Still Jaded (Jaded #2)

Her husband sat next to her. Stephen took the other side. Each of them held her hands as she kept repeating the same words. It took me a moment before I realized that she had started to pray with her head bent down. The rest of the Raimlers prayed with her.

Bryce and I looked at each other. We were out of place. He jerked his head to the side, and I followed behind as we went into the hallway. When we were away and out of earshot, I breathed out in relief. "Oh my god. I didn't—" Slumping against the wall; I almost fell, but caught myself. I'd been so scared, then mad, then scared, and then I saw Bryce. "I don't know what I'm feeling anymore."

"Relief." Bryce's voice was strained. "You were so pale when you came in. Never mind. I'd imagine that you're still in shock. You'll be feeling it later, I'm sure."

"Yeah, maybe." Looking around, I noticed some of the nurses gazing at Bryce. That's when I realized he was dressed in his soccer casuals. "Everyone's going to be talking about you being here."

"Why wouldn't I? Corrigan's my best friend," Bryce said roughly.

"I know. I—just… Luca's here with you?"

"He wanted to be here for Stephen. Those two keep in contact."

"That's good. It's like you and Corrigan, but—"

"No girl."

No girl to mess everything up.

He might as well have said the words because I heard them nonetheless. Flinching, I turned away and hugged myself.

"Sheldon," Bryce started to say something but stopped.

When I looked back, he wasn't looking at me. His gaze was riveted on something down the hallway. Guadalupe was striding our way, determined, and looking pissed off. Her hair was plastered in place, flowing down to her waist. She was dressed in black athletic clothes, skimpy enough to draw attention but not slutty enough to gain disapproval.

"I may be a bitch, but she takes the cake," I noted underneath my breath.

"Sheldon." Bryce glared at me, but something changed in his expression. He looked like he wanted to apologize for something. It didn't matter. She was by his side in the next instant and latched onto his arm. She looked at me, but spoke to him, "Honey, I was so worried. Is your friend okay?"

I sighed, "I can't handle this right now. I shouldn't have too either."

Bryce looked away.

"Go away, Guadalupe. Just go away. He doesn't want you here, and he doesn't need you here." I felt Bryce stiffen in surprise next to me but continued, "We've got a huge mess on our hands, and you're not helping. I need my best friend right now. It's not your place to be here."

She bristled up in anger. "Excuse me? Bryce is with me—"

"Not here, he's not. He's with me and Corrigan. Shoo."

She huffed in disbelief.

Rolling my eyes, I waved her away. When I saw a group at the end of the hallway, I recognized the hotel clerk. Assuming the rest was her entourage, I shouted, "Hey! She's right here."

Guadalupe started muttering underneath her breath.

"Oh no," Bryce sighed.

I didn't comprehend any of it before they were in front of us. The hotel clerk glared at me, but I focused on a thin girl holding a briefcase. She had black glossy hair and pointed features, but I saw how she looked at us. There was a claim in her eyes when she looked at Guadalupe, then she cast disapproval at Bryce and hatred towards me. There was a whole host of other expressions on her face, but I ignored them and asked, "Are you her assistant?"

Shock flared before she clamped down on it and nodded. She seemed wary now.

"Good. Take her away. She's going to make things worse. Corrigan would not want her here, and that's all I care about. Bryce, you can go too if it's that big of a deal. I don't want this to turn into a media frenzy. That's not going to help him. He'd want you here and you focused. She's not going to help that either." I reached out to push Guadalupe towards her assistant, but the assistant was there in a second. She blocked my hand and slapped it away.

Shocked, my eyes snapped to hers, and I couldn't look away. The girl looked crazy, so I asked, "Do you know anything about brakes? I think the police might want to talk to you."

"Stop it, Sheldon. She's not your stalker. Maria, take Guadalupe and everyone else." Bryce stepped between us.

"You'll call later?" Maria snapped as she continued to glare at me.

I narrowed my eyes and stared her down. The little girl had attitude. I had to give her that.

"Leave," Bryce clipped out. He gestured to a guy in the back, who nodded and grabbed Guadalupe. He ushered the entourage down the hallway. I heard more mutterings, complaints, and whining, but in a moment they were gone.

I sighed in relief at the complete silence.

"Sheldon." Sheila was striding towards me with some other detectives behind her. "How is he?"

"He'll be okay." I shrugged. "That's what the doc said."

"Good." She nodded, back to business. "There's been a new development with your case. Someone came forward and confessed to your home's vandalism. I think you'll want to hear this."

"What?"

"Come on." She took off.