Deadly Sins (a Damnation Trilogy Prequel)

Chapter 5

“I just don't see why he has to have your number,” Justin grumbled as they walked down the hallway of the hospital, towards Elizabeth Ryback's room. “You should've given him mine or Damian or Seth's.”

            “Are you seriously jealous because I gave him my number?” Jade asked incredulously as she looked at him. He kept his eyes focused on the hall in front of him as he walked in silence and she shook her head. “You are something else, you know that? I mean, aren't you the same guy who is always telling me that I could do better than you?”

            “Yeah, but it doesn't mean I actually want you to go off and leave me for someone else,” Justin answered as though it were obvious. “I just say it because part of me thinks it's true. And are you trying to tell me that the future librarian of America is better than me?”

            “Of course not,” Jade said with a roll of her eyes. “I'm just commenting on how hypocritical you're being. You say I can do better than you and one day I'm going to realize that, and then when I give someone my number for a case it becomes a huge issue.”

            “Ever think that maybe I don't want you to realize how much better you can do than me?” Justin asked in a rushed whisper, stopping suddenly so that Jade had to stop and turn to him. “Think about it Jade, if I always tell you that you can find better than me, I know you won't believe me. You'll just say it isn't true because you think I'm trying to push you away and then you'll stick by me. It's my way of making sure you don't actually leave me one day.”

            “You know I'm not going to.”

            “Doesn't hurt to have a plan to work in my favor either,” Justin shrugged. “But that's besides the point because that has nothing to do with my issue of Christian having your number. Trust me, I'm not jealous of him.”

            “Then what's the problem?” Jade asked and the muscle at Justin's jaw jumped slightly as he looked around the hall before answering her.

            “The problem is, he's my prime suspect for what's happening here and he has a crush on you.”

            “What?” Jade laughed. “Don't be ridiculous.”

            “I'm being ridiculous?” Justin countered, eyebrows raised at her in disbelief. “Have you even read his mind since that day in the library? Every time he gives us information, he does it to get on your good side.”

            “No he doesn't-”

            “Who does he always focus on when he answers a question?” Justin asked.

            “Whoever asked it,” Jade answered.

            “Wrong,” Justin said. “He focuses on you. Why? Because he has a crush on you.”

            “You're being ridiculous,” Jade said again. “He doesn't have a crush on me, he's just being nice so he can find out information on what happened with his brother. He's been nice to you too.”

            “Yeah because he's been trying to get on my good side so I'll give him my blessings when he asks you out,” Justin said with irritation. “He sees me being protective and he thinks of it as me being protective of my sister. He thinks all he has to do is make me feel friendly towards him so I'll be okay with you going out with him.”

            “We are not having this conversation anymore,” Jade said, lowering her voice as a nurse walked passed, engrossed in a patient chart. “You are being ridiculous because whether he has a crush on me or not it doesn't matter. I don't like him and I wouldn't go out with him-”