Page 50 of Reclaim

“More...” I let the word hang between us, mulling it over in my mind.

“More than I expected. More than I deserve. More than I’m willing to let go.More.”

“Hey.” A sweet and cheery voice comes up from behind, interrupting us. From the corner of my eye, I see Sasha’s petite frame come into view. “Sorry to disturb you guys.”

“Hey,” Jagger says with a lingering smile, his gaze still firmly locked on mine. “Sasha, this is Emerson.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” Turning away from Jagger, I take her hand and return the genuine smile that graces her face. “I’m so glad you could all make it. Dakota hasn’t been this excited about a tournament in ages.”

“I loved netball,” I divulge. “I gave it up after I finished school, but sunny Saturdays and frozen oranges were the ultimate.”

“Mmm, frozen oranges,” the two of them repeat after me. An eruption of laughter settles my nerves, and I tell myself everything is going to be okay.

“Is Hendrix coming?” Sasha asks Jagger.

“I think I heard Dakota and him discussing a time last night, but we left before he woke up this morning.”

“You guys made it,” Dakota screams from metres away.

“I may have forgot to mention how dramatic she gets around her friends.” Sasha informs us, but the look on Jagger’s face tells you he doesn’t care if she walked on her hands and joined the circus. That young girl is his heart and soul.

Lost in a trance, he struts off to meet Dakota, leaving Sasha and me alone on the sidelines.

“I brought something we can sit on if you want?” She rummages through her bag and pulls out a large checkered picnic blanket.

“Here let me help you,” I offer. Taking hold of both corners, Sasha and I stretch the material across the grassed area.

“Look at her introducing him to all her friends,” Sasha points out. “She’s so happy he’s around.”

“Did you think she wouldn’t be?” I probe.

“It took me a while to realise she didn’t have enough of a memory to be angry at him for what happened. She just knew her dad was in jail, and she couldn’t see him.”

“So, she missed him.”

“Exactly,” she says, plucking strands of grass from around the blanket. “You know, I wouldn’t have even considered this having a positive outcome if it wasn’t for you.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. That phone call.”

“Sasha,” I interrupt. “I’m really sorry about that. I was harsh and borderline rude.” I was also insanely jealous at the thought of a man I’d met a handful of times potentially being reunited with his ex-lover. Fears that were thankfully unfounded.

“No, you were just doing your job and looking out for your client.”

“I’m sure that looks real professional now,” I say, voicing my fears.

She laughs. “I’m the last person to judge you. Everyone seems happy and there’s no reason to focus on anything other than that.” Coincidentally, Hendrix appears and heads straight to Jagger and Dakota. Turning, I see her eyes glued to his every move. Uncensored and honest, I see a girl desperately hurting over a boy.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“What?” Her brows furrow in question.

“You and Hendrix?”

“Oh, Jagger mentioned that.”

“He didn’t say half as much as your face just did.”

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