Still Jaded (Jaded #2)

Cadence narrowed her eyes and nodded. "Bryce will be off limits, but if you two break up then the deal is off."

I could handle that. I accepted and gestured towards the door. "Now that we've got our blood signatures out of the way, off you go. I'll see you when I see you."

She was stiff as she left the house.

Surveying my outfit, I figured my jeans were fine. I wasn't a fool. I knew they were skintight, showing my legs, which Bryce loved. But I wrinkled my nose in disgust at my top. It needed to go. Something told me I'd look mousy standing next to the model-like women who seemed to be at the same gyms as Bryce's soccer teams. So instead of my white plain tee shirt, I slipped on a white sweater that hugged every inch of my body. Underneath, I wore a sparkly pink tank top that rested just an inch above my pants. Looking in the mirror, I could see my eyes were fine. Cadence's long eyelashes couldn't compete with mine. I knew my weaknesses, but I also knew my advantages, and my heart-shaped face went well with my 'drop dead' eyes, as Bryce termed them once. Then I tucked my hair behind my ears. It was straight, sleek, and even shimmered like in a commercial.

It wasn't long before I pulled up to the Suns' training gym. It was a massive but plain brick building. I caught the looks on a few people heading inside. Each wore a serious expression that told me they weren't there to laugh, pick up chicks, or fool around. They were there to train and work hard.

As I pushed through the front doors, the gym stared me smack in the face, behind an expansive glass wall. It looked like the gym wasn't geared only towards soccer players; there were linebackers and tennis players. After I surveyed the room again, slower this time, I saw Bryce's agent in a back corner. He was talking to a big muscular man and using wide arm movements to make his point. Next to the athlete, he looked like a weasel with his slicked back hair and three-piece suit.

I sympathized with the muscle guy and headed in their direction. No one spared me a second glance until I stopped behind Mathias.

Muscle guy looked at me. "Can we help you?"

Mathias turned around and his face dropped. All the lively eagerness was gone. Caution and paranoia popped up, and I wondered about those as I gave him a tight grin. "Where's Bryce?"

"Gone to your anger management program yet?" Mathias shot back.

The muscle dude stifled a laugh.

"I left and got a gun instead. Figured it'd be more cathartic. Where's Bryce?"

"This is his place of work. You should leave. He doesn't need this distraction." Mathias tugged on the collar of his shirt. He shifted to rest on his left leg. A second later, he shifted to the right.

I wasn't dumb. "So Guadalupe's here?"

His eyes flared and I caught the shock before it was replaced with the 'oh shit' look. I turned to the muscle guy. "Do you know where Bryce is? He's supposedly my best friend and soul mate, but this a-hole is trying to get in the way of that."

A wide smile spread over his face. "My name's Clark." Then he turned and hollered, "Anyone know where Scout is?"

A guy in the back yelled back, "He's in the P.R. room with some girl."

Clark turned back and ignored Mathias' look of indignation. "Next room on the right. There'll be a big PR sign."

"Thanks!" I smiled and turned on my heels to stride back through the gym. As I turned in to the hallway and passed the gym, I knew Mathias and Clark were watching my trek through the glass wall. I didn't care. I found the room where a sign above the doors in silver lettering declared 'PUBLIC RELATIONS' and pushed through the white doors, but stopped short. Bryce was holding Guadalupe's arms in front of him.

As she pressed herself against him, Bryce's head jerked up. "Sheldon, what are you doing here?"

I should've gone into battle mode. I should've been ready to win at any cost, but instead I was overrun with fatigue. In that moment, I knew I was tired of fighting. "I wanted to come and see you before tonight because I know the party's going to be crazy. I didn't think we'd get much private time." I stopped and swallowed over a knot in my throat. Oh God. I'd been a fool. "I wanted to tell you that Miss Connors won't be my counselor, but she's recommending someone new to me by Tuesday." Guadalupe had on a smug smirk I couldn't stomach, so I turned away. "But you're busy right now. Maybe you shouldn't come tonight."

Bryce called out, "Sheldon—"

"Never mind. Don't come tonight."