Chasing Destiny Read Online Free Page B

she have not told him? He thought about the few phone conversations they’d had over the past several weeks. Sure the amount of times they spoke was few and far between, but news as big as this could not have been mistakenly overlooked. You don’t just accidentally forget to tell the most important person in your life that you’ve been accepted into the nation’s most recognized physical therapy internship.
     Jacob hung up with Tanner and began pacing the floor in his small apartment. He thought about the last night he’d spent with Cassie. Something had been clearly troubling her that evening. She’d known about her acceptance then and had kept that vital piece of information to herself.
    Why? His initial anger soon turned into frustration and finally… to guilt . How could he have been so selfish, he wondered? He’d spent the last eighteen months micro-managing every aspect of their lives, precisely calculating his own success while essentially asking Cassie to surrender hers. He thought about calling her, but what would that accomplish? She would apologize for keeping it from him and in the same breath declare she had no regrets about turning down her position.
    No—he couldn’t call her.
    Jacob advanced toward his suitcase and retrieved the little black box that housed Cassie’s engagement ring. He sat back down and leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees and opened it. He gazed at the ring for a moment and took it out of the box. Holding it with his two fingers, he rotated his wrist; carefully inspecting it as he had done so earlier in the day at the jewelry store. After a few moments he placed the ring back in the box and leaned his back against the couch. He closed his eyes, searching his exhausted mind for the best solution to their scenario. He needed to find one quickly; he was scheduled to fly to New Orleans the following morning.
     
* * *
 
    It was half past four, Wednesday morning. Jacob awoke on the couch in the clothes he had been wearing the evening before. He ran his hands through his thick, dark hair and glanced at the black ring box sitting on the coffee table. His mind was made up and now there was no turning back.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER THREE
     
     
     
    The day had finally come and Cassie couldn’t conceal her excitement. She was relieved that their separation would soon be ending and was eager to spend the next few days reconnecting with Jacob. She stood up and journeyed to the monitors which displayed incoming flight information. She found his flight number and noted it was on time; just a few more minutes until its scheduled landing. She traveled as far as security would allow her and patiently waited for his arrival.
    She lingered calmly for close to twenty-five minutes and there was still no sign of Jacob. What’s taking him so long? The suspense is killing me!
    She returned to the monitors and once again found his flight. The data indicated that his plane had indeed landed. She traveled back to the reception area in front of the metal detectors and watched as dozens of people scurried by, reuniting with their loved ones with arms wide open.
    The airport was exceedingly overcrowded, but she hadn’t overlooked him, had she? Moments later she decided to search for him near baggage claim; just in case he slipped by without her knowing it, but unfortunately he wasn’t there either. Cassie retrieved her phone from her purse, dialed his number and after several rings, she was prompted to leave a message.
     
    “Where are you? I’ve been waiting at the airport for almost an hour now… This just doesn’t make any sense! Call me back as soon as you get this message, Jake.”
     
    After her attempts to reach him failed, worry began to consume her. He couldn’t have boarded an airplane and then spontaneously vanish mid-flight. She hadn’t spoken to Jacob in a couple of days, but she knew he wouldn’t have forgotten his plans; today was important to both of them. Was