Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-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.
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.
It’s not my thing—despite how Jason and I started—but Sage and Gina are into it. How many times have I given them the “use condoms and be careful” talk? I’ve lost count.
Tabitha’s not saying much, but then her eyes go wide.
“What is it?” I ask.
She shushes me and continues to listen, until, “Yeah, okay. I’ll be there in an hour. Maybe with Angie, if she’s willing.”
Willing? Willing to what?
“What was that about?” I ask once she’s ended the call.
“Eli went over to the hospital after his morning class,” Tabitha says. “He wanted to see Ralph.”
“How is he?” I ask, not really caring.
“Same. He’s in some pain. But it looks like he’s going to make it.”
I didn’t think that was ever in question. He’s not the first guy to get the shit kicked out of him. I’ve helped nurse my brothers back to health after a beating more than once.
“That’s good,” I say.
“Yeah, it is. But here’s the thing…”
“What?”
“Ralph wants to see you, Angie.”
I nearly drop my jaw to the table. Hasn’t he done enough? He already went to the hospital HR to squeal on Jason and me. But…Jason did tell me that Ralph seems to have feelings for me.
Right. Like the asshole could even have feelings.
“What for?”
She frowns. “I don’t know. Eli didn’t say.”
“Then why didn’t Eli call me?”
Tabitha rubs her forehead. “That’s a good question, for sure.”
“I already know the answer.” I smirk. “He likes you, Tabitha.”
She clasps her hands, casts her gaze to the restaurant’s tiled floor. “Unfortunately, the feeling isn’t mutual. As anything more than friends, that is. I see him more like a little brother.”
“Yeah, I understand.” I cross my arms. “Why the hell does Ralph want to see me?”
She shrugs. “Eli said he pressed him on it, but Ralph wouldn’t say. I told him I’d go over and meet him at the hospital in an hour. But whether you came was up to you.”
“I’m sorry, but I have a class right after lunch.”
“I see.”
“I already cut a class yesterday. I don’t want to make this a habit.”
“I totally understand, Angie.”
Our server brings our meals—drunken noodles for me and pad thai for Tabitha—and smiles. “Is there anything else you ladies would like?”
Tabitha drains her glass of water. “Refill, please.”
“Right away.” The server picks up the glass. “You?”
My glass of water is still full, and though I could use a drink, I have a class to get to. “I’m good, but thank you.”
I inhale the fragrance of my drunken noodles.
The smell of garlic, chili, and basil mixes with the sweet scent of the oyster sauce. I pick up my fork and twirl a strand of noodle around it.
Tabitha takes a bite of her meal, her gaze flickering back to her phone. She chews, swallows, and then looks back to me.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” she asks again, setting her fork down on her plate.
I give a small nod, but I don’t meet her eyes. “Just a lot on my mind.”
Tabitha starts talking again as she digs into her pad thai. She doesn’t seem overly concerned about Ralph wanting to see me.
Why should she be?
Ralph isn’t her problem. He’s mine. And Jason’s, unfortunately. I take a bite of the noodles—spicy and sweet at the same time, just how I like it.
Why would he want to see me? What could he possibly have to say that he hasn’t already?
I try to dismiss it as nothing. Maybe he just wants to apologize for his actions. For going to HR.
Yeah, right.
I haven’t known Ralph long, but already I know he has no intention of apologizing.
Truth is, I don’t want to see Ralph or have anything to do with him. His sudden request fills my stomach with unease, prompting me to set down my fork and push the bowl away.
“You’re not eating?” Tabitha asks, noticing.
“Not hungry anymore,” I say curtly. It’s a weak excuse, but I need to end this meal. “I changed my mind. I’m cutting class. Let’s go see what Ralph wants.”