Page 24 of Reclaimed Roots

In the end, Chase beat me to it, slinging an arm around my shoulders once more. "You know, Nat, I was just telling these two bozos how much I've missed having you around tokeep me entertained. This town is boring as hell without my partner in crime."

"When was I ever your partner in crime?"

Chase gasped. "You wound me! How about that time we went skinny dipping in the Thompson's pool?"

"That wasn't me. That was Sammy."

"Oh. Right. That makes sense. Well, what about when we stole that bottle of scotch from Papa's cupboards?"

"Nowthatwas me. Can't make any promises for a repeat performance, but I'll see what I can do."

"Atta girl." He grinned, giving me an affectionate jostle. "We'll get into all kinds of trouble, just like old times."

I rolled my eyes and playfully shoved him away. "You're incorrigible, Chase Everton."

"You know it, babe."

It was amazing how easily we'd slipped back into our old banter. But I couldn't ignore the faint undercurrent of awkwardness. Jasper withdrew further and further with every passing second. His shoulders were hunched, hands shoved deep into the pockets of his jeans as he regarded us with a cold, distant expression.

I wanted to reach out to him, to bridge the distance that had opened up between us. But I couldn't find the words or the courage.

Ever the voice of reason, Elliot eventually cleared his throat. "We should probably get going, let Natalie get on with her evening."

I was equal parts relieved and disappointed. Half of me was desperate to flee the uncomfortable atmosphere. Theother half ached to cling to the moment, to soak up every second in Jasper's presence like a desert wanderer dying of thirst. But those thoughts didn't lead anywhere good.

"Yeah, I should probably get moving," I said, trying and failing for a casual tone. "I was just on my way to pick up dinner for Mom and me."

Chase's brows shot up. "From Rosie's?"

I nodded, and he grinned. "In that case, I'm coming with you. I've been craving one of their famous cheeseburgers."

"You're not crashing my dinner with Mom," I said. But it was a half-hearted protest. If Mom were here, she'd say, "the more the merrier."

"Aw, c'mon, Nat!" Chase gave me his best puppy dog eyes. "Don't be like that. I'll even buy!"

"With what money? Do you even have a job, slacker?"

Elliot snorted out a laugh. "Oh, damn. Shots fired."

Chase looked genuinely chastised, so I gave him a break.

"I'm just kidding, Chaser. Let's go."

He let out a whoop of triumph, throwing an arm around my shoulders again and steering me down the sidewalk.

"You coming, Jas?" Chase called over his shoulder. "Don't tell me you're gonna pass up a chance to hang with your favorite girl!"

My eyes bugged out of my head, and I braced for Jasper's reaction—the anger, the hurt, the inevitable shutting down that had become our new normal.

But it didn't come.

And that's how I ended up having dinner with all three Everton boys and my mom.

Chapter Twelve

JASPER

"Thanks for joining us,boys. It's nice having the company. You know what I always say?—"

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