Page 43 of Reclaimed Roots

"What the hell has gotten into you two?" Dad demanded, stepping between us.

Before either of us could answer, the basement door flew open again. Mom appeared at the top of the stairs, her expression a perfect blend of concern and fury.

"I will not have fighting in this house!" she declared, voice ringing with authority. "You're grown men, for heaven's sake. Start acting like it!"

The fight drained out of me in an instant, shame replacing the anger. Chase slumped against the wall,suddenly looking every bit as hungover as he must have felt.

"Sorry, Ma," he mumbled, not quite meeting her eyes.

"Don't apologize to me," she snapped. "Apologize to each other. And then get yourselves cleaned up. You look like you've been through a war."

She turned on her heel, leaving us to stew in the aftermath of our brawl. Dad gave us both a hard look before following her up the stairs. Elliot released his hold on me, shaking his head in disgust.

"Real mature, guys. Way to make Mom's day even worse."

Guilt rushed over me in a sickening wave.

Fuck. How could I have forgotten?

Today was anniversary of her sister's death. No wonder Dad looked so stressed when I stormed in. I'd never known my aunt. She died before Mom and Dad met. It's a long story, apparently. One they'd never shared.

I ran a hand through my hair, hissing as my fingers brushed against a tender spot on my scalp. Chase was gingerly prodding at his swollen jaw.

"Look, man," he started, voice rough, "I'm sorry about Natalie. I was drunk, and it just... happened."

The anger flared up again, but I tamed it down. "It shouldn't have happened at all."

"I know. It won't happen again."

I wanted to believe him, but the memory of his lips on Natalie's made my hands twitch into fists again. How was I supposed to trust him after this?

"Juststay away from her, alright?" I muttered, turning to head upstairs.

"Jas, wait." Chase's voice stopped me at the foot of the stairs. I glanced back, eyebrow raised. He hesitated, chewing on his words before speaking. "I really am sorry. Natalie's my friend. I shouldn't have crossed that line."

I wasn't ready to look at him. My eyes remained fixed on a crack in the basement floor. The silence stretched, taut as a bowstring.

Elliot's unyielding voice cut through the tension. "You owe Natalie an apology too."

I glanced up in time to see Chase's contrite nod. "Yeah, I'll head over to Marie's now."

"She's not at Marie's. She's asleep in my bed." The words were out before I had time to think them through.

Elliot's eyebrows shot up, his mouth forming a perfect 'o' of surprise. "Oh, damn. Did not see that coming."

I braced myself, knowing what was coming next. Sure enough, Chase's face split into a shit-eating grin. "Sounds like Jas saw Nat coming though, amirite?"

My nails dug into my palms. "Shut up, jackass. It wasn't like that. She was upset." My lips twitched into a smirk. "In fact, she said kissing you was gross."

Chase's grin faltered. "Bullshit, she did not."

"Sure as fuck did," I shot back, a perverse satisfaction rising in me at his wounded expression.

Chase's shoulders slumped. I could almost hear his ego deflating. "Well that's just... not nice at all."

Elliot rolled his eyes, clearly done with both of us. "You'll get over it."

Chapter Nineteen

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