Page 5 of Reclaimed Roots

Twenty minutes later, I was lugging four bags of ice from the freezer in the barn back toward the house. I almost dropped them when Natalie stepped onto the back porch. Standing in the early afternoon light, gazing out at the endless rows of trees on Ever Eden Orchard, she was like a painting come to life. My steps faltered just before I reachedthe deck, but I recovered in time to climb the stairs without falling flat on my face.

When I reached the top, she turned to face me, visibly panicked.

"Hi," she said.

That's it.

Hi.

After seven years.

All I got was ahi.

I wanted to be kind. I wanted to be understanding. I wanted to hug her and tell her how sorry I was about her dad.

But I didn't.

A muscle ticked in my jaw as I muttered out a terse "Natalie" in greeting.

I moved to walk past her, and she whirled on me.

"That's it? That's all you have to say to me?"

"Yeah, Nat. That's it."

I threw the words over my shoulder without even bothering to turn around. I felt like a complete asshole, but goddamn, I was drowning in emotions. In that moment, I didn't know how to be anything else. So I kept walking, leaving the only girl I'd ever loved alone on the porch—the same porch we stood on the first time I kissed her when we were twelve.

Chapter Four

NATALIE

Jasper Everton was a dickhead.

Seven years could really change a person. The Jasper I knew wouldneverhave walked away from me like that.

Then again, maybe I deserved it.

The warm, fragrant breeze carried the scent of apple blossoms, dredging up bittersweet memories of endless summers spent exploring those orchards with Jasper and his siblings. A lifetime ago, when things had been simpler. When Jasper and I were?—

"Penny for your thoughts?"

I started at the sound of Liam's voice behind me. Forcing a smile, I turned to face him. "Hey. I was just... taking in the view."

He slid an arm around my waist, and I stiffened involuntarily. If he noticed, he didn't let on. "It's pretty out here. Peaceful."

"Yeah. It is."

"Babe, are you okay? You seem kinda off."

I wasn't sure if it was the fact that Jasper clearly hated me or that Liam was driving me crazy, but I snapped.

"Of course I'm fucking off, Liam! My dad is dead!"

"Nat, I'm sorry. I didn't mean?—"

"I just needed a little space, okay?"

"Yeah, sure." He nodded and pressed a kiss to my temple. "I'll be inside if you need me."

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