Page 15 of Broken Dream
Ralph nods from across the table. “No anchovies,” he says.
Tabitha and Eli agree, so I don’t bother telling them that I personally love anchovies. Sage says they’re disgusting, calls them stinky, hairy fish. She won’t let me get them on one half of a pizza because she says they pollute the whole thing. I’ve been getting my own personal pizzas since high school.
I risk another glance toward Jason, but he’s no longer at his table. I spot him by the cafeteria exit. He glances back over his shoulder. Our eyes meet once more.
Then he’s gone.
A sense of emptiness fills me, like he took something away with him when he left. My appetite vanishes, and I push my tray away. Eli’s discarded salad was disgusting anyway.
“Angie, are you sure you’re okay?” Ralph’s voice breaks through my thoughts.
I glance at him, taking in his furrowed eyebrows and concerned eyes. I force another smile. “Yeah, I’m fine.” The lie tastes bitter on my tongue. “Just not very hungry.”
“I swear this cafeteria food gets worse every day.” Eli grimaces at his half-finished sandwich. “I don’t blame you for not wanting to eat, Angie.”
I laugh weakly. Eli, of all of us, looks like he could stand to gain a few. He’s skinny as a rail.
“You’d think they might have more organic offerings,” Tabitha says. “I mean, what if I were vegan?”
“Are you?” Ralph asks.
“No, and it’s a good thing.” She thins her lips. “Though I don’t eat a lot of meat.”
I glance at her half-finished sandwich, which appears to be turkey.
I say nothing.
Eli starts talking about what we should study tonight, but my thoughts are consumed with Jason. His smile, his touch, his kiss—every single moment replays over and over in my mind.
“So what do you think, Angie?” Tabitha asks me.
I jerk back to reality. “Sorry. What?”
“For study group tonight. Pizza. What about your place?”
“My place?”
“I’ve got two roommates, Eli lives in his grandmother’s basement, and Ralph?—”
“I live in a tiny studio where I can barely turn around,” Ralph interrupts. “Where do you live?”
I guess it’s time to admit that I live in a gorgeous townhome a mile away from campus that I purchased on my own. Except not on my own. With my trust fund. It’s got three bedrooms and a tiny yard for my miniature schnauzer, Tillie.
And yeah, it will be perfect for our study group.
“Sure. My place is good.”
“Where is it?” Tabitha asks.
I rattle off the address.
Ralph widens his eyes. “That’s in Breckenridge Knoll.”
“Yeah,” I say.
“It’s a gated community,” he says.
My cheeks burn, but why should I be embarrassed that I live alone in a gated community?
