Page 54 of Healed Heart

“Ralph here.Sorry I’m unavailable.You know what to do.”

“Hello, Ralph, my name is Jason Lansing.I got your number from Rebecca Tate, who you went to high school with.I was hoping to get some information about some other classmates of yours, Lindsay Davis and Ronny Burgundy.Please give me a call back when you can.”

With that, I end the call and lean back in my chair, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath.So many questions, so many uncertainties.

Even with so much on my mind, my thoughts stray back to Angie sleeping soundly in her bed.The woman who knows about my past, about Lindsay and the torturous guilt that keeps me up at night.The woman who loves me for who I am now, flaws and all.

As much as I wish to protect her from this storm raging within me, she deserves to know the truth.She deserves to understand why I left her bed early this morning.

With another sigh, I grab my jacket and keys and head to her place.The sun is just starting to rise, casting long shadows that creep across the deserted streets.It’s too early for most people to be awake, but I’ve always been an early riser.Even more so now, with the weight of this unsolved mystery bearing down on me.I walk the few steps to Angie’s door and knock.

Her door swings open a few moments later.She stands in a loose sweater and leggings, her dark hair spilling down her back in waves.It’s still slightly damp from the shower she must have just taken.

Damn.

I’d love to take a shower with her, lose myself in her, forget the rest of this shit…

“Jason?”

“Hey, Angie.I’m sorry for stopping by so early.”

“No, it’s okay.”She steps aside to let me in.As soon as I’m inside, she closes the door behind me and crosses her arms.“I have to get to class anyway.”

“Right.I understand.I?—”

My phone buzzes.I hastily grab it from my pocket.

The number.

Ralph Parker.He’s calling me back.

Not the greatest timing.

“I’m so sorry,” I say.“I have to take this.”

“I understand.”She checks her watch.“I have to leave.You can stay here if you want.Just let Tillie in before you leave.”

“No, it’s fine.I’ll call you later.”

Once I’m outside her townhome, I answer the phone.

ChapterTwenty-One

Angie

Jason’s acting weird again, but then he kind of always acts weird.

I spend a few hours in the library before my only class this morning, infectious diseases.Neither Tabitha nor Eli are in this section with me.

I sit, barely paying attention as the professor drones on about the various symptoms and treatments for Lyme disease.I stare blankly at the slides projected on the screen, but my mind isn’t focused on the information.Instead, I’m lost in a whirlwind of thoughts about Jason.

He seemed almost frantic when his phone rang, practically rushing out of my apartment without even a goodbye kiss.And there was something else—not fear so much as…

I’m not sure.

I look back at the board and jot down some notes about Lyme disease, trying desperately to keep my mind focused on something other than Jason.

I barely notice as the lecture ends and students around me pack up their books and chatter to each other about God knows what.I mechanically follow, sliding my iPad into my bag and heading out of the classroom.