Page 91 of Healed Heart
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 meyouthink Jason could have done it?”
“No, I absolutely don’t, but I know him.”
Tabitha raises an eyebrow.“Youknowhim?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 inlove?”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!”
