Jasper’s BBQ

"You did what?" Jasper's face flushed with a mix of anger and surprise as he processed the information.

"You heard me. I offered her a job out of your way. You'll never see her, and your ex and my mom will fall together," I explained, trying to justify the decision I made without his input.

"And right after sex is the time to drop that bomb?" Jasper began to rise from the bed in frustration, but I gently stopped him.

"Well, I would've told you sooner if you didn't attack me as soon as I walked in," I countered, feeling a bit defensive.

"That's because it's been a while! Ugh! Didn't I already tell you everything?" Jasper huffed, clearly exasperated.

"Yeah, and I was upset about what I heard, so I took revenge," I admitted openly, not shying away from the truth of my actions.

"Is this your pent up aggression spilling out? You've destroyed a family," Jasper accused, his tone a mixture of disappointment and disbelief.

"Well, they insulted you, and insulting my husband is unforgivable. I offered her help only because she deserves her own chance at happiness and not to be manipulated by that jerk. Aren't you proud of me for being merciful?" I grinned, trying to lighten the mood.

"That wasn't you being merciful, Alex," Jasper didn't let me off easily.

"I just thought you would like it that I helped her instead of rubbing her face in things," I pouted, feeling slightly offended by his reaction.

"I know you aren't really upset, don't make that face," Jasper softened, hugging me and planting a kiss on my cheek. "I just never thought I'd hear about them again. I'm very embarrassed about getting fired like that for not controlling myself."

"I know. But now the problem's solved and she never thought you were a bad person," I reassured him. "I think she understands what it's like to be in her shoes."

"She does?" Jasper sounded hopeful yet doubtful.

"Yup! She had a breakdown realizing her husband is still in love with you," I said, noting the complexity of their emotions and the tangled web of their past relationships.

Jasper smiled at that revelation, which unexpectedly irritated me a bit. "That's nice," he commented casually, almost too casually for my liking.

"Don't get any ideas!" I snapped quickly, feeling a surge of possessiveness and concern that old feelings might resurface.

"I'm not, Sugar!" Jasper assured me, his voice gentle. "I'm just glad she could see through everything and understand why I went a little insane back then," he sighed, reflecting on the past with a sense of closure.

"Are you upset?" I asked, watching him closely, trying to gauge his true feelings amidst the revelations and our conversation.

"No, I did something behind your back too," Jasper admitted, his voice a mix of confession and caution. He hugged me tighter, making it impossible for me to pull away, signaling the seriousness of his admission. "Promise you won't be mad."

"Ok," I agreed, albeit hesitantly, bracing myself for whatever he was about to reveal. His statement hung in the air between us, a mix of apprehension and curiosity building as I waited for him to continue.

"Mike and Sam are on their way here to check the place out," Jasper said quickly, dropping the news abruptly.

Shit! I already promised not to be mad. "Ugh, why?" I asked, trying to keep my composure.

"A barbecue, and it's finally warm enough to test out the pool. Sam is bringing his daughter too," Jasper explained, as if it were the most natural plan.

"I thought he had a son," I said, a bit confused.

"His son is at his mom's house. They swap kids every week," Jasper clarified, filling in the details of Sam's family dynamics.

"Why would I want them here?" I asked, not hiding my irritation.

"Sam hasn't been in contact with his father for a year and a half. He has no clue about what happened with Mr Reynolds and Sam honestly poses no threat to you. Besides, it's not like he can just leave his kid at home alone," Jasper justified, trying to ease my concerns with practical reasons. "You promised you wouldn't get mad."

"I'm not mad!" I snapped back, my frustration evident despite my words. He was right to trap me in his arms; part of me wanted to strangle him for making these plans without consulting me first.

"Promise you won't kill me and be cordial?" Jasper begged, his tone half-joking, half-serious, sensing my growing annoyance.

"Whatever!" I snapped, wiggling free from his grip and getting dressed. The promise of not being mad was already hanging by a thread, but I agreed to play the cordial host, at least for now.

Jasper was in full barbecue mode, cheerfully tossing large portions of meat and kebabs onto the grill as his friends arrived. The heat was oppressive, and I wondered how I hadn't noticed the shift in weather. Have I really been that wrapped up in my own concerns lately?

Mike, ever the boisterous one, greeted me with his usual loud enthusiasm, despite my obvious retreat into the shade, signaling my desire to be left alone. My mood was sour, and I couldn't seem to shake it off.

