Page 81 of Of Pranks and Passion

“What do you mean?”

He sighed heavily. “Unfortunately, we have to be cautious about the people we invite into our lives. If you think Gary’s family will be a problem, I can have protections set up so they won’t have access to you and Gary without your say so. And we can meet with my estate planner, so you can dictate where that money goes until you two decide to have kids.”

I jerked my head back and practically shuddered at the thought. “Absolutely not.” My entire focus would be on Gary. He deserved to be the center of attention after all the bullshit he’d put up with. I had so much fun shit planned, it would make his head spin.

“Have you discussed it with Gary?”

“No. I don’t have to. He knows me. He wouldn’t agree to this expecting that from me.” Which would be true if this thing was real. Besides, I couldn’t see Gary wanting kids. He wanted security, and kids were expensive and chaotic. If it was something he wanted, it wouldn’t be for a long ass time. Long enough for me to wrap my head around the idea. I was pretty solid on no, but if fifteen years from now, Gary wanted to adopt a kid, I’d think about it.

“Might want to discuss that. But if you don’t plan on having the money go to kids and you don’t want his family suing for it, then we need to plan now for where it’ll go. Charity perhaps?”

I nodded. “That works.”

Gary would like that idea. And I know he’d rather stay broke than give a penny willingly to his sister or his family.

“Okay. I’ll call Tim and set up a meeting. You never told me how classes are going.”

I gave him a flat look. “Exactly how I thought they’d go. Boring, with a huge serving of a waste of time.”

He chuckled but didn’t offer to let me drop out. Jerk.

“Well, you did meet Gary there. So at least some good has come from it. And it’s only been a semester.”

Touché.

The restof the holiday was better. Gary was happy, got along well with my siblings. Sierra liked that he was serious and good with numbers. She even offered him a paid internship over the summer. I’d let it go for now, since he seemed really happy about it, but we were going to broach the subject of him choosing a major he’d actually enjoy eventually. I didn’t want him so focused on money all the time.

After the storm passed and the roads were cleared, Gary and I headed back home. Not in my car, which didn’t handle the weather well. Instead, I borrowed one of Jayden’s, a nice SUV more suited for the weather. I’d get my baby back once the weather was better. Gary was smiling and happy the whole drive back, so it pissed me off when we got into the city and the sister’s name popped up on my caller ID. I groaned.

“You answer it. She’s fucking annoying,” I complained.

Gary snickered, but did as I asked, pressing the button to answer on the dashboard display.

“Hello?”

His sister’s voice echoed through the SUV, grating on my nerves. “Gary? Why are you answering Easton’s phone?”

“He’s busy,” Gary replied smoothly. “Did you need something?”

“Nothing from you,” she scoffed. “Though you need to pay me back for the cost of the party. You were supposed to help, and you ignored me. It’s the least you can do to pay me back now.”

My hands tightened on the steering wheel so hard the leather creaked. I shot Gary a warning look. He knew better than to agree to send her money.

Luckily, he didn’t cave to her demands. “I’m sorry my phone wasn’t working, but I really can’t afford that right now. I’ve got my new semester starting in a week, and I have to buy my textbooks. Didn’t Mom and Dad cover most of it?”

She let out a frustrated noise, and I could imagine her stamping her foot like a toddler. “That doesn’t matter! It’s your job! You can’t just ditch out on your family, Gary!”

I saw the moment when guilt crossed Gary’s face. They probably spent years hammering the idea that you take care of family into his head so he’d cow to their demands later on. No way was I going to let them manipulate him again.

And thankfully, we pulled into the parking lot of The Hideout while she was talking, so I could answer the call without her noticing I’d been listening in the whole time. I snatched the phone out of the cupholder, nudging Gary out of the car, and strode around the front to meet him. Gary looked pale and uncertain, so I didn’t hand him back the phone, instead leaning in close to kiss his temple.

“Hey, sweetheart. Did someone call?”

He nodded, playing along. “My sister is on the phone.”

“Mm. I’ll handle it. Go wait for me in bed, alright?”

He flushed bright red at the implication and scurried away when I slapped him on the ass. Hopefully, the guys were around to help him calm down. I needed to handle this bitch before she manipulated Gary again.

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