Jaden (Jaded #3)

I couldn’t argue with what Corrigan was saying so I only sighed and rested my head against his chest. He held me there, his arm stroking up and down my arm for the rest of the night.

I wanted to tell him that Bryce and I had our time. That it hadn’t worked, and it probably wouldn’t any more, but I couldn’t.

“Sheldon?”

Bryce tapped on my door. I braced myself. Guilt, regret. I knew they were coming at the sound of his voice, but they didn’t. I felt nothing except gratefulness. I was thankful for the night.—”Sheldon?”

He started to turn the knob.

My eyes bulged out. “Uh . . . wait!” I cursed, needing to lower the panic in my voice. “I mean, let me get dressed.”

“Oh. Yeah.”

Cursing, I hurried to change. Then sprayed perfume on me at the last moment. Shit. I smelled like sex. I knew I did, but I was already going for the door. Turning the handle, I opened it, and Bryce straightened from where he’d been leaning. His gaze raked over me, then his jaw firmed.

He asked, “Do you want me to leave?”

“What?”

“Leave. Do you want me to leave?” He indicated his room. “You chose, Sheldon.”

“Oh.” My god. I smacked my forehead. “No, I’m sorry. I—I was mad. I took it out on you. I . . .” my stomach dropped. “I’m so sorry, Bryce. I didn’t choose last night. I—”

He waved a hand, cutting me off. “Okay.” He nodded to himself. “Okay.”

“I . . .” I had no fucking idea what to say. “Corrigan says I have a wall blocking you. He said I won’t let you in because I don’t want to feel stuff.”

He didn’t comment. He didn’t move either. He didn’t do anything.

I pressed my hand to my stomach, then pressed harder. It had started doing flip-flops. “I—” A memory flashed in my mind.

“No,” Bryce said firmly, daring me to argue with him. “I said ‘make love,’ and you said ‘have sex.’ They’re different.”

“It’s not that different. It’s still screwing.”

“No,” he spelled it out, saddened. “You screw me. I make love to you.”

“Um.” Mena came up from the stairs and stopped, seeing us. A bewildered expression came over her and she stuffed her hand behind her back, her eyes went wide before skirting to the side. “The cops are here.” She bit her lip, but looked at Bryce. “They’re asking for you, but I think they want you, too.” She directed the last bit to me.

I shared a look with Bryce. Cops coming here was never a good sign.

He ran a hand over his face. “Okay. Uh, okay. Let’s go.”

The three of us trailed in a single line to the main living room. They weren’t in the entrance foyer, and as we passed it, I felt a smart-ass remark on the tip of my tongue. I swallowed it. Not the time. Not the place.

Then we were there, and the cops all sat up from the couch. The female one –I still refused to learn her name— signaled to Bryce. “Can I talk to you privately?”

“No.”

“What?”

“No.” He gestured to the group. “Unless you’re going to arrest me as a suspect, I’m sick of this. Everything you’re here about has to do with everyone here. They all deserve to know so whatever you have to ask me, ask me here. In front of everyone.”

She pressed her lips together, then let out a short burst of steam. “Fine.” She cleared her throat, tugging at the collar of her shirt. “Guadalupe Ramirez is missing.” She searched everyone, studying all of our reactions, but there were none.

Corrigan shrugged. “Yeah. So? We already knew that.”

“So . . .” Her eyes narrowed, resting on Bryce. “Has she contacted you lately?”

Bryce didn’t hesitate. “Yes.” He glanced at me, but he was speaking to her. “She’d been texting, emailing, and calling me until two days ago. So was Maria, until we stole her phone. After that, I started getting texts and calls. The voicemails sounded like Maria’s voice. I’m assuming she got a new phone.”

“Maria?” The male cop frowned, pulling out his phone. “Her assistant Maria?”

“Yes.” Bryce kept going, sounding so tired. “Maria is a huge part of Lupe’s life. She’s obsessed with her. Guadalupe was calling me and asking me to come back to her. At first she was threatening Sheldon, saying she’ll sue. When I kept ignoring her, she started pleading. Now all she does is go back and forth between threatening me, saying she’ll hurt Sheldon if I don’t do what she wants, and begging me to come back.”

“What do you say when you respond?”

“I don’t.” Bryce shot him a questionable look. “I’ve never responded. To her or Maria. You have Maria’s phone. You can check that.” He rubbed at his forehead.