15. Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Fifteen
June
H ave I apologized yet for maybe giving you a concussion? I bite my lip, holding my breath as I wait for Jonah to kick me out of his trailer and maybe his life.
But he chuckles, his eyes soft as he looks up at me from my lap, where hes been for the last ten minutes. About a million times, he says, wincing when I adjust the ice Im holding to the back of his head. And Im not concussed.
Im not convinced. Ever since I accidentally scared him in my excitement and he knocked his head on a cabinet, hes been looking at me differently. Like hes not seeing me the way he did before.
I grab my phone from the pocket of my leggings, even though I have to adjust Jonahs head in the process. Id rather not make him move, but its not like I can use his phone instead. Im going to look up the symptoms of a con
Would you relax? Jonah sits up and puts his palm over my phone screen. I only blacked out for half a second. Im fine.
I still think you should talk to the film nurses.
Boyd and Gayle? They would say I have psychosis or something.
I blink. The nurses are named Boyd and Gayle? Like boy and girl but
Nodding, Jonah reclines and stretches his legs out so he can rest his head on the back of the surprisingly comfortable couch. Wait until you hear the name of the chemistry coach.
What in the world is a chemistry coach?
Jonah grimaces and takes the ice out of my hand, pressing it to the back of his head. Never mind. Im more curious about why you felt the need to shout Its a trap! when I came inside.
Rolling my eyes, I settle next to him and curl my legs up on the couch beside me. Now that the adrenaline is wearing off from when Jonah hit his head and collapsed, Im back to being completely exhausted. I didnt mean to fall asleep while I waited for him to come, and if it werent for my worry over Jonah hitting his head, I would be so ready to fall asleep again.
I didnt say Its a trap. I drop my voice to mimic his on that last bit. I just said trap.
He smirks. Fine. My question still stands.
Technically, you didnt ask a question.
Have you always been this lawyery, or is that the concussion talking?
I groan. I told you that you have a
June. Im kidding. Grinning, he laces his fingers with mine and shifts so were sitting closer together. I could easily lay my head on his shoulder, but I dont let myself. That feels like a step further in our relationship than were ready for. Please tell me what you were all enthusiastic about. And stop sitting so weird. My shoulder is right here.
Sighing, I relax against him, both hating and loving how comfortable he is. I could fall asleep if I close my eyes, but theres so much to talk about. I think we need to set a trap for the saboteurs. Catch them in the act.
How do we do that? Jonah suddenly sounds as tired as I feel. Maybe even more so. After the scare at my house last night and our adventures as old people in town today, it has been a long twenty or so hours. No one has been able to get more than a glimpse of them.
I think itll be easier once we know whos behind it all.
Jonah speaks through a yawn. But we dont know who it is.
I have my theories, I say through my own yawn. Why are yawns always contagious?
Which are?
I close my eyes. Amateurs.
Thats not a person, June. Thats a descriptor.
Semantics. I adjust my position so Im more fully pressed against Jonahs side, and he responds by tucking his arm around my back and pulling me in close. A contented sigh escapes me. This is the safest place Ive ever been. Can I stay here forever? I mumble.
I have no idea if Jonah means it when he sleepily replies, I would like nothing more.
A girl could get used to waking up in Jonah Jamess arms. Its not something I should get used to, but since Im already here, Im going to soak up every minute of this. At some point in the night, we both stretched out along the couch, Jonah behind me with his arms around me in a protective hold. Before we both fell asleep again, he whispered to me in the darkness.
You are something special, June Harper.
At least I think thats what he said, though I could have been dreaming. I dreamed about Jonah all night, envisioning a life where we grew old together and didnt have wrinkles that fall off because we got them with time, not makeup.
It was one of the best dreams Ive ever had and made me realize how much I have come to trust this man. No matter his flaws, he is a good man. Maybe one of the best.
Now, as I lay pressed against his warm chest with my head on his arm, I wonder if Ill ever be content with my fuzzy blankets at home when Jonah makes a much better blanket. Hes still sound asleep against my back, his breaths deep and slow, and he smells fresh and clean and manly. I have officially found my new favorite place.
For so long, Ive been contentif not happyon my own, but now Im questioning if my solitary lifestyle here in Laketown is what I really want. Having a man to support mephysically, emotionally, intellectuallywould make so many parts of my life better. And if things between Hank and Bonnie keep escalating the way they have been, I am likely to lose my one and only friend.
Based on some of the pictures Ive seen online of their weekend away, theyre both pretty smitten with each other; I dont think their relationship is fake anymore. Im happy for Hank, I really am, but losing him leaves me in a place of uncertainty.
