Page 31 of Reclaimed Roots

Sammy was still prattling on, but I wasn't listening. My brain was scrambled from goggling at Natalie. She looked fuckin' beautiful in a short white dress with thin straps. Thestring lights hanging in Andy's backyard glinted off the long, dark strands of her hair.

As if she could feel me staring, she turned and her eyes met mine. But her gaze quickly shifted to the woman with arms wrapped around my waist, and a flash of pained anger crossed her face. She forced a smile when Elliot tapped her on the shoulder and said something I couldn't make out.

I hastily extricated myself from Sammy's grip.

"Where are you going?" she whimpered.

"Anywhere else."

I cut across the backyard, weaving my way between the still-empty euchre tables, and sidled up next to Elliot. He was mid-conversation with Andy, but he side-eyed me. I guessed he saw Sammy wrapped around me.

"... but the kid thought he could outrun a cop car, I guess. On his bike. Little idiot."

Our attention was diverted from Andy's tale when Chase let out a loudwhoopfrom the deck. I looked up just in time to see Natalie down a shot. He threw an arm over her shoulders and steered her toward our group.

"Sorry, Jas, but I'm making a trade. Nat's gonna be my partner."

"Okay." My eyes darted between them. I was looking for any sign Nataliedidn'twant to play with him, but she just lifted her chin.

It felt like a dare. To do what, I wasn't sure.

I didn't have a chance to decide before the bane of my existence made an untimely return. Sammy slid her arms around my waist and forced herself under my arm.

"That's fine. I'll be Jasper's partner. We make the perfect team."

Natalie's saccharine smile looked all kinds of wrong on her perfect face. "I'm sure you do," she said. "Come on, Chaser. I need another shot."

Chapter Fourteen

NATALIE

"Alright,Natty Light, let's make some bad decisions."

I rolled my eyes as I tossed back my second shot. I was definitely done after that.

My stomach was rolling. I wasn't sure if it was from the alcohol or watching Sammy drape herself all over Jasper. Either way, I was ready to hurl.

Someone whistled loudly, and I looked up to see it was Elliot. When he passed me sitting on the front porch of Mom's house, he'd practically dragged me to Andy's birthday party.It'd be good for you,he'd said. I wasn't so sure he was right.

Once Elliot and Andy had the party's full attention, Andy began his little spiel for the tournament.

"There are sixteen teams. Sarah is drawing matchups at random now and writing them in the brackets. Check the board for your starting table. Winner takes all. Grab a drink, have fun, and no cheating!"

A chorus of hoots and hollers sounded off as everyone grabbed a drink and found their tables. Elliot and Andy were paired up against Sarah and Tessa Belmonte. I half wished I wasn't playing that round so I could sit back and watch Elliot and Tessa trade barbs. I'd missed their verbal sparring almost as much as I'd missed?—

"You ready, Nat?" Chase asked. "Table four. We're up against Jim and Laurie."

"Let's do it." We made our way to table four, and I gave hugs to our opponents. It was nice seeing everyone, being surrounded by friendly faces who expected nothing more from me than catching up over a few beers and a game of cards.

Games were underway at all eight tables. Chase and I were handing Jim and Laurie their asses, but we frequently paused our game to snicker at the table next to us.

Elliot took a trick and smirked up at Tessa.

"Look at you," she quipped. "Paul Bunyan, finally learning how to play cards." Her lips curled into a mischievous grin as she tapped her perfectly manicured nails against her beer bottle. "Too bad your lumberjack skills won't help you win this hand."

Elliot's jaw tightened the way it always did when Tessa got under his skin.

"At least I don't need daddy's money to fund my hobbies, princess."

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