Page 27 of Broken Dream

“You like to kiss, Angie. I know you do. I saw you.”

I swallow. What the hell is he talking about? The only person I’ve kissed since I’ve been to medical school is?—

Oh, shit…

Did he see Jason kiss me?

“What the hell are you talking about?” I demand, willing my voice not to shake.

“Today, after lab. I forgot my iPad, and I went back to the room. I saw you. You and Dr. Lansing.”

I don’t reply. Just try to keep myself steady.

Ralph raises an eyebrow. “He could lose his job for that.”

How do I handle this? Do I admit it? That won’t do Jason or me any good at all. I hate lying, but?—

“I don’t know what you think you saw, but you’re mistaken.” I pick up one of the bottles of Steel Vineyards Ruby that he brought, uncork it, add the aerator, and pour a glass, hoping the trembling in my hands isn’t apparent.

“Really?” He narrows his gaze. “I’m not an idiot. You can’t deny what I saw.”

I take a sip from my glass, doing my best to steady my shaking hands. “Maybe you should consider getting your eyes checked.”

Ralph crosses his arms and lets out a low chuckle. “You’re a terrible liar, Angie.”

I swallow and set my glass down on the counter with more force than necessary, spilling a few drops of wine. “That’s irrelevant, Ralph. We’re all here to study, and that’s all.”

“I wonder what the dean of students would have to say if I told him what I saw?” Ralph says snidely.

“I’m sure he’d ask Dr. Lansing and me what actually happened, and we’d set the record straight.” I grit my teeth and look Ralph directly in the eyes. “Nothing happened.”

Ralph’s snide smile fades, replaced by a scowl. “You’re bluffing.”

“You think so?” I challenge.

I grew up with two older brothers and tons of male cousins. You either learn to stand up to them or get walked over. I may be quiet, but I’m no doormat.

Ralph seems taken aback by my defiance, but he doesn’t retreat. Instead, he keeps his arms crossed. “You’re lying,” he says after a pause. “I know what I saw.”

“And I know what didn’t happen,” I retort. “If you want to make baseless accusations, be my guest. But remember, Ralph, the truth always comes out in the end.”

He smirks. “I suppose it will.”

Just as the tension is about to strangle us both, Tabitha walks into the kitchen, leaving Eli in the living room. She stops in her tracks when she sees our standoff.

“What’s going on here?” she asks, frowning at Ralph.

“Nothing,” Ralph grumbles.

Tabitha’s eyes narrow as she studies Ralph, me, and then Ralph again. “I think it’s more than nothing,” she says. “You two look like you’re about to kick each other’s asses.”

“Maybe that’s because Angie here can’t admit the truth,” Ralph snaps.

“Ralph…” I begin, trying to keep my voice steady.

Tabitha interrupts me, though, turning her full attention to Ralph. “And what truth would that be?”

Ralph hesitates for a moment, eyeing me. I can almost see his mind struggling with whether or not to spill what he saw.