Still Jaded (Jaded #2)

"I'm not with her. What time is it? It's four in the morning. What are you—Oh. You're on New York time."

"You were at an awards show with her. You were her date. Are you with her or not?" It was a lie, it all about the media buzz, but I couldn't ignore what else Denton had said. Did it matter if it was a lie? Did Bryce care enough to stop it if it was hurting me?

"I'm not! Wait! What? What awards show?"

"It doesn't matter, Bryce."

Denton was right. Bryce shouldn't have even been in that position. He didn't need to make more money from the Suns; they were going to keep him. I knew how good he was at soccer.

"Wait a minute." He sounded clearer now, more awake. "What are you saying?"

I took a deep breath and jumped out of bed. I couldn't do this sitting down. "I'm saying that I've loved you for years now. I committed to you a long time ago. These other girls shouldn't be a part of us."

"We were broken up—"

"You dumped me."

"No, I didn't. You ended things and left Spain."

"You didn't come after me. You let me! You let me say those words, and you just sat there. You liked it. You were getting your freedom, and you wanted it!" Tears were rolling down my face. I ignored them. "You weren't there for me. I had to rely on Corrigan because you buried yourself in soccer. And when it was painfully obvious that things weren't good between us—you did nothing. You wanted soccer more, Bryce! You chose everything else except me. You're still doing it. You're with her!"

"No, I'm not. Mathias wanted this—"

"—I slept with Corrigan!" I cried out as my tears blinded me. "I slept with him, because a part of me fell in love with him. He was there for me. You weren't."

I waited with my heart pounding and chest heaving.

Bryce said nothing on his end.

"You still aren't here for me. You keep choosing her over me."

Bryce still didn't say anything.

I stopped and dry heaved. I held the phone with shaking hands. As I closed my eyes, I wanted to hear him say something. I needed to know what he felt, the slightest of an inkling how he felt, but there was nothing. When someone cleared their throat, I looked up and saw Denton. He didn't move or say a word.

I held his gaze and spoke into the phone, "I won't be with someone who doesn't make me his first priority. You were always first for me, Bryce. You always will be, even if we're not together anymore."

I waited and then saw Denton's reaction. He closed his eyes and his face seemed to shut off from me. He straightened in the doorway and nodded before he turned to leave.

Then I heard Bryce say, so faintly, "Okay, Sheldon. I understand."

He hung up, and I was left without any answers.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The next day I stayed in bed. The doc knocked a few times and changed my bandages, but she said I was healing fast. She'd only need to change them a few more times, and then I'd get a clean bill of health. As she said this, I noticed a hard edge in her voice. She seemed more business-like, less friendly. A part of me wondered if it was about Denton; no doubt she heard his proclamations.

Denton poked his head once, but I threw a book at him. His voice was muffled through the door a second later. "I'll come back tonight."

"Just try it." I glared at the door.

Then I remembered who I should've been mad at. Denton hadn't cheated on me. He'd been the messenger. Feeling horrible, I buried my head in the pillows and rolled over with my blanket. If I were one to listen to sad music, it would've been blaring. I felt like I kissed both my best friends goodbye. No pun intended.

A few hours later, I heard another knock on my door. As I sat up, I rubbed at my eyes and realized that I must've fallen asleep. When I looked at the window, I was surprised to see it was dark.

"Who is it?"

There was a moment of hesitation before Denton replied, "You have…open this door, Sheldon." His voice was muffled, but I heard the weird tone in his voice.

I scratched my face and dragged my feet over. Then, because I was curious, I opened the door and saw a Denton that I'd never seen. He looked like he had to vomit, but I knew that wasn't right. "What it is?"

He cleared his voice and gestured down the hallway. "You have visitors."

My eyes went wide. My mouth dropped. And for the first time in a long time, I was scared. "Who?"

His eyes flashed in sympathy. "I think you know who."

Shit.

My stomach bottomed out, and I wondered if my guts were on the floor. "I can't go down there."

"They came a long ways."

My eyes bulged out this time. "They?!"

Denton nodded, looking resigned. "Yep. They both came, Sheldon."

"Quick. Alcohol."

Denton smiled and squeezed my hand. "I think you need to face this one sober. They deserve that."