Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76717 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76717 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“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 the hospital?”
“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 Angie afraid of 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.”
She doesn’t look convinced, and it breaks my heart.
“But you have to admit, it does look suspicious,” she says.
My blood simmers underneath my skin. “How so?”
“Because you were angry at him. And he knew about us.” Her voice quivers as if she’s on the verge of tears. “And he said it was my boyfriend.”
“Angie—”
“No, Jason,” she snaps, cutting me off. “I’m not accusing you of anything. But you have to understand why I thought it could have been you.”
I close my eyes, take a deep breath. Count to ten. “I do understand,” I say in as calm a voice as I can muster. “But just because things look a certain way doesn’t mean they are.”
“But Jason—”
“No,” I cut her off this time. “I’m not going to stand here and let you accuse me of something I didn’t do.”
“I told you, I wasn’t accusing you—”
“Speculating, then.” I stand and pace around her. “Yes, Ralph knew about us, and yes, I was angry with him. But that doesn’t mean I attacked him.”
“Then who did?”
“I don’t know,” I reply, my voice strangled. “But it wasn’t me.”
The silence stretches between us once more. It’s stifling, heavy with accusations and denials.
She wraps her arms around herself. “I want to believe you,” she says quietly. “But I just don’t know what to think anymore.”
The admission cuts deeper than any knife could have.
“I understand,” I say finally when my voice returns to me. “And I can’t make you believe me. But I promise you that I had nothing to do with this.”
She doesn’t respond.
“Angie,” I say, sitting back down next to her. “I love you. I would never do something like this, not even to my worst enemy. Certainly not to some jackass student of mine, even one who’s poking his nose where it doesn’t belong.”
“I need time,” she murmurs, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“Of course.” I nod, fighting back the urge to reach out and hold her. To comfort her. “Take all the time you need.”
She gives me a half-hearted smile, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. Slowly, she rises from the bench. Without another word, she turns and walks away.
The leaves rustle overhead. I look around the garden, chilled and snow-covered. This place is beautiful in the spring and summer, when the flowers are in full bloom, the trees green and thick with life, and the air smells like roses and sunlight. I used to sit out here before a complex surgery, running through each step in my mind.
Now?
The garden is icy, stripped down.
I don’t know how long I sit there, lost in my own thoughts. The shadows around me deepen as the sun begins to set, but I barely notice the change in light. All I can think of is Angie’s accusing gaze and the fear I saw reflected in her eyes.
And while it saddens me, it also makes me angry.
Angry that she thinks I’m capable of harming someone.
But angrier at Ralph for accusing me.
He and I will have words.
I rise, turn, and walk through the hospital doors.
Chapter Fifteen
Angie
At home, I cuddle with Tillie.
I cut my afternoon class.
That’s not like me. I’m the good girl. I never cut class. Especially not medical school class.
The awesome foursome used to make fun of me all the time. They called me a buzzkill.
Sage and Bree used to cut class regularly. I’m not sure a week went by in college where they attended all of their classes.
Gina was better, but she cut now and then with them. They would pry her with Starbucks. She loves the stuff.
I think I cut maybe two classes during my entire college career. And so far, I haven’t skipped any classes here at med school until today. Granted, I’m only in my second semester, but I even went to class for a few days last semester when I had a nasty cold.
I probably should’ve stayed home, but my snot was clear, so…
Every good medical student knows that means it’s only a virus.
I should feel guilty for missing my class this afternoon. But guilt doesn’t come. Too many other emotions are coiling inside me.
Tillie licks my face, and I pet her soft head. Her coat is starting to get scraggly. She needs to be groomed. I’ve grown up with dogs my whole life, but usually bigger dogs. I chose Tillie because I’d be living alone and I only have a small yard. Plus, miniature schnauzers don’t shed. And though I could afford it, I don’t have a live-in housekeeper like we had at home who vacuums every day.