Still Jaded (Jaded #2)

"What's with you? I thought you'd be happy that things aren't good with me and them. You're their loudest cheerleader now."

Denton shrugged and leaned against the doorframe. "Contrary to what you think of me, I'm actually not the selfish s.o.b. you think I am. I'd snatch you up in a second. I will if those two don't make you happy, but I've seen how you are with them. They're your family. You love them unconditionally—I can tell. They might screw up. You might screw up, but as long as you guys keep going to each other, it'll always be you and them. Don't get me wrong. The second I don't think you're happy, I'm coming in and I'm coming in hard. I'm not scared of those two."

I found myself fighting against a grin. "Maybe they should be scared of you."

Something flashed in him, but it was unreadable and gone in a second. Then he took my hand and nudged me forward. "Go. They're waiting for you."

One foot fell in front of the other, and I found myself going down the hallway. I looked back once, but Denton nodded in encouragement. When I turned down the stairs, I could feel their presence. It was looming and suffocating. My shirt felt like it was constricting me at the throat. They weren't speaking, but I knew they were there. There'd always been something about both Corrigan and Bryce. Neither had to say a word, but all eyes went to them. They held some unspoken power, each of them. As I stepped off the last step, I felt that same power turn towards me.

Then I took a deep breath and looked up. They had varying expressions of hostility on their faces. Bryce glared from the middle of the room and Corrigan straightened from the couch. They turned and squared their shoulders at the same time.

I gulped. This was not good. My heart started to pitter-patter like a horse race.

Bryce stepped forward in a calm and methodical move, but his eyes were fierce. It scared the crap out of me. With his arms folded over his chest, he forced himself to take a deep breath. "You want to tell me why we found you at Denton Steele's cabin?"

Corrigan jerked forward too. "You lied to us."

I saw his eyes and heard what else he thought. 'You lied to me.'

"I'm sorry I lied, but I felt like I had to."

They jerked forward, stopped, and looked at each other. Each gave the other an uneasy look, but it was barely kept in check by the fury each harbored. Then Bryce bit out, "You have some nerve, Sheldon." He clenched his fists again, glanced at Corrigan, and stepped backwards. It was as if he was removing himself from us.

Corrigan jerked to the side in response. After a cursory look at both of us, he resumed his seat on the couch. Then he leaned forward on his knees and looked at the ground. I knew he wanted to check out, but it was too late. He'd already boarded the train to this wreck.

I didn't react to Bryce's comment. I had no justification so I perched on the end of a chair that was beside me and looked out the window. A part of me wanted something to happen, something to distract everyone. Perhaps a moose would pick that time to walk by. Another part of me hoped both would disappear and I'd wake up from the awful dream.

"This is ridiculous. No one's saying anything."

Corrigan looked up. "What do you want us to say? Sheldon lied. We caught her. She doesn't care. Now what?" His tone sounded resigned as if he accepted the situation how it was. Then he shot me a glare that said anything but.

I looked away, but sighed. Bryce was right. This was ridiculous. I started it all the night before, and I should have the balls to nip this in the bud then. If I did, maybe things wouldn't get worse…I didn't know if I could handle that yet. "Okay. I lied. I've lied a lot. Bryce, Corrigan and I never slept together—"

"Well, we did." Corrigan coughed and jumped up, but regret flared in his eyes a second later. He pulled at his shirt collar and mumbled something underneath his throat.

I looked at Bryce and a part of me leapt in my throat. He looked hurt, suspicious, and hopeful all at the same time. I wanted to hurt him the night before. I still wanted to do that, but when I saw the hope, it flared in me too. What'd I said to Denton had been true. No matter the situation, I knew I'd always love Bryce. "We both got drunk and passed out. I woke up and thought Corrigan was you. We kissed—"

"I thought she was a girl that I took home the night before. I was out of it too."

"We stopped right away. I realized it wasn't you." I rushed out the explanation even though I knew it wasn't enough, and then I waited to see how he'd react to the truth. I hoped that he'd know it was the truth.

"So you didn't have sex?" Bryce scratched his head. The movement lifted his hooded sweatshirt up and gave me a glimpse of his six pack. I missed those muscles. I missed feeling them against my ribcage as he thrust…

"You told him we had sex?" Corrigan shot upwards. "Are you trying to get my ass broken?"