Still Jaded (Jaded #2)

"Yeah. Guadalupe. His agent wanted him to have an affair with her. He refused, but then went along with it for show. His agent said it would boost his popularity in Spain since she was a big deal over there. After that phone call, Bryce didn't call for awhile. The next time he did, he made sure to let me know that everything was finished with that girl and it had been a mistake to go along with it. I knew you were back and clearly avoiding me, so…neither of you talk to me about the other. I never have any idea what's really going on. And that girl…a few months before he came back, Bryce had started calling more regularly again. He's mentioned having a clingy fan who won't take no for an answer. I'm assuming it's her. That's all. I swear. I'm done confessing because my ass is going to get beat up."

I closed my eyes and sucked in my breath. My gut told me that the affair wasn't fake. I wiped away a tear as I laughed weakly. "This is so opposite how we used to be. Remember when I wanted him to be with other girls?"

"Sheldon."

"What?" I didn't want to hear any words of comfort from him. I didn't want to deal with the topic of Bryce and me anymore.

"What did you say to Bryce about us? I know he was grilling you the last time I saw you."

"Oh. That."

"Yes. That." He rolled his eyes. "You're so damn frustrating at times."

I was okay with that. "I told him that we almost hooked up. I was drunk and missing both of you guys. Things stopped before it got too heated. Was I supposed to say something more?"

He studied me intently. "No. That's fine. Bryce was okay with that?"

I looked at my hands. "Yeah. Why wouldn't he be?"

"Because I'm best friends with both of you. Because you're his girl and we…almost hooked up."

I looked up. "We did hook up."

He amended, "We hooked up. And you're his girl."

I stared straight ahead and said, "You're saying that stuff like you don't believe it."

"Oh my God." Corrigan raked both of his hands through his dusty blond curls and started to pace his room. "I think you were actually put on this earth to make me go crazy. Either that or you're supposed to make me a more patient man. Do you stay awake at night thinking of ways to push my buttons?"

"Why would I do that?"

"Never mind. Bryce called me the other night. I think he was just leaving the hospital because he asked if I was still awake, but I wasn't. I just got the message today—"

"Did you talk to Grace?"

"What? Uh…no. I haven't had time. I didn't see her yesterday. Wait—you didn't go see your place? Where've you been since you left the hospital? I went there yesterday, but you'd already checked out."

I stood up. "I went to a hotel. Talk to Grace. Tell me as soon as you talk to her."

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going…" I didn't know. "I guess I should go back to my place and see the damage."

"Sheldon." Corrigan crossed the room in two steps and caught my arm. "What is going on? You were shoved into a glass table. Now you're telling me that your place was trashed. You didn't call me but went to a hotel room. Things aren't good between us three. What's going on? Are you okay?"

Was I?

Corrigan squeezed my hand. "I know you were drinking. I can smell it on you. You only do that when something's really wrong. The last time, that night, you were getting wasted on purpose. You do that when you're in self-destructive mode. No matter all the crap that's between us, you're my best friend."

I forced a smile and squeezed his hand back. "I'm fine. The booze helps with the pain. I know I shouldn't drink, but I'm not driving. Talk to Grace. That's how you can help me, but don't let her know that I'm the one who sent you her way."

As I left, I contemplated how I wasn't being a friend to Grace, but some of her actions weren't making sense to me. Call me paranoid after Marcus, but I learned not to trust what doesn't make sense. I couldn't look at Grace how I used to, not until I knew what was going on with her, but I knew she wouldn't confide in me. I hoped that Corrigan could pull the 'love' card to get her to tell the truth, and then I'd proceed from there. Corrigan was right. I needed to find out what was going on.

I caught a cab home and then stood in shock at the end of the driveway. The gates had been left wide open, and I could see the front door was open too. Bryce's Miata was parked in front of the garage with another car beside it. As I headed inside, I called out, "Hello?"

Bryce yelled, "We're upstairs." His voice echoed in the house and gave me a creepy feeling. We?

I had only a second to wonder who else was with him before I took stock of the destruction. Officer Sheila hadn't exaggerated. It looked like a tornado obliterated it from the inside out. And that the tornado had a personal vendetta against me. Pictures were ripped in pieces, cushions had their stuffing yanked out, and I was pretty sure I smelled urine and vomit. An angry atmosphere lingered in my house.

When I got to the bedroom, I couldn't believe my eyes. Bryce stood with two large boxes in the middle of the room. Mathias walked out of the closet, his arms full of shredded clothes. As he dumped them in the box, the pink polo-shirted agent grinned at me. "Hey, Sheldon! Quite a party, huh?"

I narrowed my eyes. When had we become friends?

Bryce crossed the room to hug me. "He's trying to make nice. I laid down the law. We're both trying to make nice."

As he kissed my cheek, I sucked in my breath and grasped his shirt. It felt so good, like I'd been thrown a lifesaver. Bryce had the power to make me numb, crazy, or feel too much. I wasn't sure which was the healthiest.