Jaded (Jaded #1)

I grinned, “What? You think you’re the only one who can have a screwed up family?”


The second bell rang then and Corrigan asked, “What class are we going to?”

Mandy Justice approached us at that time. She gave us each a handout and said what the title read, “We’re doing a candlelight vigil for Leisha tonight. It’s nine in the tabernacle at Holy Mount.”

Holy Mount was the local Christian college.

“Who’s we?” I asked.

“Me. A few others. Becky, Jill, just…the regular girls.”

“You guys didn’t even know Leisha.”

“No, but Carlos did and Becky wanted to do this for him.” Mandy shrugged.

“Your fight’s not with me, but it’s a good cause.”

“You should get some of her friends to do it.” And why would Becky want to do this for Carlos?

Mandy flinched. “Look, no one else is doing it so…just show up, okay?”

Mandy left before I could say anything.

Bryce nodded and stated, “We’re going.” It went without saying, but Bryce had already said it.

The final bell rang and I stuffed the handouts in my books.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

Compared to the normal hustle and bustle, all three of us spent a boring afternoon at Corrigan’s. Bryce and Corrigan played video games, laughed, and punched each other.

I curled on the couch for awhile and then moved to the bedroom.

Katrice came down a few times. The first time she brought a tray of crackers and cheese. Her second trip consisted of cookies that she’d baked that afternoon. The entire house was filled with the aroma of chocolate chip cookie dough. And her third trip was with hot chocolate and tiny marshmallows.

Corrigan and Bryce ate it up—literally.

I accepted the hot chocolate and curled up on the couch afterwards.

Logan hit the doorbell around seven and Bryce gave me his phone to call my house. I didn’t ask for it. He didn’t offer it. He simply dropped it in my lap with my number already on the screen.

I called, but there was no answer and I didn’t leave a message.

Logan sat on the opposite couch and we watched the boys play their games. I sat up once for a round of Guitar Hero, but my blanket called my name after I was done.

For a group that was generally known for their action and immorality, we were saintly and boring that afternoon.

Katrice brought another round of sandwiches and then announced dinner.

Corrigan asked if we could eat downstairs and so dinner came to us. We were served lasagna and garlic bread.

Logan smiled politely and Katrice adored her instantly.

For a moment, I watched with a faint grin. I wondered if Katrice was relieved that I wasn’t Corrigan’s girlfriend.

Maybe Katrice would’ve turned into another AnnaBelle if Corrigan had become a Bryce.

Bryce’s phone rang and jumped in my hand. I had held onto it after my empty phone call and now saw that it was AnnaBelle.

Bryce looked over, saw my expression, and said flatly, “Ignore it.”

I glanced up and Bryce saw the devil-may-care glint in my eyes because he straightened and said further, “Leave it, Sheldon. I mean it.”

I stood up and answered it in a sweet purring voice, “Hello, Bitch.” I grinned in satisfaction as I walked from the room.

Annabelle caught her breath, but I heard a moment later, “I knew it. I just knew it.

Bryce hasn’t been returning my calls and he hasn’t stayed at home since I found you in his bed.”

I cocked my head to the side and returned, “Well, he hasn’t been in my bed.” He had, but only for an afternoon so it wasn’t technically a full lie.

Annabelle laughed. It was full of contempt and my back straightened in indignation.

“I give up,” she chuckled to herself. “I give up. You can have him, but I promise you, Sheldon, you won’t hold him. No one’s going to hold my boy because he’s going to the professionals next year.”

I frowned and stopped moving down the hallway.

His mother continued, self-assured, “He’s going pro and he’s going to leave you behind. You might want to start looking for a replacement pretty soon, another big guy that’ll protect you and stay up at night worrying about you. My boy won’t be that guy anymore. He’s going pro and the world is going to notice him.”

The phone rattled, just slightly, as my grip clenched tighter around it. “What are you talking about?” I turned and looked down the hallway.

I was far enough so they couldn’t hear, but Bryce stood in the hallway. He watched and I saw that he knew. I couldn’t see anyone else. The hallway cut off my vision of Corrigan, his perfect girlfriend, and the perfect doting mother.

A look of exhausted resignation came across Bryce’s face.

“He ‘has to work,’” I quoted Bryce’s words to his mother.

“Yes, he does and he’s going to be noticed and you’ll be in his dust. Mark my words. You’ll be gone.”

Bryce took a step and said, “Hang up.”

“He didn’t quit soccer because a college scholarship wanted him to, did he?”

AnnaBelle laughed.