Sam gave me a brief wave before focusing on his daughter, taking her into his arms from someone else who'd come along with him. That someone had a familiar shock of red hair — unmistakable even from a distance. It was the guy who always seemed to trail behind Sam like a shadow during our high school days. Back then, I barely gave him a moment's thought, dismissing him as too inconsequential for my attention.

He had changed though; it looked like he'd hit a growth spurt somewhat later in life and had shaped up to be quite handsome. Still, his presence on my property sparked a mixture of curiosity and annoyance.

"Yo, I'm Jeff—" he began, introducing himself as if we were strangers.

"I know who you are. We went to school together," I cut him off, rolling my eyes. How could I forget Jeffrey Flannigan? The annoying prick.

"I'm honored you remember me, Alex," he replied, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Still cold as ever?"

"Let's just get this class reunion over with!" I hissed, my frustration evident. The last thing I wanted was a stroll down memory lane, especially with people like Jeffrey. What on earth was I supposed to say to him now?

"I've been following your story, Alex. You're quite ruthless," Jeff remarked, an edge of admiration and shock in his voice.

"I just happened to inherit a profitable company and made it even more successful," I sighed, downplaying the darker aspects of my narrative.

"You really got your older brother on false charges?" He asked, his tone laced with excitement and disbelief.

"Even if he wasn't arrested for what I reported, he'd done similar things. Do you think he suddenly turned over a new leaf?" I scoffed, dismissing the idea of my brother's innocence.

"That's your excuse? It's not revenge?" Jeff probed further. "You got bullied relentlessly by him."

"I wasn't bullied," I scowled, my pride stung by his words. I wasn't someone who could be bullied! "I simply put him in prison because he's a deadbeat loser, and I knew where he lived."

"But he directed that group of boys to bother you to the point you hired security to go to school with you. I saw it so many times," Jeff countered, recalling past events with a clarity that surprised me.

"I see, so you knew what was going on and you did nothing?" I challenged, my tone shifting as I prepared to turn the tables and engage in some mental sparring to lift my spirits.

"No! I—" Jeff started to defend himself.

"You what? Made that stupid complaint to the teacher? You meddled in something out of your sense of justice like Sam, and then thought it was over just like that?" I pressed, not letting him off the hook.

"I was just trying to help," Jeff muttered, his confidence faltering under my scrutiny.

"Can't go back now, can we?" I chuckled darkly. "You were an honor student and a fucking Boy Scout. Everyone really liked you too. No matter what you did, everyone just let it slide. Except for me, I hated you. A hypocrite who's only nice on the surface, only caring about appearances. Actually, it's fitting."

"I'm sorry," Jeff turned his head away, his voice softening. "But because of that..."

"You think this is because I got bullied? No! I am just exemplary, unlike those idiots. A genius, I could do anything. I was accepted into the same university as my grandfather based on merit alone, scouted by companies abroad, and gave ideas to grow the company and yet, I still fell to their mercy," I explained, venting my frustrations and defending my past actions.

"I didn't mean to hurt you," Jeff said, his tone sincere.

"Seriously? Are you stupid or some kind of weirdo who thinks he's a saint? What does it matter what I think of you?" I asked, my irritation evident.

"I'm not trying to look good, I want to be good. I'm not asking you to forgive me, I'm just sorry I didn't do more," Jeff defended himself, standing his ground. "You might hate me but—"

"I don't hate you," I groaned, interrupting him.

"Didn't you tell me you hated me from the bottom of your heart in high school? I remember it clearly!" Jeff insisted.

"I'm just not used to this sort of thing," I confessed, feeling a rare moment of vulnerability.

"Used to what?" Jeff asked, curious.

"Talking to other people! I'm bad at it! It just slipped out. I didn't actually think anything of you because you were so insignificant," I said, trying to clarify my earlier harsh words.

"Ouch! At least you don't actually hate me though," Jeff responded, trying to lighten the mood a bit.

"I hate how you're overly virtuous. It's annoying and there's zero benefit," I admitted. "That's just the way I am, so deal with it."

"No different from high school then," Jeff chuckled, recognizing the consistency in my character.

"Pretty much," I told him, acknowledging my unchanging nature.

"There were two more guys who usually joined in, what were their names?" Jeff asked, trying to recall past accomplices.

"I dunno," I shrugged, disinterested in dredging up more names from the past.

"Didn't they end up in the hospital because of you or something?" Jeff probed further, hinting at a darker chapter of our school days.

Maybe this guy wasn't such an idiot and was more observant than I thought.