Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
Angie
Tillie wakes me with a sharp yap.
My eyes pop open.
“What is it, baby girl?” I ask.
Then I hear it. A soft knocking.
My nerves go on red alert. It’s the middle of the night, and Jason…
Is he back?
I check the time. It hasn’t been that long since he left.
Surely he can’t already be back.
Or could he?
Tillie shifts beside me, ears pricked, her little body tense. The knocking comes again—soft, hesitant, but firm enough to put my senses on alert.
I push the covers back, my breath tight in my chest. He left after that phone call.
What if it’s not him?
My mind races through possibilities, each worse than the last. A stranger? A threat?
Or something more terrifying—Jason, standing on the other side of the door, lost in a way I don’t know how to fix.
I swallow hard, slip out of bed, pull a robe over my shoulders, and walk out of the bedroom. Tillie follows. I flick on a brighter lamp in the living room.
Another knock. This time, softer. Almost reluctant.
I look through the peephole.
Jason.
Relief sweeps through me.
Not a thief, murderer, or rapist.
Simply Jason.
He stands on my stoop, drenched in moonlight and something heavier—something raw, unspoken.
This isn’t the Jason who owned me hours ago, who pressed me onto the table with a command and a growl, who unraveled me with ruthless precision.
“Jason?” My voice barely carries over the silence.
Nothing.
Then—his voice, low, rough.
“Angie…please. Open the door.”
Something inside me clenches. I don’t know if I’m ready for whatever weight he’s about to drop onto me.
But I know one thing.
I’m going to open the door.
“Get back, girl,” I say to Tillie as I unlock the deadbolt and open the door.
Jason says nothing as he walks in, ignoring Tillie’s yaps.
I scoop up my dog, take her to the back door, and let her out. She does her business quickly, and when she scratches at the metal door, I let her back in.
Jason still stands in the living room. I go to him.
“You okay?” I ask.
He nods. “I’m sorry I left. It could have waited until morning.”
I press my fingers against his soft lips. “It’s okay. Let’s just get back to bed. I have school tomorrow, and you have w—” I clap my hand over my mouth.
God, I feel awful.
Jason doesn’t have work. He was put on leave.
How much can one man take?
“It’s okay,” he says. “The fact that my life is a total wreck isn’t your problem. It’s mine.”
I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. I’m not sure what to say. I want to be there for him. We love each other, so his issues are my issues.
But I don’t think that’s what he needs to hear right now.
He needs silence. He needs peace.
So I say nothing. Instead, I grab his hand and lead him down the hallway to my bedroom. He trails behind me like a forlorn shadow. A part of me wants to reach out, to comfort him, but another part of me knows this is what he needs right now. Quiet. Simple quiet.
We step into my room, and I flick on a small lamp by the bedside, casting a dim glow across the room.
I slide my robe over my shoulders, letting it fall in a heap at my feet. Then I help him undress. When we’re both naked, I pull back the covers.
He slides in silently. I turn off the lamp, slip in next to him, and turn my back to him.
His cock is hard against my back, and I wiggle against him in invitation.
He glides into me with one swift thrust.
No condom, but I don’t care. He needs this. He needs me.
I sigh at the blissful completion that only he gives me.
This whole night has been about him and his needs, and I’m okay with that.
He’s gentle this time. Just smooth thrusts in and out that are more about connection than passion. He finds my hands under the covers, our fingers entwining as our bodies move together in silent understanding.
His breath is warm on the back of my neck, his heart a steady drum against my shoulders. There’s something so intimate about this moment. We are not lovers lost in passion but two souls seeking solace.
As he moves, I feel the tension seeping from him, his body gradually relaxing against mine. His grip on my hand loosens but he doesn’t let go. The rhythm of our bodies slows until we’re barely moving, just breathing in time with each other.
“Angie…”
I squeeze his hand. “It’s okay, Jason,” I whisper. “Sleep.”
The alarm on my phone buzzes at six a.m., and Tillie rustles me out of bed.
“Shh,” I tell her. “Don’t wake Jason. He needs to sleep.”
