Page 55 of Healed Heart

The sunlight outside is blinding.It’s a beautiful day, but all I can think about is Jason.The worry gnaws at me, and I finally decide to check in with him.I call.

“Pick up,” I mutter under my breath.

But he doesn’t, and I decide against leaving a voicemail.He’ll call me when he can.After all, he’s got so much going on.Everything he’s dealing with regarding Lindsay, the impending surgery… All of it.

“Hey!”

I jerk as Tabitha comes up behind me and lays a hand on my shoulder.“Lunch?”

“It’s only eleven,” I say.

“So?I’m hungry.”

I sigh.“Sure.But not the cafeteria.I want good food.”

“Thai?”

“I love Thai.”

“Great!”She beams.“I just discovered a great place a block away.Come on.”

She links her arm through mine and starts pulling me along the sunny sidewalk.I let her guide me, my thoughts still consumed by Jason.The way he looked this morning.That phone call.

Tabitha talks all the way down the street, but I barely take in a word of what she’s saying.My fingers itch to reach for my phone, to try calling Jason again.But I know it’s pointless.He’s dealing with something big, something that doesn’t involve me.

I’m startled out of my thoughts as we reach the small Thai restaurant, its familiar aroma of spices and cooked meats reaching me before we even step inside.

The hostess waves us in.“It’s early, so sit wherever you’d like,” she says with a smile.

I follow Tabitha to a corner table and sit.She’s chatting away about her classes and social life.Eventually, though, she seems to notice I’m not listening.

“Are you okay?”she asks, concern etched on her face.

“Yes,” I say automatically, forcing myself to smile.“Just thinking about an assignment.”

Tabitha nods.“You know you can talk to me about anything, right?”

Damn, here she goes once more.She’s determined to make us besties.

Then again, why am I fighting it?She reminds me so much of Sage.

“I know,” I reply, my smile more genuine now.But I say nothing more.

It takes more than a few smiles, pats on the hand, and being reminded of my sister to make me spill my deepest secrets.

We order our food, and then Tabitha’s phone rings.She glances at it.“It’s Eli.”

“So, take it.”

“We’re in the middle of lunch.I don’t want to be rude.”

I shrug.“We don’t have our food yet.You’re not being rude.Take the call.It could be important.”

Tabitha rolls her eyes and answers her phone.

I still think Eli has a thing for her, but I’m not sure.He’s also really committed to school.I could see him having made a promise to himself that he wouldn’t get sidetracked by a relationship.

Still, there’s hookup sex.