AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I smile at him in confusion. "What brought this on?"
"You work on my puzzles with me. You helped with my last Lego set. But I wondered what you do for you. Holly likes to crochet. Becca likes to wrestle with people and then watch reality TV. Evie...well I don't know what her hobbies are. But everyone likes to do things with their free time. When you went home at the end of the day, what did you do?"
I try to picture my life before Jonas. It's not hard, but nothing about it stands out as all that interesting. "I listened to audiobooks from the library. And watched TV sometimes. I really like going for walks when the weather is nicer."
He hums, and smiles at me. "We can go for walks together. We can hold hands."
"That sounds really nice." Better than nice. It sounds like a dream.
"What else did you like to do?"
I press my lips together and wince. "I did have this one hobby...it's a little weird, but I enjoyed it."
His gaze sharpens. "Weird? What was it?"
"Well...I'd make miniatures."
His brow furrows. ”Miniature what?"
"Anything really. Things I imagined. Things I saw on TV. It might be a living room scene, or a whole house, just...tiny."
Jonas stares at me, eyes wide, just long enough for me to feel awkward. "Wait. So what do you use? Like doll furniture?"
"Well, no. I make the furniture. And the cups and the curtains on the windows, and the little people, if there are any."
His mouth drops open. "Wait. You see a picture of something, then you just make everything in the picture, but really tiny?
"Basically, yeah.” My cheeks are hot, but I keep my eyes locked on him.
"That is...the most awesome thing I have ever heard in my life. Do you have pictures? Can you show me?"
The heat moves from my cheeks into my chest, and I can't help smiling. "It's just a silly hobby."
He shakes his head. "Puzzles are just a silly hobby. But they make me feel good. And I could never look at a room and figure out how to create a small one. It is nowhere near my skill set. So I'm very interested, Janey. Show me, please."
His enthusiasm has me grinning. Maybe that's why I don't think about it. I just turn my phone on, eager to pull up the photos, and am bombarded by dozens of unread texts and voicemail notifications.
The smile on Jonas's lips dies.
So does mine.
"I forgot about him," I whisper, dropping my phone to my side. Jonas nods and slides off the counter to stand in front of me. The muscles in the side of his jaw pops as he glares down at the phone.
He takes a deep breath and then another one. We stand there in silence, the tension between us thick, all the things he wants to say filling the air between us. But he doesn't say them. Instead, after a long minute, he tries for a smile. It doesn't really look much like his real one. "Becca's got a class this morning. Why don't we get ready, and we can head to the craft store and get you all your tiny supplies, then head to the Dojo? I could use a workout."
I nod, but I can't smile either. Another ping from my phone makes me flinch. Jonas's eyes are hard. "I'm sorry," I whisper. "I just...I'm not ready to deal with him." I raise my hand when he opens his mouth. "I don't want you to deal with it either. I just need time. Please."
His voice is grim. "You may be running out of time, Janey. It doesn't seem like he's going away. How long before he shows up here? Or at work?"
I swallow the saliva pooling in my mouth. He's right. Mark will show up. I can't ignore him forever. He won't let me. "Just a little while longer. Please."
Jonas nods slowly, expression blank. "Ok, Janey. Whatever you want." He turns to his bedroom. Our bedroom. I don't even know anymore. None of my stuff is in there, so I guess it's not really ours, despite last night. "I'll get ready. We'll head out around nine?"
I nod, and watch him walk away, everything I want to say stuck in my throat, refusing to come out.
I'm sorry. I need you. I'm scared. Please help.
37
