Page 1 of Of Pranks and Passion

CHAPTER ONE

EASTON

“But why?”

“Because you need to actually do something with your life besides hanging out with those little friends of yours. You can either go to college or kiss that trust fund goodbye.”

My dad was usually pretty hands off with me. He already had his heir to the family business and several back ups. I was the black sheep. As long as I wasn’t in jail, he didn’t care. I didn’t understand why now, all of a sudden, he wanted to put his foot down.

“I’m twenty-five,” I pointed out, like it would somehow make a difference.

“And your stepmother got her degree in her thirties,” he growled in response.

True. Dammit.

Honestly, I didn’t need the money. I made plenty on my own. It wasn’t even about that. It was what he followed up with that had me even considering it.

“Don’t make me disown you, Easton. I know how much family means to you. Don’t make me force the family to drop allcontact. You need to start acting like an adult. Starting with a degree.”

My molars throbbed, I was clenching my jaw so tight. I might be the black sheep, but the old man was right. My family was important to me. Despite all my idiosyncrasies, they accepted me. Even when I told them I wasn’t interested in joining the family business, they accepted me and said they still loved me. Hell, they could’ve cast me out the day I showed up on my old man’s doorstep, a thirteen-year-old affair-baby with a chip on his shoulder and a whole host of baggage. They didn’t. I promised myself when they stuck around that I’d watch out for them. I couldn’t do that if they cast me out.

“Fuck. Fine. What kind of degree?”

Seizing the opportunity given, my old man started gesturing wildly with his hands, a smile on his face. Man, he was excited about this shit. “Any degree. I honestly don’t care. As long as you spend time around new people and learn a trade other than whatever nonsense you and your little friends get up to, I don’t care.”

“So I can major in art?” I drawled, a smirk on my face.

His face fell, and he visibly shuddered. “If… If that’s what you want,” he gritted out.

I snorted. This was fun. But also a waste of my time. If I had to do this, I wanted to just get it over with.

“I don’t care what major. Just pick one for me, and I’ll get it done.”

Relief flashed over his face, and he smoothed the top of his head like he was fixing his hair. Too late for that, he gave in to shaving it when the balding started to look like a comb over. The look wasn’t bad, he could pull off bald, but he was still uncomfortable with it.

“Alright, if that’s what you want. But feel free to change it once you get comfortable. I swear, Easton, I’m only looking outfor your wellbeing. You need an actual trade. If something went wrong–”

Putting up my hand, I stalled his emotional speech. That stuff didn’t work on me. Family obligation might, because I owed them, but emotions weren’t my thing. I wasn’t a sociopath, I had emotions, I just flirted with the line sometimes. Emotions didn't make any damn sense. I preferred equal exchange. It was easier to understand.

“Sorry,” he said. Which, again, was one of the many reasons I was even considering this. Most rich CEOs would throw money at a problem and ignore it. My old man was a little awkward when trying to parent, but he cared. He listened when my therapist said emotions made me uncomfortable and tried to keep the feelings out of it.

“It’s fine. Just tell me when and where. I’ve got things to do.”

The flat look he gave me said he didn't believe me. I kept him out of the nitty gritty, though. I didn’t want to give him another reason to consider disowning me.

“I’ve got connections in the state college. It’s close to home and your little hideout. I’ll get you registered as a business major. You’re behind, since classes already started, but I’m sure you can catch up. You’re brilliant when you put your mind to it, Easton. I want to see that side of you thrive.”

I made a face at him. I wasn’t stupid, sure, but I wasn't some kind of genius either. In high school, I kept up with the work, but I hated it at the same time. School was boring.

A smile tugging at his lips, he shook his head. “People would kill to have this kind of opportunity, and you whine about it. What is it the kids say? First world problems?”

Jerking my head up, I grimaced at him. “Ew.”

He barked out a laugh, dismissing me with a wave of his hand. “Get out, Easton. I’ll text you all the relevant information. You start class on Monday.”

With a mock salute over my shoulder, I left his home office. When I was thirteen and the cops brought me to this massive house after my mom got locked up, I thought they were playing some kind of joke. I hadn’t exactly been an easy kid to work with. But it turns out, between the drugs and the alcohol, mama dearest managed to find the time to get knocked up by a rich guy. She even remembered his name long enough to put it on my birth certificate. My old man was smart and got a DNA test when I showed up, but when it turned out to be true, he took me in without argument. His wife was pissed for a while, but she was some kind of saint because she refused to take it out on me. She was always nice to me, despite where I came from. And while I didn’t see her as a mom, I did my best to return the favor.

Trudging down the hallways of my old man’s place, my hands shoved into my pocket, I contemplated what was coming. It wasn’t like I couldn’t handle being in school. I just didn’t want to. And if I didn’t want to do it, it was hard to feel motivated.

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