Page 127 of Broken Dream

I can’t take Tillie overseas, either. I’d have to drive her out to the Western Slope, leave her with my family. I just adopted her. It would break my heart to leave her so soon.

But then there’s Jason.

The chemistry we share is undeniable. I’ve heard my own mom and dad talk about how they fell in love. My aunts, my uncles, my cousins, too. The Steels in particular tend to fall hard and fall fast.

Is that what’s happened to me?

Am I actually in love with Jason?

I can’t stop thinking about him. About the time we’ve shared together. About our first kiss in the anatomy lab, how he ravaged me in my own kitchen. And then back at school, with the cadavers silently watching.

And maybe I’m the only person who can support him in this endeavor. This surgery that means so much to him. A chance for him to return to his old life.

It’s only a few months. Brianna would not stop blabbering about how beautiful the UK was when she went with Jesse’s band.

I’ve never even left the continental U.S. The Steels aren’t typically big travelers, despite our wealth.

And away from the university, away from the judging eyes of our colleagues and peers, Jason and I could actually try being a couple.

In that moment, I know what my decision is.

I’m going to do it. I’m going to throw caution to the wind and see if this thing with Jason has any legs.

I run over to his house, pound on his door. “Jason. Jason!”

No answer.

His car isn’t in the driveway. He must have gone somewhere. Probably to campus.

I call his cell. It rings a few times and then goes straight to his voicemail.

Weird. After asking me to go to Switzerland with him, I would think he’d pick up pretty quickly to learn my answer.

Maybe he left his phone in his car or something.

I’ll drive over to the university. I have a class in an hour anyway, and I want to tell Jason in person that I’m going to go to Switzerland with him.

I dash back to my house, let Tillie out for a quick potty break, and then get in my car.

Once I’ve parked, I walk up to the building.

I see Jason’s car parked in the fire lane. I recognize it from the day he discovered we were neighbors.

Good. He’s here.

I run to his office, nearly knocking over a few students and professors on the way.

“Excuse me, sorry.”

I turn the corner to the hallway where his office is located.

Jason, my sweet Jason. The man of my dreams. The man I’m in love with. He’s going to be so happy to hear what I have to say.

And I run right into someone.

I fall back on my butt. For a second everything is blurry.

I rub my eyes and look at who I’ve run into.