Page 26 of Broken Dream

God, her smiling face.

I press send and hold my breath.

It rings, rings, rings…

Finally, a click, and then…her voice.

“Hi, it’s Lindsay. Sorry I missed your call. Leave a message, and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.”

Her voice, so light and cheerful, cuts through the chaotic sounds around me, slicing into my gut with an almost physical pain.

“Li-Lindsay…” My voice trembles on her name, the reality of everything crashing down on me. “Something’s happened…” I choke out the words between gasping breaths.

The phone drops from my grip and clatters onto the ground.

Hands grab at me again, pulling me away from the car as they work on Julia. But I can’t tear my eyes away from her, from her still form.

“Lindsay… Julia…”

My words are swallowed up as consciousness slips away.

Oblivion.

Blissful oblivion.

Chapter Nine

Angie

I freeze, a wineglass in each hand.

Ralph?

He’s attractive, but I never gave him any signals.

His kiss is soft and sweet, but after today’s kiss from Jason…

It’ll take a lot more to get my attention.

I set down the wineglasses and push him away.

“What was that?” I demand.

“A kiss,” he says, grinning slightly. “You do enjoy kissing, don’t you?”

I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. “I… Well, yeah. But…we’re here to study. To help each other. To eat pizza and…”

God, I’m babbling.

“Come on.” He furrows his brow. “You know you want it as much as I do.”

I cock my head, irritated. “Excuse me?”

He cocks his head, his gaze dark. “I don’t think I stuttered.”

I drop my gaze to his crotch, where his hardness is evident.

Oh, God…