Page 38 of Healed Heart

“Angie?”he asks softly when he reaches me.He sits down next to me on the bench, close but not touching.

“Jason.”I force a smile onto my face.“What are you doing here?”

ChapterFourteen

Jason

I’m wiped.So wiped.

After telling Dr.Engel my suspicions about Lindsay’s death, our time was up.

I’m seeing him again tomorrow, but my God, the wounds are open.My vital organs exposed to the world.

I look at Angie, her eyes shadowed with a sadness I can’t quite gauge.I wish I could reassure her, tell her everything is going to be okay.But the truth is, I’m not sure it will be.

“I still have an office here.”It’s not a lie.The hospital hasn’t reassigned my office, although I moved all my stuff to my new office at the medical school.

“Oh?”she says.

“Yeah.I have to pick up a few things.”

“You’re not here to see Ralph?”

“Ralph?You mean from anatomy lab?The one who?—”

“Jason,” she interrupts, “you have to tell me.Did you do this to him?”

Her question hangs heavy in the air.“Do what to him?What are you talking about?”

“Ralph was attacked,” she whispers, her voice shaking.“He’s in here, in the hospital.”

“Attacked?”My mind spins.“But why would you think I had anything to do with that?”

She shrinks back from me, her face pale.“You know.I told you he’s the one who… And he tried to kiss me.Blackmail me.And he said it was you.”

Rage surges into me.“Hewhat?”

“Well, when I asked what happened, he said, ‘ask your boyfriend.’”

“And you immediately thought of me?”

“Well, boyfriend… Yeah.You’re my… I guess… I mean, we just said we loved each other, Jason.”She bites her lip.“I don’t have any other boyfriends.”

I tighten my grip on the wooden arm of the bench.“Why?Why would I…”

Frustration bubbles inside me.How can she think I’m capable of such a thing?

“Angie,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.“Do you honestly believe I could beat someone up?To the point where he had to go to thehospital?”

“You were so angry when I told you about him… And then he gets attacked…”

I shake my head, running a hand through my hair.“Angie, listen to me.”I inhale, but no more words come out.How could she even consider the possibility that I would harm Ralph out of spite or jealousy?

But then a more horrifying thought.

Is Angieafraidof me?The idea leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to remain calm.“I didn’t attack Ralph.”