shoulders and was rubbing it against his damp hair. The rest of him? Bare. So many muscled inches. The towel covered his wide shoulders, but his strong pecs were only dusted with dark hair thinning down to his rippled abs. His legs were long and his thighs thick, his right more so than his left. The scars on his left side stuck out stark and jagged, but I wasn’t paying attention to those. My gaze zeroed in on his privates.
