Powerless (Chestnut Springs, #3)(63)



“That we did.”

Long doesn’t even begin to cover it.

A smile tugs at the corner of her lips. “I always wondered when you two would notice the other.”

My head flips to her. “Pardon?”

“You and Jasper. You’ve both been so in love with each other for so long. I saw that hug. Plus, I saw the look on his face that day when I first spilled the beans about your engagement. And on your wedding day?” She snorts. “I think he was looking for a reason to barge in there and break you out. Poor emotionally stunted idiot that he is.”

I just blink, mind whirring. “He’s not emotionally stunted.” I always jump to defend Jasper, no matter what.

Violet hits me with a sidelong glance. “Yeah, he is. I married one of those, so I know them when I see them.”

“Wait,” Nadia says. “Aren’t you guys cousins?”

Mira’s finger waves back and forth. “No. He’s the adopted brother.”

I see Nadia’s smile in the rearview mirror. “Fuck. That’s hot.”

I groan but don’t get a word in edgewise before Billie pipes up. “You should fuck him.”

I can’t help but laugh. My body shakes with it because this scenario is just too much. Emotions are too high. I’m delirious.

Violet laughs too. “Billie, that’s always your advice.”

“I tried,” I say from behind my hands because hiding while I admit this feels easier. “He said we needed to talk first.”

“But something happened?” Violet can’t hide her curiosity. She always was the chatty girl-talk type.

“Yes.” I lower my hands, staring at the roof of the truck. “Something happened.”

Billie hums thoughtfully from behind me. Like she’s about to offer profound advice. “You should demand he fuck you.”

I snort, and a different type of tears well in my eyes. They’re the good kind that come from laughing and trying to hold it back. I glance at the rearview mirror into the back seat.

“It worked for me,” Mira says with a feline smile on her lips.

“Ew. Don’t tell me these things about my brother, please.” Nadia turns away and stares out the window, a look of exaggerated disgust on her face. “You could do what I did and just drive him insane until he snaps.”

Billie pipes up again. “No. Pull a Violet. Just send him nudes.”

Violet doesn’t shy away from Billie’s statement like she might have when she was younger. Instead, a proud smile touches her face as she drives down the snowy road until we pull up to Neighbor’s Pub, the most run-down bar and liquor store I’ve ever seen. A flashing sign advertises “COLD BEER AND WINE!!!”

Exclamation marks and all.

It feels suitably dingy for the updated version of me I’m working on.

I like it already.

“Or just do what I did and make him so jealous he loses his mind, bangs on your door, and then bangs you on the kitchen counter,’’ Billie adds.

I laugh harder, so does everyone else, and warmth flickers in my chest. I’d love friendships like this in my life. I think I could have them with Willa and Summer.

When we pile out of the truck, moods lighter from cracking jokes about my hot mess of a personal life and flaming dumpster fire of a friendship slash relationship slash lifelong crush turned who the fuck knows what, I ask, “Do you think they sell Buddyz Best Beer here?”

“Fuck yes, they do,” Billie calls over her shoulder as she heaves the wooden door open.

Suddenly I don’t feel so bad about everything anymore. Everyone I love is safe and content. Violet has a happy little crew here. They found Beau. Things between Jasper and me are messy right now, but . . . it’s us.

We always end up back together somehow.

We just need to stop fighting it.





Mira’s husband, Stefan, cooked us a massive, gourmet meal. Over dinner everyone in Billie and Vaughn’s expansive house clearly shared my feeling of relief.

Vaughn cracked jokes that lightened the mood considerably. Cole and Griffin were quiet but friendly. The sense of family between all the friends warmed my heart. Wine flowed easily and so did the conversation.

The dining room windows look out over the pristine farm, and all the kids have crashed out in the enormous, sunken living room while a Disney movie still rolls on the screen.

It’s cozy and comforting, and I can tell this group of people gets together like this often. There’s a level of comfort between them I want to curl up in, but I still feel slightly removed from it all. I’m still an interloper here.

It just isn’t Chestnut Springs.

I keep peeking at Jasper across the table from me, wanting to see him smile, wanting to see him looking relieved and happy after weeks of seeing him look devastated.

He’s not wearing a cap tonight, and it makes it so easy to see every expression that touches his face. I want to know he’s okay, but I still quickly glance away when his eyes lock on mine.

My cheeks heat and my spine tingles, and my brain plunges me back into last night when he slid his fingers between my legs and made me come harder than I ever have.

I told him so much and he told me so little. He still held back and that stung. I’ve always felt like I’m his person, his safe place to let it all out, but in the past couple of days it’s come to my attention that he still keeps so much locked up tight.

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