Page 88 of Of Pranks and Passion

“Good. That day is going to be annoying as fuck. I’ll need an excuse to hurt someone.”

“Easton!” he protested, laughing. “Don’t get arrested on our wedding day!”

Listening to him laugh and argue with me on the merits of a fight at a wedding, I made up my mind. I was never going to give Gary up. And we already signed a prenup. Might as well sign the paperwork and make our relationship legally binding, too. That way no one in the fucking world could take him from me.

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

GARY

Tonight wasthe first night Easton’s family was meeting mine. To say I was nervous was an understatement. I knew Easton had no intention of changing his mind about our relationship, but I worked hard to ensure his family liked me, and I didn't want that ruined by having them spend any time with my family.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t wait until the wedding for them to meet, either. Mr. Warner insisted on meeting them. Which is how we ended up here, at a charity gala thrown by the Warners every year, with my family standing next to me.

“Is that what you’re wearing?” Brienna sneered.

I knew better than to take the bait, but I still brushed my hand over my suit self consciously. I couldn’t wear anything I owned to something this nice, so Easton brought me out to get something that’d work. It was a nice suit, dark green with a black turtleneck and brown loafers. Angel said it made me look sophisticated. It cost more than my textbooks for both semesters, but I had enough saved thanks to Brienna leaving me alone for six months that I could handle it. Sort of. I was relying heavily on the fact that Sierra had an internship waiting for meonce the wedding was through to be able to afford my education next year. I’d need to work hard all summer to be able to afford it.

Forcing a smile, I greeted my family. “It’s good to see you.”

It really, really wasn’t.

Easton warned me he’d act aloof during the next two days so my family wouldn’t clue in that he wasn’t on their side. I understood his reasoning, but I really wished he was here beside me. Luckily, he would be in sight, and he brought our friends with him, all looking stylish and presentable for once. Angel stood a few feet away with a drink in his hand and his phone out, pretending to text while he recorded my interactions with my family.

“We’re not here to see you,” Brienna snapped. “Where’s Easton?”

“He had some last minute work to deal with,” I forced out, trying my best to be polite. “I’ll be introducing you to his parents. They’re right over there.” I glanced over my shoulder to where Mr. and Mrs. Warner were standing in the middle of the crowd, greeting their guests and smiling like the powerful couple they were. My family had arrived late, because they liked to make an entrance, so the charity gala was already in full swing.

“Well, hurry up, then!”

Forcing another smile, I nodded once and turned on my heel, flashing Angel an eye roll before heading into the crowd. I heard him snicker as he followed behind us, but he didn’t approach. Not yet, anyway. He didn’t want them figuring out he was recording them.

Mr. Warner noticed us first and turned with his wife on his arm to face us with a smile. “Hello, Gary. Is this your family?”

I nodded quickly, stepping aside so I wasn’t blocking the way. “Mr. and Mrs. Warner, this is my dad, George Nelson, and my mom, Mary.” They all shook hands, and I could see my parentspractically vibrating with excitement to be so close to such influential people. Brienna cleared her throat in a demanding way. She was standing close enough to pinch my side when I didn’t immediately introduce her, and I flinched automatically before schooling my face. “And this is my older sister, Brienna.”

“Enchanté,” Brienna said with a flirty smile, offering her hand in a way that said she wanted Mr. Warner to kiss it. My eyes widened, and I had to bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from gaping at her. Who the hell did she think she was? A duchess?

Mr. Warner was graceful when he turned her hand and shook it like a normal person, giving her a placid smile. “Nice to meet you.” He turned back to my parents, effectively ignoring her. I bit back a snicker. That was the most effective and subtle shut down I’d ever seen.

“Mr. And Mrs. Nelson, I’m glad we can finally meet. Your son is a joy and has done wonders with my family. I’ve never seen Easton happier.”

My stomach flipped at the comment, and I felt my cheeks flush. We visited the Warner family home at least once a month for dinner with his family, and I eventually got over the nerves and enjoyed spending time with them. I even attended their anniversary party in the spring and didn’t make a fool of myself all night. It felt really good to hear someone praise me like that.

My parents looked a little uncertain on how to reply, though. My dad eventually forced a plastic smile and nodded. “Well, I’m glad he hasn’t done anything to embarrass us. He struggled with that in his youth. Always creating unnecessary drama.”

Mr. Warner’s surprise was subtle, and he shot me a questioning look. I dropped my gaze to my feet. The drama he was referring to was when I’d argue about how they’d favor Brienna. I couldn’t bring that up now without proving his point.

“That certainly hasn’t been my experience,” Mr. Warner eventually said. “Right, dear?”

“Exactly. Gary is such a lovely person. He is polite and sweet, and we’re excited to have him as part of our family,” Mrs. Warner agreed.

Instead of acknowledging what they were saying, my mom changed the subject, drawing the attention to Brienna like she always did. “He learned most of it from his older sister. Brienna graduated from a prestigious university and has always been a lovely role model for her brother. I only wish he’d followed her example and got better grades so he could’ve gone to the same school as her.”

This was humiliating. They were supposed to be meeting my future in-laws, but they took every opportunity they had to tear me down and make me look bad. I couldn’t take much more of this, and when I shot Angel a pleading look, he stepped closer and linked arms with me.

“Hey, bestie. How’s it going?” he asked casually. “Wanna take a walk?”

Desperately. But I was also worried about leaving my family with the Warners. “I…”

---