Page 42 of Reclaimed Roots

Because a love like ours was worth fighting for.

Chapter Eighteen

JASPER

The leatherof the steering wheel squeaked under my white-knuckled grip. I had been driving around for hours, willing the torrent of emotions I was feeling to calm the fuck down. SeeingLiam'scar parked in Marie's driveway had only made things worse.

I whipped the truck into my parents' driveway. But home sweet home wasn't looking so sweet right now. There was a goddamn snake in the basement.

Breathe, Jas. Don't lose your shit before you even get inside.

Rage simmered beneath my skin, threatening to boil over at any second. I threw my beat-up truck in Park, climbed out, and slammed the door hard enough to rattle the windows.

The bang was satisfying.

I wanted him to know I was coming.

Dad and Elliot were in the kitchen drinking coffee. Their startled expressions barely registered as I barreled down the basement stairs.

The stench of stale beer and sweat was dense and cloying. Chase was sprawled across his futon bed, dead to the world.

"Wake the fuck up, asshole!" I snarled, yanking the covers off him.

Chase groaned, squinting up at me through bloodshot eyes. "Jesus Christ, Jas. What the hell?"

"You know exactly what." I grabbed a fistful of his shirt, hauling him upright. "You crossed a line last night."

He blinked blearily. "What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb. You kissed Natalie."

The words hung between us, sharp and accusatory. Chase's eyes widened for a fraction of a second before narrowing.

"So what if I did?" He pulled out of my grip and straightened up, bringing us chest to chest. "It's not like you two are together anymore."

"That's not the fucking point, and you know it."

He scrubbed a hand over his face, wincing at the movement. "Look, can we do this later? My head's killing me."

"No, we can't do this later," I spat, advancing on him. "You don't get to brush this off like it's nothing."

He held up his hands, taking a stumbling step backward. "Easy there, little brother. It was just a kiss. No need to get your panties in a twist."

The smirk playing at the corners of his mouth was the last straw. My fist connected with his jaw before I even realized I'd thrown the punch. He staggered, eyes wide with shock, before lunging at me with a roar.

We crashed into his dresser, sending bottles and cans clattering to the floor. The smell of spilled beer filled the air as we grappled, trading wild swings. My knuckles stung as they connected with his ribs, but the pain was distant, drowned out by the roaring in my ears.

"What the hell is going on down here?" Elliot's voice cut through the chaos.

Hands grabbed at my shoulders, trying to pull me back. I shrugged them off, laser-focused on Chase's bloody grin.

"That all you got, Jas?" he taunted, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the concrete basement floor.

Growling, I charged at him again. We slammed into the wall, rattling the shelves above.

"Enough!" Dad's commanding voice boomed through the basement. "Both of you, knock it off right now!"

Strong arms wrapped around my chest, yanking me backward. I struggled against Elliot's grip, chest heaving as I glared at Chase. He wiped blood from his split lip, eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and mischief.

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