Phoenix Rising: From Heartache to Heroism novel Chapter 702

"You were too focused," Nessie muttered.

Jasper turned around, placing the trophy on a shelf in the corner. "I wasn't looking at anything."

Nessie shot him a skeptical look. "Weren't you just watching them warm up? Violeta and Kaylee make a great pair. It's rare for our tennis club to have two members as good as them."

Jasper ignored her and prepared to leave.

Nessie called after him, "Jasper, you can't just hide in here all day watching everyone else. You should get out there and practice with the group from time to time! Seriously, you're getting more and more hands-off these days."

Jasper glanced at her. "Isn't that what Nolan and you are for?"

He let out a lazy yawn and added indifferently, "My presence is not important. See you."

Nessie could only shake her head helplessly as he left.

Before the new members joined, Jasper used to love playing with everyone.

But lately, something has changed. He barely even showed up for practice anymore.

All he did was hide out here and watch from afar, though no one knew what he was watching.

Nessie leaned against the spot where Jasper had been standing and murmured to herself, "I have to admit, the view from here is pretty good. You can see everything."

Meanwhile, Lucy was back in town.

Jasper heard the news from a friend of a friend.

It happened over drinks.

"Who's back?" someone asked.

"Lucy!"

"Oh, isn't she Jasper's ex? Haha, I remember her. She was a dancer, right?"

Jasper rested his chin in his hand, his eyes downcast. He didn't join in on the conversation.

"Hey, Jasper! Didn't Lucy leave the country after you dumped her? Man, you were cold. What kind of girl do you even like if she wasn't good enough?"

"Didn't you start dating someone else right after Lucy? What was her name again ... "

"I remember, it was Esther!"

"Yeah, and Esther even confronted Lucy, didn't she? That was wild!"

They laughed as they dug up old gossip right in front of Jasper, who seemed either completely unfazed or entirely uninterested.