Page 43 of Starting Over in Cedarwood

His ex-partner, Jonah.

Shit.He hadn’t heard from his ex in over a year. What could Jonah possibly want? He should let the call go to voicemail. At one time, he’d loved Jonah. Sure, they’d parted on okay terms, but still. He’d had his heart broken when Jonah had brought around his new boyfriend before he and Jonah had split.

His phone silenced and he allowed himself to breathe. He hadn’t realized he’d been holding his breath. Maybe the call was a misdial.

Shaun sagged in his seat. He’d wondered more than a few times what he’d feel like if he ever ran into Jonah again. Would he be worried? Concerned? Drawn to him all over again? The love hadn’t faded?

He wasn’t sure, but if his initial reaction was anything, then the love was gone.

His phone rang again.Jonah.

Shaun sucked in a ragged breath and swiped to answer.Just get it over with.“Hello?” He’d once cared about this man and wanted to marry him. How could he just ignore him now? Easy. Jonah wanted to move on with his life and didn’t care about it. If he did, he had a strange way of showing it.

“Hi,” Jonah said. “How are you?”

“Good. You?” His voice wobbled.Damn it.He couldn’t show any weakness. “Is everything all right?” They hadn’t spoken since the split. Why wait this long to call? “You don’t talk unless you want something.”

“I needed to hear your voice—that’s what I wanted.”

“You did?” Shaun asked. Jonah hadn’t said things like that when they were together. Jonah wasn’t the romantic type—unless he wanted to get someone into bed.

“Yeah.” Jonah chuckled. “We were together for a long time and I do miss you. I miss how it feels to have someone in the house, to know you’re on the other end of the phone line, to kiss you when I’ve had a rough day…the little stuff.”

“That’s…yeah.” He hated sounding indecisive. “You do?”

“It’s not like we parted hating each other,” Jonah said. “It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t bad, and I have fond memories of you. I look back at what we had and it makes me smile.”

Shaun wouldn’t say that. Since the last year of their relationship, he wasn’t Jonah’s biggest fan. Most of the time, he couldn’t stand being in the same room with him. “Sort of. It was pleasant.”Ish.He paused. “You told me you hoped I’d end up falling in front of a bus and I’d never find love again.”

“I was angry and that was harsh. I’m sorry.”

Sorry?Jonah had to be dying. He never apologized for anything. “Uh, okay.”Christ.This was harder than he’d ever imagined. “Did you need something? It’s not like you to wander down memory lane.”

“I’m finding in my older age that I do like to reminisce. I’m not a total shallow jerk, you know. While going through my stuff, I found some photographs that are yours. They’re of your parents when they were married. I think one is a wedding photo,” Jonah said. “I assumed you’d want them. You do, right?”

“I’d like them, yes.” He’d lost those photographs when he and Jonah had broken up. Having the pictures back would be nice, but the timing didn’t add up. “Where did you find them?”

“In one of the hutch drawers.”

Interesting.He didn’t keep his pictures in the hutch. “Whendid you find them?”

“About a month ago. I wanted to send them, but I worried they’d get lost in the mail. You know how things are,” Jonah said. “It wasn’t safe, so I hesitated. I’d feel terrible if I mailed them, texted you they were on the way and they never made it. All those memories…poof.”

“That makes sense and I appreciate your kindness. The mail has been slow lately.” Somehow, though, he doubted Jonah’s story. He could’ve sent them via the specialty mail services and had them tracked. “Then how are you going to ensure I get them back?”

“I wanted to meet up to give them to you in person. I’m going to assume there are coffee shops where you are, right?” Jonah asked. “Where are you now?”

“Cedarwood. I followed Mom up here and got a job.” He’d forgotten he hadn’t mentioned to Jonah where he’d moved. He’d severed that part of his life and until now hadn’t wanted to revisit it.

“I knew you would go with your mom. You’re so close to her,” Jonah said. “How is your mother? Are you seeing anyone? I haven’t seen you out and wondered.”

“Mom’s fine, but she’s doing her thing. We don’t talk much, but I am seeing someone—his name is Kevin.” He’d bet this was why Jonah wanted to see him. He wanted to get nosy.

“Older? Younger?”

Is it any of your business?“My age.” Jonah liked to lord the fact he was older than Shaun over his head.

“Ah. Does he love you?”

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