I grab my robe, take Tillie outside for her morning poop, and then get her breakfast ready while I start a pot of coffee.
A giant yawn splits my face. Staying up late having sex and then getting up in the middle of the night to let your boyfriend in and have sex again—plus the constant worry—isn’t conducive to being well rested.
Once the coffee’s done, I pour a quick cup and return to the bedroom to take a shower.
Jason is still sleeping soundly, and I tread quietly so as not to disturb him. Once I’m out of the shower, I blow my hair dry and get into jeans and a sweater.
It’s Thursday.
Anatomy lab day.
And Jason won’t be there.
Neither will Ralph, which is a positive.
I sigh. Tabitha and Eli don’t even know about Jason yet. There will be a sub, of course. Or, if they couldn’t find one in time, lab will be canceled. Again.
I can already hear Eli in my head.
How the hell are we supposed to learn anything when lab keeps getting canceled?
Jason is still sleeping by the time I’m ready to leave for school. I give Tillie a quick kiss on her soft head. She jumps onto the bed and snuggles at Jason’s feet.
I’m leaving him in good hands.
The drive to school is uneventful, and when I get there, I have about an hour before my first class of the day, which is anatomy lab. I head toward the library but then change direction toward the anatomy lab.
The sign is there already.
Anatomy Lab Canceled
Guess they couldn’t find a replacement for Jason in less than twenty-four hours.
Oh, well. More study time, which isn’t a bad thing since I’ve already missed two classes this week.
I’m still standing in front of the door when Eli ambles up behind me.
“Fuck, is he kidding?” Eli shakes his head. “How the hell are we supposed to learn anything when lab keeps getting canceled?”
I stifle a chuckle. I knew Eli would say exactly that.
But this is hardly a laughing matter.
“Something must be going on,” I say.
“The dude should be fired,” Eli replies. “I mean, I like him and all, and he’s a good teacher, but he only shows up half the time.”
I strive to keep my face still. “I’m sure he has a good reason.”
“Fuck his reasons at this point. I need to cut.”
I resist rolling my eyes. If I never cut again, I’ll be just fine. But I remember Aunt Melanie’s words. It’s all important, and you never know when you may have to use your medical knowledge outside your specialty. Maybe even to save a life, as Aunt Mel did on that flight.
Students come and go, looking at the sign and shaking their heads. Most seem upset that lab is canceled. Am I the only one who doesn’t like to cut open dead bodies?
Eli walks off, pissed, and ignores Tabitha as she walks by him, coming toward me.
“What’s his problem?” she asks, and then she drops her gaze to the sign on the door. “Oh, that explains it.”
“The man wants to cut,” I say.
“He does, and so do I. Do you know what’s going on?”
I shrug. “Not really.”
Tabitha stares at me, and for a moment, I almost feel like she can read my mind. She knows I know because I think she has a suspicion about Jason and me. She has ever since he showed up at my house unannounced when she was there.
“Spill it,” she says.
“Not here.”
“Okay. Coffee, then?”
I shrug again. Sure, why not? It’s not like we have a class to go to. Hell, I was ready to leave all this behind only days ago when Jason asked me to go to Switzerland with him.
If only…
If only we’d left right then, we could have avoided all of this. Jason would have an ironclad alibi for Ralph’s battery. He would have been out of the country.
“Starbucks?” Tabitha asks.
I nod. So much better than the crap they serve on campus.
We walk the block to Starbucks, place our order, and find a comfy couch.
“All right,” she says. “What’s up with you and Jason?”
I look over my shoulder, my eyes wide. No one is in earshot. I turn back to Tabitha, bite my lip. “You have to promise not to say anything to anyone if I tell you this.”
“Scout’s honor.” She holds up three fingers.
I grimace unwittingly. Ralph said the same thing in his bed at the hospital, three-fingered gesture and all.
“I’m serious, Tabitha. Fucking serious. You can’t mention it to Eli or anyone else. And especially not Ralph.”
She scoffs. “Why would I mention anything to Ralph? I’m not the one being summoned to his hospital room.” She sighs. “I can’t believe I was ever into him.”