It feels dangerous to want a future with someone like Jonah. Someone whose life is so different from mine, who doesnt have as much stability in his career as he would like. I dont want to live in a place like Los Angeles, but wouldnt he make the city worth at least considering? With his big family, he probably doesnt need a support system the way Im starting to want one, but what if he did?
What if we could be good for each other?
Thats a big question. A terrifying question. Ive hid behind my fear for years, but I cant do that with Jonah. I either have to let him in or let him go.
Shifting my position so Im more comfortable, I try not to let my thoughts and questions settle too deeply. I dont need to panic about this. At the store yesterday, he said he wants to see where this goes. Hes not asking for forever. Just for now .
I can handle now.
Jonahs breathing changes, and he moves behind me, arms loosening around me.
Good morning, I murmur, feeling awkward now that Im not the only one aware of our position. I feel like I should say something, but what? This is nice. Probably not that .
He chuckles softly. For you, maybe. My arm is asleep.
I deflate. Oh. Ill admit Im disappointed, but if he doesnt want me here, I can move.
But he laughs again and wraps his arms more securely around me, pulling me in before I can get up. Ow, he says with a groan.
I wince. Your head?
No, my arm. I told you it was asleep. Now Ive got that pins and needles thing happening and would love for you to distract me. I accept kisses or foot massages.
Oh, hes playing a dangerous game here. Face flaming, I do my best to keep my voice steady. I am not touching your feet.
Kisses it is, then. With impressive skill, he twists me around so Im facing him and mere centimeters from his mouth. May I?
The raspy question mirrors my own desire, and I lean up to meet him, but the trailer door opens before my lips find his, the open doorway filling the space with blinding sunlight.
Shutting his eyes, Jonah groans and drops his head down to my shoulder. Richie, he complains. You have the worst timing.
Sorry, Jonah. I thought you would be up by now.
Squinting in the brightness, I search the trailer for a clock or my phone but come up empty. What time is it?
Richie clears his throat, and he looks unsure how to respond to our current entanglement, his eyes darting everywhere but on us. Uh, almost ten.
I gasp and sit up. Or, I try to sit up, but Jonah is still holding on to me so I end up tumbling to the floor in a heap, knocking my head when I land.
Payback for last night, Jonah says with a laugh, but hes already on his feet and taking my hands to help me up. I dont mean that. Im sorry. Are you okay? One hand grazes the now tender spot on my head, while the other presses against my waist.
Hes definitely looking at me differently. He still has the same spark of amusement and lightness that hes always had, but theres something warmer in his gaze. Deeper somehow, like before I was only seeing the surface of Jonah James, but at some point he opened a door to his inner workings.
Its too intense to look at for very long, so I nod and excuse myself to the bathroom to give myself a break.
Snatching a tube of toothpaste from the sink, I use my finger to give my teeth a quick scrub and listen to the low rumble of voices on the other side of the door as Jonah and Richie talk. Im grateful for this moment to myself, though I dont think it will do much to help me work through the serious-type feelings that were creeping up when I woke. The big feelings that are going to change my life one way or another.
Im not sure I can let myself think about the future right now. Id rather focus on smaller, more palatable problems. We still have a mystery to solve, and this will be the second day in a row that I havent opened the store if I dont head back into town and do my actual job. Heh. My job. For the first time since I bought the hardware store, no part of me wants to be behind the counter while the seconds tick by in silent mediocrity, and thats a strange feeling in itself.
Thoughts about my dwindling love for the store feel a bit too connected to my growing interest in Jonah, so I force my focus back to the mystery and what I might have figured out last night.
When I exit the bathroom, Jonah takes his turn, leaving me alone in the trailer with Richie. An awkward silence settles over us as we look at each other. He pats a fist against his thigh, and I look at the foil-covered plates that someone must have brought last night and wonder whats inside, even if its far too late to eat any of it. We probably missed breakfast here on set, but I bet Jonah could get someone to cook for us. I wonder if Dexter would go get us something if I asked, though I have no idea if hes nearby.
Who am I kidding? Neither Richie nor Dexter is ever far from Jonah. Alone time isnt a real thing for a guy like Jonah, something I need to really consider before I make any plans to leave my life behind for his. If I give this thing between us a shot, that will be my life too.
Thatsnot something I can think about right now.
Thankfully, Jonah doesnt take long and is back at my side, running a hand through his hair.
Its the kids, I say right as he opens his mouth to speak.
He frowns. What about kids?
The saboteurs. Its a bunch of teenagers.
Glancing at Richie, Jonah seems to process that for a second before he folds his arms and says, Explain, please.
