Jan. Week 3: Wednesday Evening...Jonathan was suspicious...

Jonathan was already home as Leah entered the house she found him hunched over the kitchen table, sorting piles of mail into little heaps and haphazardly shoving stray items into drawers. This was his pre-Game Night ritual of hastily getting things ready.

He looked up when she walked through the door, and right away Leah could tell he was in one of those moods—the ones where his brow furrowed and his mouth twisted halfway between a smile and a frown.

"Hey, babe," he said, voice ****-casual as he wiped his hands on a dish towel. "You're late. Thought you were home an hour ago?"

He kept his tone light, but Leah could sense the suspicion prowling just beneath the surface. She dragged her teacher-bag behind her like a corpse and tried for a sunny smile.

"Sorry, traffic was hell. And I had to stay late to do some lesson prep. You know how it is."

Jonathan's eyes narrowed, but he let it go. For now. She could practically feel his gaze weighing her, cataloging the little details, could see him working through the calculus of their relationship, squinting for discrepancies.

He followed her into the kitchen, hovering, trying to be nonchalant but tripping over his own feet. Leah grabbed a glass and filled it at the sink.

"So," Jonathan ventured, "anything interesting happen at school today?"

Leah bit her lip and tried not to think of what Mr. Baker and she had just done.

"Not really," she replied.

She set the glass down, and Jonathan reached for her, arms wrapping around her waist. He nuzzled her neck and kissed her. Leah tensed, then relaxed into the embrace, letting him press her gently up against the fridge.

"You know," he murmured, "you can talk to me if something's bothering you. I know you've been working late a lot lately." His voice faltered. "If there's something going on…"

Leah could have crumpled right there, but she steadied herself with the same internal grit she used to grade midterms or face eating cafeteria meatloaf. She turned her face upwards locking eyes with him, and gave her most earnest smile.

"I'm fine, babe. Promise."

But Jonathan was smart, and she could see the gears turning.

"You sure? You just seem, I don't know…distant. Distracted. I know it's a busy time at school, but… I'm here, okay?"