Free Falling From Disgrace by L Maretta Page A

ringing of her cell phone, and Adrianna reached to answer it, much to Jack’s irritation.  Not recognizing the number on the screen, she brought the phone to her ear and mumbled, “Hello?”
     
    “Adrianna?  It’s Jason Landon.”
     
    Adrianna gasped and quickly disconnected the call, tossing her phone on the coffee table like she burned her hand on it.
     
    “Who the hell was that?” Jack demanded, rising from his seat and going to her side, concerned now by her reaction.
     
    Adrianna said nothing and just stared at the phone, her heart beating frantically.  Why the hell was Jason calling her?  What could he possibly have to say to her after all this time?  The last time they spoke was right after the accident and things had not gone well.
     
    “Ade, who the hell was that?” Jack repeated.
     
    Of course, after all this time, Jason would call while Jack was there.  Adrianna tried to compose herself by shaking her head and then told him, “No one.  A... telemarketer.”
     
    “Fucking hell!” Jack swore and slammed his fist into the cushion between them before rising up in fury.  “A telemarketer?  Adrianna, how fucking stupid do you think I am?  A sales call wouldn’t have you looking like you’ve just seen a ghost!  Why do you keep lying to me?”
     
    “What do you mean, keep lying to you?” she demanded.
     
    “You want to start a list?” he shot.  “You won’t tell me how you support yourself, you keep telling me nothing is wrong with you when clearly you’re upset about something, and I know what you said about the scar on your back is complete bullshit, too!”
     
    Adrianna gaped at him in horror.
     
    “Surgery to repair a herniated disk wouldn’t leave a scar like that!  Why the hell are you so afraid to talk to me?” he continued to shout.  “Have I not done enough to prove to you that I care about you?  You think I would be here if I didn’t?  I want to know who the hell was on the phone!”
     
    Closing her eyes to keep the tears from falling, Adrianna turned her head away and whispered, “I want you to leave, Jack.”
     
    “No!” he cried, and kneeled before her, grasping her head between his hands and forcing her to look at him.  When he saw she was crying it pained him.
     
    “I can’t see you anymore, Jack.”
     
    “Why not?”
     
    “I just can’t.”
     
    “That’s not a reason.”
     
    “It’s the only one I can give you.”
     
    “Well, it’s not good enough!” Jack shouted, sadness dwelling in his eyes.  “Tell me what’s going on.”
     
    “Don’t do this, Jack,” she sobbed.  “Believe me; you’re better off without me.”
     
    “What the hell happened to you to make you think that?” he demanded.  “What is it you think is going to drive me away?”
     
    Adrianna tried to pull her head from his grasp but he held on, rubbing one of his thumbs across her cheek.
     
    “Tell me, Adrianna,” Jack insisted.
     
    “Nothing,” she lied while the tears ran down her cheeks.  “Nothing happened, I just... I’m no good for you.”
     
    “Why are you lying to me?” Jack seethed, angered now by her words.  He didn’t think Adrianna was the type to be so self deprecating and he didn’t like it.
     
    “I’m not lying,” she swore.
     
    “You are lying!”  Jack released her face and stepped away from her, the anger now coursing through him so violently he didn’t want his hands near her. 
     
    “This is why I told you from the beginning not to get involved with me!” she yelled back at him.  “You’re asking me for things I can’t give you!”
     
    “Bullshit!  Don’t tell me you can’t, you’re choosing to close yourself off.”
     
    When he looked down at her, sitting there on the couch, appearing so broken and sad, he softened.  Kneeling down at her feet again, he took her hands in his.
     
    “I don’t know about you but this doesn’t happen for me very often.  I haven’t found someone I like as much as