Yeah, I can’t believe it either, but I keep that thought to myself.
“So…” I begin. “Jason has been arrested for the attack on Ralph.”
Tabitha gasps, her hand flying instantly to her mouth.
“Chill,” I tell her. “Act normal.”
“I’ll try.” She darts her gaze around the coffee shop. “How? Why?”
“Ralph named him,” I say. “And before you ask, no, he didn’t do it.”
“Of course he didn’t do it.” She blinks several times, darts her gaze around the coffee shop.
“I can’t believe anyone would think he did.
Not after that big speech he gave at our first anatomy lab about respecting the cadavers and what they’re doing for us.
That’s a man who has a huge respect for life and learning.
He’d never harm anyone.” She purses her lips. “At least not like that.”
I nod, glad she agrees, but I can’t help but play devil’s advocate a bit. “Do you really think so?”
Her jaw drops. “Are you telling me you think Jason could have done it?”
“No, I absolutely don’t, but I know him.”
Tabitha raises an eyebrow. “You know him? Do you mean in the biblical sense?”
Shit.
I glance over my shoulder one time and lower my voice. “Yes, Tabitha. I know you’ve figured it out by now. We’re… We’re in love.”
She drops her jaw. “You’re in love?” She sits back in her chair, giggling softly. “I mean, I was pretty sure you were fucking, but I had no idea you were in love!”
“You have to promise not to tell anyone. He could get fired for this.”
She shrugs. “He’s already been placed on leave.” She claps a hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry. That was so insensitive.”
“Least of my worries right now,” I say. “But I was asking you. As his student, do you think there’s a possibility of Jason hurting Ralph?”
“And I just told you. That man is a born healer. I don’t think he’d hurt anyone on purpose. Not ever.”
“Not even a douchebag like Ralph?” I’m playing devil’s advocate, but I need an honest answer from an impartial person.
“Why would Jason have anything against Ralph? He’s a stu— Oh!” She widens her eyes. “Did you tell Jason how Ralph came onto you?”
I frown. “Yeah.”
Plus Ralph is the one who turned Jason in to HR, but Tabitha may not know that.
“Then this is about you, Ange.”
“It seems to be,” I say. “Jason told me that Ralph told him that he didn’t deserve me. But none of this makes any sense. Ralph barely knows me.”
“Uh…hello?” She knocks a fist against her forehead. “Earth to Angie. He’s after your fortune, Ms. Steel. It’s clear as day.”
“Clear as mud, you mean,” I retort. “My money may well have something to do with it, but why would he be targeting Jason? It’s not like we’re married or anything. In fact, Jason and I only just met. For all Ralph knows, it was just a kiss in the anatomy lab.”
She purses her lips. “That’s not all he knows. He was there that night we had pizza at your place when Jason showed up.”
“So? Jason and I are neighbors.”
“True.”
“Besides, Jason was gone before the guys showed up.”
But I can tell Tabitha isn’t entirely convinced.
And I don’t have the energy to convince her. “Just keep all this to yourself, okay? Please?”
“I already said I would.” She crosses her arms. “Jeez, Ange.”
I hold up a hand. “I know. I’m sorry. I’m just on edge. The Ralph thing and all. Why is he so obsessed with me? Why is he framing Jason to get to me?”
Then a jolt hits me.
I never asked Ralph why. I just told him I wouldn’t fuck him in his hospital room, which was creepy and gross. But in truth I wouldn’t fuck him anywhere. I rebuffed him that first night at my place.
I finish my coffee and rise. “I’ve got to go, Tabitha. I’m sorry, but I just remembered I have an appointment.”
“A doctor’s appointment?” She raises an eyebrow. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s the dentist, actually. Just my six-month checkup.”
“But we’re supposed to be having class right now. Why would you have scheduled—”
“My insurance is crazy. Have to get my cleanings scheduled at very specific times if I want them covered.”
She wrinkles her forehead. She’s not convinced. But she’s also not going to push it further.
I hate lying. But I can’t have Tabitha coming with me.
I need to take care of this myself.