Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
JASPER
The leather of 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. Seeing Liam's car 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.
"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?
"Just stay 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."