Phil Collins has a teenage nephew. Herman works at the grocery store. Glen has a daughter in high school who sometimes goes on house calls with him. The eggs, the crane, the car, it all makes sense!
Though he smiles at me, Jonah still looks fully confused. I dont blame him, considering Im apparently too tired to get my thoughts from my head to my mouth. This would be a lot easier to explain if I had
Coffee? Dexters voice filters through the open door behind Richie, who steps aside to let Dexter in. Dexters holding a tray with four cups and has another cup in his hand. I wasnt sure what you like, June, he says, handing the single cup to Jonah. So I got a bunch.
Bless you, I breathe, scanning the labels until I find a mocha. Jonah, your assistant is absolutely perfect. I could get used to this part of having him around.
As Dexter turns beet red, Jonah drains half his coffee, then says, I know. Hes the best. By the way, Dex, I need you to get me a new phone.
Dexter frowns. What happened tooh. He wrinkles his nose as he stares at the shattered phone Jonah holds out to him. Again?
Jonah chuckles. I have a bad habit of putting my foot in the wrong place.
Youre good at that, I say with a grin. Its the same things we said yesterday when we were Martin and Maggie.
I liked that line better when you called me dear, Jonah replies, winking at me. Then his eyes slowly make their way down my body, like hes noticing what Im wearing for the first time. He reaches out and touches the hem of the sweatshirt I put on last night, his smile growing. It looks good on you. I move to take it off and return it, but he stops me by grabbing my hand. Keep it.
Heat creeps up my neck. I cant keep your sweatshirt, Jonah.
Sure you can. He moves closer, shifting his fingers from the fabric to my waist and leaving the trailer far too warm. You can have anything you want.
Im starting to think the only thing I want is him.
Richie clears his throat. Can we get back to the kids thing?
Right. Solve the mystery first, flirt with Jonah later.
I was thinking about all the things that have happened, I say, sipping my coffee with happiness. Dexter made a good choice with this one. And how theres no pattern to any of it.
Amateurs, Jonah says, repeating what I told him yesterday.
I nod. As in people who have no idea what theyre doing and dont have a plan. Blowing the yolks out of a bunch of eggs? Thats just a weird prank. Stealing random props? Not all that disruptive for a film like this.
What about what happened to Bonnie? Jonah asks before draining the rest of his coffee. That could have been a disaster.
Same with the tire exploding, Richie throws in.
Exactly! Those were incredibly dangerous and could have gotten people hurt, and I dont think a rational adult would do something like that if the goal is to get you to leave. Especially when this town needs the money youre bringing in. Everyone is super annoyed by the attention this movie is going to bring to Laketown, but I havent heard anyone say they actually want the film crew to leave.
Something sparks in Jonahs eyes, and he stands a little taller. But a kid who hears her electrician dad complaining about the crew might think shes being helpful by taking some of his tools and fraying a couple of wires.
Yes, I say, pointing at him. And someone with access to the grocery stores POS system might
Point of sale, Jonah says with a quick glance at Dexter, who looks like he might start giggling. Not what youre thinking.
Dexters lips twist up in a grin. But POS can also mean piece of sh
He could easily put in a fake delivery order, Jonah finishes for me, rolling his eyes. I think youre on to something, June, but we have no way to prove it. Or to figure out whoah. Trap. He grins and touches the back of his head. Now I get it.
How do you lay a trap for a bunch of teenagers? Richie asks, folding his arms.
And why would they go after you the way they did? Jonah asks me.
I thought about that a lot last night, I say, relieved that he hasnt called my theory crazy, even if theres a high chance Im grasping at straws. And Im going to guess one of the perpetrators is Scott Packard, the mayors son. He begged me to hire him at my store a couple of months ago, but its not like I need the help. Hes disliked me ever since, just like Herman, and I know theyre friends.
Herman, Dexter mutters with a snort of laughter. What a name.
Thats rich coming from a guy named Dexter, Jonah quips back. When he looks at me again, his eyes are bright. Did you come up with a trap as well?
This is where things could get fun. I thought we could play to their advantage.
How so?
You havent filmed the scene at the school yet, have you?
Jonah shakes his head. Not yet.
But theyve been getting one of the classrooms ready, Dexter adds. To film as soon as Bonnie gets back into town.
Thats what I was hoping for, and I start bouncing on my feet despite having no idea if my plan will even work. Think we could get the crew to pretend theyre filming today?
Humming, Jonah meets Dexters gaze, and they seem to have a silent conversation before he nods. Yeah, we probably could. But how will the trap work? The kids would have to know were doing it, and whos to say theyll even try something?
I grin wide. Well make sure we give them something they cant resist.