Jaded (Jaded #1)

Corrigan grinned cheekily at me and remarked, “You like driving stick, Sheldon. We all know it.”


I shared a resigned look in the rearview mirror with Bryce before he laid down in the backseat.

“No sleeping,” I remarked as I pulled out of the parking lot.

“Yeah. Yeah,” Bryce mumbled back, but Corrigan turned and punched his best friend in the stomach.

Without shock, pause, a reaction, anything—Bryce reached up and slammed Corrigan’s head against his headrest. It happened so quick…this is why we were best friends.

I shook my head, grinned, and pulled out into the street.

“Oomph,” Corrigan breathed.

Bryce laughed and punched Corrigan in the shoulder before he laid back down.

“So what’s up with this impromptu food trip?” I asked, shifting gears.

“No reason. I’m just hungry,” Corrigan murmured, vaguely, as he turned back in his seat. He tapped the dashboard absent-mindedly and reached to change the radio station.

Bryce sat up and our eyes met again, but not in shared lust.

Corrigan was evading my question. Corrigan only evaded when he was upset.

“Right, you’re just hungry,” Bryce murmured sarcastically as he studied his best friend.

“If you wanted food, you would’ve gone to the vending machine,” I added and pulled into my house’s driveway.

“Thought we’d go to a restaurant or something,” Corrigan half-heartedly protested.

I didn’t like restaurants. He knew that.

“Whatever,” I brushed it off as I climbed out and led the way into my kitchen.

Having rich parents had its benefits. When I requested a chef to come in, a chef came in.

I rarely ate so the chef was only requested when Corrigan and Bryce ate through my stock. As they did now—they both attacked the fridge to find some lasagna while I ate grilled chicken.

We all headed for the media room and I curled on the couch as the guys sat on each end and inhaled their food.

After Corrigan got up for more, I leaned forward and punched Bryce on the arm.

“What?” he asked, cradling his arm.

“You start it.”

We both knew what I meant.

A pained look crossed his face. “Oh, come on. You’re the girl. Be girly.”

I punched him again.

“Ow! That one hurt.”

“Bryce,” I warned.

“Fine. Alright, just…stop hitting me.”

I raised my fist again, but Bryce caught it and hauled me onto his lap.

He grinned in satisfaction as he leaned back against the couch. Both of his hands moved to my hips and he held me in place when I moved to slide off.

“This will be more enjoyable if you stay exactly where you are.”

Hearing the microwave door open and shut, I leaned forward, kissed Bryce quickly and twisted his nipple.

“Ow! That hurt too,” Bryce cried out.

I slid off his lap and kicked him for good measure.

Corrigan returned and started to eat his second helping when Bryce groaned and spoke up, “Alright, man. What’s up?”

Corrigan froze mid-chew and looked us over.

He finished chewing, swallowed, and slowly settled back against the couch. He kept his plate on his lap.

Bryce looked at me with raised eyebrows, but I watched Corrigan instead.

Finally, Corrigan spoke up, “Alright…you should know…I’m moving.”

“What?” I sat up and asked in shock.

Bryce’s eyes widened—a feat that I’d never seen before, but he didn’t say anything.

Corrigan watched us another moment and then threw his head back in a laugh.

“I’m so joking, you guys. God—look at you.” He kept laughing until Bryce punched him in the shoulder.

“Ow!” he yelped and moved away. Corrigan shook his head and continued eating in between laughs. “Seriously. You guys looked like I’d died or something. That was hilarious.”

“Not funny.” I glared.

“It was funny.” Corrigan chuckled as he finished the rest of his food. When Bryce and I continued to stare at him, he threw his hands in the air, “Come on, guys! Seriously! You don’t want to go there.”

“What is wrong with you?” Bryce asked, more curious.

“Nothing’s wrong with me. Why do you automatically assume something’s wrong?”

“Because we were making out and you interrupted. You never interrupt us,” I spelled it out. That was my first clue anyway.

“If you want to make out right now, don’t hold back. I have no problem with it.”

Corrigan flashed his charming grin again.

I blinked, stunned at how slippery he could be. Then I said, “No. Tell us.”

He glanced at Bryce for a second and shook his head again. “Seriously. Nothing’s wrong.”

He didn’t want to share and it was starting to become more work than it deserved.

I rolled my eyes and asked, “How do you know Steele’s sister? What’s her name?”

Bryce glanced to him and asked, “You already know her?”

Corrigan stiffened, but answered, “Her name is Mena and yes, I’ve met her. It didn’t go so well.”

“What happened?” Bryce flashed a grin. “You hit on her, but shagged her best friend.”