Page 72 of Of Pranks and Passion

Easton parked right near the front door, so we didn’t have to go far to get inside, but I was shivering when we got into the house. Easton cursed under his breath, shaking the snow out of his hair.

“You would’ve missed the storm if you got here earlier,” Jayden teased. I didn’t immediately see him when I looked around, not until Easton nudged my shoulder and jerked his chin up. Up?

Oh. There was a balcony overlooking the entrance. Was entrance even the right word? The house was bigger than a mansion, and the entrance could probably fit the entirety of The Hideout. How many people lived here that needed this much space?

The nerves that Easton had done a good job distracting me from hit me like a tidal wave. I stood frozen at the door, afraid to even breathe wrong in here. What if I broke something? Or got it dirty? This wasn’t Easton’s place, where he didn’t care what happened to the furniture. I looked up Easton’s family after Brienna mentioned them. They were top one percent rich. I felt really small all of a sudden.

“He’s going to panic,” Jayden called out.

It got Easton’s attention, and he turned toward me with a frown before rolling his eyes and dragging me against him. “Relax, Gary. They’re just people.”

Easy for him to say. They were his people. My people lived paycheck to paycheck, because they were too busy funding their golden child’s lavish lifestyle to save money. And I couldn’t afford new shoes without feeling nauseous.

Easton had to remove my jacket for me, and he handed it off to someone before gripping my face in his hands. He pinched my cheeks until I winced, and once I stopped looking so dazed, he apologized for hurting me with a rough kiss. It was so Easton and probably not comforting to most people, but I needed it. Hegrounded me and made me feel steady. When he released me and raised his eyebrows in question, I nodded.

“I’m okay.”

Instead of throwing his arm around my shoulder like he normally did, he took my hand instead, stroking a thumb over my knuckles. “Come on. I’m starving.”

Of course he was. He was always hungry. But the normalcy settled me even more, and he even got me to laugh when he started dragging me because I was too busy gaping to move at the pace he wanted. He didn’t really give me a chance to look around before I found myself stumbling into a sitting room of sorts.

“There’s a tree inside the house,” I commented before I could stop myself. Easton made a face and opened his mouth, but before he could explain, a smooth voice talked over him.

“There is. It was where our grandfather married our grandmother. The house was built around it.”

On our left near a fireplace that was almost bigger than me, a sophisticated man stood with a sweet-looking woman on his arm. He didn’t look old enough to be Easton’s dad, though he did look older than Easton. Mid thirties, maybe? He was standing next to another couple that looked more like a power couple, both in suits with more severe expressions. I suddenly felt underdressed, even though Easton was wearing his normal baggy clothes and all black. I shrank a little, but before I could turn tail and run, Easton’s grip on my hand tightened and he pulled me over to the little group.

“Gary, this is my brother Arthur and his wife Evie. And that’s Sierra and her husband, Elliot. Guys, this is Gary.”

I recognized the names from the dinner meeting with Jayden. Arthur was the oldest and next in line to take over the family business. Sierra was next, and the head of finance. Jayden was the family lawyer, though that was hard to tell sometimes,because he didn’t seem that serious compared to his siblings. Even now, he wandered into the room like he was bored and had no better place to be. No wonder he and Easton were closest.

“Nice to meet you, Gary,” Arthur said politely. His handshake was firm but not like he was trying to intimidate me. Sierra’s was just as firm, and her eyes narrowed a little, like she was suspicious of me. I tried my best to hide the absolute terror on my face when I shook hands with their partners, but I must not have done a very good job, because Evie giggled and shook her head.

“They aren’t as scary as they look. It’s nice to meet you. This is the first time Easton has ever brought anyone home. We’re all curious, so I hope you don’t mind the questions.”

I winced automatically. “Can I plead the fifth?”

Jayden barked out a laugh, squeezing my shoulder reassuringly. “Nope. But don't stress. It won’t be any different from the interrogation I gave you the first time we met.” He winked at me, startling a little when Easton growled and jerked me away from him. Caveman.

The siblings fell silent again, stunned by Easton’s reaction. I suddenly wished I had Easton’s hoodie. I wanted to hide.

Before someone could question him, another couple joined us, this one very obviously Easton’s parents. Easton had hair where his dad’s head was bald, but he and his dad looked so similar, it was a little eerie. Was that what Easton would look like in a few decades? Because if so, I wasn’t going to be disappointed. His dad was a silver fox.

Weird thought. Shut up, me.

“Easton! You’re finally home. I was worried you were caught in the storm,” Mr. Warner said. He didn't pull Easton in for a hug, instead offering him a handshake with a friendly shoulder pat. The woman put her arms out for a hug, and from the look on his face, Easton didn’t want to, but Jayden pushed him andforced him into it. He gave his stepmother a quick hug before stepping back and crowding against my side again.

“Gary, this is my old man and his wife.”

Easton’s dad made an irritated sound and shot his son a sour look before turning to me with a smile. He offered me his hand as he introduced himself. “Charles Warner. This is my wife, Veronica. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

I shook their hands, hoping beyond all hope that my hands weren’t as clammy as they felt. That would be awkward.

After introductions were made, Mr. Warner gestured to the couches in front of the fire. “Dinner should be served soon, now that you’ve arrived, but why don’t we sit down and talk for a minute. I’m afraid I don’t know anything about you, Gary. My son doesn’t like to share his personal life with anyone outside his little friend group.”

“And me!” Jayden said proudly. That got him a shove by Arthur, who didn’t seem to like the implication that Easton liked Jayden best.

“Shut up. He only tells you things because you won’t leave him the hell alone. Some of us respect his boundaries.”

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