Ineffable ꕥ Joost Klein ꕥ

43.

Grabbing the lunch she made last night, Elke closed the fridge door. She nestled her afternoon meal into her shoulder bag before heading around the kitchen counter. Her platform loafers clunked against the floorboards and she grabbed her phone off the coffee table. It was one less item that covered the surface, leaving lighters, sunglasses and Joost's wallet to be left untouched.

'Are you going to be late tonight?' Joost's voice called from the bedroom. Elke's phone lit up with a notification from Arabella and she went to reply in the few minutes she had spare.

'I shouldn't be but I'll let you know,' she replied. 'What about you?'

When Elke didn't get a reply, she looked up to see Joost standing in the doorway. He threaded his arms through his shirt and started pushing the buttons through the holes from the bottom. Elke found herself staring at the dark hark that lined his chest. Her thumbs hovered over her phone's keyboard and it wasn't until blue eyes flew up to meet hers that Elke was brought back to her senses.

'No. I'll make sure I'm back by five,' he said, a smirk playing on his lips.

Elke masked her embarrassment by rolling her eyes. Joost decided not to tease her in fear she would leave for work without giving him a kiss. He wandered out of the bedroom and stopped, his head lowering to keep Elke's eye. The top of her phone skimmed his chest and his eyes flickered down to the screen, recognising the text conversation.

'We have a double date with Arabella this weekend. We're meeting her boyfriend.'

'As long as we're not out late.'

'We shouldn't be. We can walk there so no one will recognise our cars.'

Elke's logical planning shouldn't have upset Joost as much as it did. She shouldn't have to be worrying about a simple dinner in the city. The fact that she felt the need to almost convince Joost they would be safe made Joost's heart hurt. But he didn't show it, channeling his talent in masking his emotions and nodding with a smile.

'I'll see you tonight,' she beamed. Standing on her toes, Elke pecked Joost's lips. It made his forced smile turn to a genuine one and he chased her back down as she lowered to her feet. When she tried to lean away with a giggle, Joost took her waist and peppered her face with kisses.

'Alright, alright, I have to go!' she gave him another kiss before ducking out of his hold. Joost watched her go and grinned when she couldn't resist looking over her shoulder.

'I love you. Have a good day,' he called.

'I love you, too!'

Elke waved as she pulled the door closed behind her. Joost would usually feel an emptiness at her departure, but today, things were different. His apartment was warm from the summer heat and the dark corners felt brighter. The bedsheets were rustled in the bedroom but the time when their legs were entangled and when Elke's hair silky fell between Joost's fingers lingered in his memory.

When Joost got to the workshop, he didn't hold the straight face that he usually did when greeting everyone. He accepted Apson's dap with a grin, rolled Tantu's drawers away from him so he couldn't reach and snatched Daan's hat off his head to put on his own. Flattening his hair, the accessory sat off centre as he arrived in the backroom.

Stuntje and Enzo were already seated. Alanis' screens were on but the woman wasn't in her chair. Showing various maps, transactions and security camera captures, the screens contained the issue that was being worked on. Those who weren't present at the workshop were working tirelessly at digging up what ever they could. Anything regarding Ski Aggu was to be investigated, fact-checked and prodded for more information.