Page 63 of Charmed By Destiny

“I really hope he’s not trying to buy you off because he thinks I’m so awful that you’ll require presents to stick around,” Richard muttered.

“No worries, I like you,” Luke said. “Thank you for helping me with the car purchase, Clark. I wasn’t expecting your generosity, and I’m not sure how to handle it, but that doesn’t mean I lack gratitude.”

“It’s my pleasure, now let’s focus on picking out something wonderful for you,” Clark insisted.

Bolstered by Richard’s presence, Luke nodded. He wasn’t sure how to wiggle his way out of allowing Clark to buy him a vehicle, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t still try.

Chapter 22

The second Luke set his duffel bag on the gray couch in the guest room nearest to Richard’s suite, his soulmate unzipped it. Without asking, Richard plucked socks and underwear out. Luke went to grab the clothes from him, but Richard skirted around him and tucked everything away in a tall black dresser.

“I’m glad Gabriel and Eric are home,” Richard said. “I’ve had to wait all week to spend any time alone with you.”

“Dragonfly, you don’t have to put my stuff away for me.”

“Go hang up your slacks in the closet,” Richard ordered. “Of course I’m going to help. Thank goodness Mom intervened in the car thing, otherwise my father would’ve insisted on buying you the most expensive vehicle in Vegas.”

“Yeah, she pointed out I couldn’t explain how I was affording anything too pricey, but she shut down the option of me paying for it out of my own funds,” Luke complained.

“I argued with them too, but they’re old and set in their ways. You should start spending money like mad to get back at them. Fill this entire closet with clothes. Overpriced shit. Tell everyone at work you got them at thrift stores or something so no one knows you’re making my parents buy it.”

“You may be a menace too,” Luke told the necromancer.

“Of course I am, look at my parents. At least you’ve learned up front that my most awful traits are a result of crappy genetics. Now, when I act terrible, you can blame my parents.”

Luke laughed. “So, you’ll claim innocence for every horrible decision you make?”

“Obviously.”

“You’re definitely a menace.”

“Thanks, I try.”

“Did you and Maribeth decide which week you’re going to New York?” Luke asked as he stowed the last of his belongings in the closet.

Richard joined him with the empty duffel in his hand. “We’ll stash this in here. Shit, Lucas, there’s so much room. You need more clothes.”

“I’m not going to spend your parents’ money.”

“Use some of your own,” Richard insisted. “But don’t go too crazy. Closet space is not something I have in abundance. In fact, it’s probably going to pose a serious issue in the future.”

“Given that I rarely see you wear the same thing twice, I’m not surprised.”

“That’s a blatant lie, and yes, I’m going to New York in three weeks. Mari tried to get me to postpone it indefinitely since she doesn’t want to get in the way of our relationship, but that’s ridiculous. We agreed to nearly five days. Sunday evening through Thursday, then she’ll come back with me for a long weekend.”

“I didn’t consider how our relationship would affect so many members of your family so quickly,” Luke said.

“Don’t worry about it. My parents involved themselves with their demands that you move closer and buy a car. As for Mari, she should’ve invited me months ago, and I’m not putting up with any further delay.”

Richard stalked out of the closet, and Luke followed him out.

“This room is pretty,” Luke remarked.

“No one has used it before. I’m not sure why my mother insisted on having it. There’s an apartment in the house that we use when we resurrect inspirits, and Gabriel has a suite. I guess that’ll become a guest room now. Well, Gabriel thought it was for guests despite my mother decorating it in green for his eyes. That man can be so dense sometimes. Clearly, it was his, but he only used it over the holidays. How my mother talked him into doing that, I’m not sure.”

“The same way I was invited to have your parents buy me a car?” Luke asked with a smile.

“Exactly. They’re diabolical. It’s a wonder Eric, Mari, and I aren’t raving lunatics. We spent all but the last five or six years with only them and inspirits for company. It wasn’t until we moved to Vegas that my father added things to the resort and allowed us to do things normal people take for granted.”

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