Page 99 of The Twilight Theft

“Do you have any friends, Drew? Anyone who could point out what a dumbass you’re being right now?”

Didn’t need friends for that. I’d been doing a damn fine job all on my own.

“She’ll kill me if she finds out I told you this, but since you don’t seem capable of figuring anything out on your own, let me paint you a picture.” His body loosened, as though he were no longer considering punching me. “She likes you so much it terrifies her.”

My heart took a tremendous leap up into my throat. “Then why wouldn’t she let me take her back to the hotel?” Why had she run away from me on Thursday?

“Because you’re as bad as she is.” He leaned on the railing, mirroring my earlier frustration. “After your little escapade at Gideon’s and then how much food you made when Scarlett and I came over, I was sure something was going on between you and Jayce. So when she initially refused to go to your place the other night, I had Scarlett insist. I thought you’d treat her well. She told me about the food and wine, but she also told me all you wanted was a roll in the hay.”

“I didn’t—”

“It broke her heart, so I split the two of you up.” He shook his head. “And if that weren’t enough to piss my sister off, I saw how you reacted to her and Wyatt at the restaurant, and I knew you were being a stubborn idiot, so I let you change the teams again.”

My head spun. With all the angles to the mission, Emmett had been orchestrating a backup play that had nothing to do with the chip? And I’d missed all of it?

“You and Jayce need to get your collective heads out of your asses and do something about this. I’m tired of being the only one with any clue what’s going on.”

I’d thought I knew what was going on. But maybe I didn’t.

“Now, since you haven’t stormed off and you’re still here listening, I expect your feelings for her are stronger than your ego.”

They were. Holy shit, they were.

“But I swear upon everything I hold dear, if you go anywhere near her, thinking you can use any of this info for a quick lay, I’m going to tell Rav how you treated her.” Emmett pushed off the railing. “You do not want to see what happens after that.”

The threat barely registered. Was there a chance fear was the only thing keeping us apart? “What’s she afraid of?”

“I’m sure you did your research on us before we worked together for the first time. Which means you know Jayce grew up without a father, and that her mother was her choreographer and her whole world. You also know after her accident that her mother started working with her sister exclusively.”

I nodded. This information was easily available for someone who’d been as well-known as she was.

“You may not know she was seeing the boy she got into the accident with. And no one let her see him after that.” Emmett sighed. “I shouldn’t be telling you any of this, but she went from non-relationship to non-relationship after that, trying to find somewhere to belong. All she wants is to be of use.”

Jayce was an integral part of her team. She caught Wyatt. Why would any of this relate to her not feeling useful?

“What she fears most is what happens when people don’tneedher anymore.”

Insisting she was fine after I found her unconscious on the rooftop. Refusing my help. Being sent home with the injured leg.

My heart sank. “She thought I’d only wanted her for one night.”

Emmett pointed at me. “And that she’d be useless to you after that.”

I looked down the block to the intersection where Jayce had left me. I could go after her. Barge into her hotel room and tell her everything. But whatwaseverything? What was it about her that had my body on full alert?

“Don’t make me regret telling you all that.” Emmett smacked my shoulder and walked back to the Mosaic patio. Back to work with his team.

That’s what I should have been doing. I should have gone in to help Craig track down Wyatt’s co-conspirators. Figured out what had happened with the golden huma bird statue. Maybe gone to the hospital, like he’d suggested.

Instead, I made my way to the parking garage.

I was going to find Jayce and figure out whateverythingwas.

Chapter 38

Jayce

Ilaunchedthelogicpuzzle book against the wall, the pencil clattering as it ricocheted across the corner and bounced onto the table. My brain wasn’t into it. The stupid puzzles always helped me come down from the performance high.

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