Page 20 of Reclaimed Roots

It had beenthe longest week of my life. By Friday afternoon, I was drenched in sweat and caked in grime. I was helping Elliot with the fence repairs on the property line between Ever Eden and Vintage Point. I'd tried to rope Chase in too, but that fucker was simply lounging in the grass, head propped up on a fist as he scrolled through Instagram or Reddit or whatever stupid site he was currently wasting his time on.

I wanted to kick him.

But as annoyed as I was with Chase, I was more annoyed with myself.

I was letting Natalie get to me, and I shouldn't have been. I had more important things to focus on. But all I could seem to do lately was replay the two interactions we'd had since she'd been back.

I hadn't handled either well. I knew that. Part of mehated that I could still hurt her. The other part—the petty, vindictive part—thought,good. Now she knows how it feels.

I tried my damndest to dislodge the memories as I unloaded the lumber from Elliot's truck. Couldn't go down that road. What was done was done. Natalie being here now didn't change anything. We weren't those starry-eyed teenagers anymore. Too much time had passed, too much was left unsaid.

"You good, Jas?"

I glanced up to see Chase watching me. Again.Perceptive asshole.

"Yeah, I'm good." I straightened, dusting off my hands. "Just got some shit on my mind."

"Nat?"

My jaw tightened. "Don't go there."

He held up his hands. "I'm not trying to start shit. But c'mon, man. You've got a 'tude."

"You would, too, if your ex just strolled back into town. Not that you'd know. No one can put up with your bullshit long enough for you to have a current girlfriend, let alone an ex."

"Woah, now wait a minute. If I wanted a girlfriend, I could have one. But I don't. I'm more than happy wetting my willy when the mood strikes and then, ya know, never talking to them again."

Elliot gave Chase a withering look. "You're a moron." He leaned against a portion of the completed fence and turned his attention to me. "Maybe this is a chance, ya know? To clear the air, get some closure."

I thrust my hands into my pockets and kicked at a clod of upturned earth. "What's there to clear? She left. End of story."

"Is it? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like there's a whole lot of unfinished business between you two."

As much as I wanted to, I couldn't argue with that. I'd tried to move on, but I was still hopelessly tangled up in Natalie. In the what-ifs and could-have-beens.

" I don't know if I can go there, man." I blew out a breath, suddenly exhausted. "It's been seven years. We're different people now."

"Uh-huh, sure," Chase chimed in.

"Leave it alone, Chase," Elliot warned. "Jasper's got enough on his plate without you stirring up trouble."

"Woah, easy there, El. I'm just curious, is all. Natalie Choi showing up after all these years—that's gotta be stirring up some old feelings, am I right?"

I glared at him, my jaw clenching. A familiar series of jingles and popping sounds exploded from his phone, and he punched the air. Apparently he could annoy me and playCandy Crushat the same time. "I told you," I said, "I'm over it. Over her."

Chase opened his mouth, no doubt ready with some smartass retort, but Elliot cut him off with a sharp look. "Chase, why don't you make yourself useful and go check on the new saplings in the west orchard? I'm sure they could use some attention."

"What? Why do I have to go check on some dumb saplings while you two gossip like old hens?" Chasegrumbled. But he pushed himself up off the ground anyway. "Fine, I can take a hint. But don't think this conversation is over, Jas." He pointed a finger at me, his blue eyes glinting with mischief. "I want all the juicy details later."

"There are—and will be—no juicy details, asshole. Now get out of here before I send you to the barn to work on some spreadsheets."

"Ew, gross. Fine, I'm going."

Chase sauntered off with an exaggerated sigh. I watched him go, shaking my head. "You'd thinkhewas the little brother."

Elliot laughed. "He means well. You know how he is—always poking his nose where it doesn't belong."

"Yeah, well, he better keep that nose out of my business if he knows what's good for him." I picked up the hammer and turned back to the fence. For a while, we worked in companionable silence, the sun beating down on our backs as we finished the last of the repairs.

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