Page 14 of Broken Dream

He eyes my hand a moment before taking it and limply shaking it. “Likewise.”

Ralph doesn’t appear to be a man of many words. At least it seems that way at first, until he starts talking about an article on forensic pathology he read, which I couldn’t care less about. I’m here, but I’m not here. My body is present, but my mind is miles away.

With Jason. Jason’s lips. His obvious arousal as he pressed into me.

I look around the cafeteria absentmindedly. Students, professors, some nurses and doctors from the adjoining hospital…

Everyone else’s life goes on as if I didn’t just kiss my professor.

Then I see him.

Jason.

He’s sitting alone at a table in the corner with his laptop open. When did he get here? How long was I wandering in bliss from his kiss before Tabitha grabbed me for lunch?

Jason takes a bite out of an apple and then shifts his gaze.

Our eyes meet.

An electric jolt runs through me, and everything else blurs. He raises his eyebrows and smiles. Not a big, flashy grin, but a small, private one. Just for me.

My heart stutters. I forget to breathe. Warmth floods my cheeks.

I rise. “I guess I’ll get some food.”

“Take this.” Eli shoves his salad at me. “It’s got arugula in it. Can’t stand the stuff.”

Oddly, Eli’s offering looks appealing enough to distract me. I start shoveling it into my mouth, not tasting it.

“Angie? Did you hear me?” Eli’s voice.

He said something?

“No,” I say quickly. “I mean, sorry. What was that again?”

Ralph raises an eyebrow. “You okay?”

I nod quickly. “Yeah. Just… I guess my mind wandered off. Anatomy class affected me a little more than I anticipated.”

Ralph narrows his eyes at me. “I’m sure.”

Not getting a great vibe from Ralph. But maybe it’s the age difference.

I look over at Eli. “What were you saying?”

He pastes a weird smile on his face. “Study group tonight. Pizza. The four of us.”

Study group?

I study alone.

I glance toward Jason.

The thought of being alone at home with my thoughts doesn’t seem so appealing. I won’t get any studying done if my head is wrapped around Dr. Jason Lansing.

So I nod to Eli and force a smile. “Sounds great!” I say a little too enthusiastically.

Tabitha looks up, clearly surprised at my eagerness. I meet her gaze and smile.