Page 75 of Trusting Fate (Hope Falls: Brewed Awakenings 2)

“That cat is going to kill me in my sleep,” Grace said flatly.

He knew that she was trying to deflect the attention away from the conversation that they obviously needed to have. “Grace, what—” he started to ask her what was wrong again, but she cut him off.

“It’s stupid.”

“I doubt that.” Easton had a feeling that Grace Noelle Wells did not get this upset over things that were stupid.

She let out a loud exhale and sat up so that her back was against the headboard. Easton followed her lead and pushed up to a sitting position.

“When you were out on the porch with Ava, Audrey, and Blake, and I was doing the dishes, Viv came over and said that I’d won the boyfriend lotto because you were hot, good with your hands, rich and could dance.”

She stared at him as if she’d just revealed what was wrong. The only thing he could think of was that she was upset because they weren’t being totally honest about their relationship status. He’d felt guilt over it, too. Especially telling his mom. But he’d reconciled it because in his mind, they were together whether she wanted to admit it or not.

“I know that our relationship isn’t technically real, but I want to be with you. You are the one that said we shouldn’t really be together so you don’t get distracted.”

From the exasperated expression on her face, he’d clearly missed the mark on what was bothering her. “No. It’s not that. She told me that you’re rich.”

Easton still wasn’t sure what the problem was. He waited for her to continue, and when she didn’t he prompted, “Okay?”

“Are you?”

The accusatory nature of the question made him put his defenses up.

“Why does that matter?” he asked in a clipped, harsh tone.

Her expression hardened and he immediately regretted snapping at her.

“I’m sorry, it’s just…” He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair as he tried to gather his thoughts so he would stop saying the wrong thing, which was never an issue for him. But Grace had a way of hitting nerves that other people didn’t. She got to him in ways no one else ever had. It wasn’t a bad thing, she made him feel. But that wasn’t an excuse for being short with her.

Trying to clear his head, he took a deep cleansing breath. He wanted to get to the heart of what the issue was and not let his emotions, or her emotions, derail this conversation. “It seems like my financial situation is the issue, is that right?”

She crossed her arms in front of her in a defensive pose. “It’s part of the issue.”

“I’m not personally wealthy at this moment. I have a modest savings, but I actually live on very little income. I do have investments that are very profitable, but I don’t see that money.” Easton had never been comfortable discussing his charitable contributions. He always felt like an asshole talking about how much money he gave away. He didn’t want to come off as someone who wanted people to think he was some kind of saint. He wasn’t.

A challenge lit in her eyes. “You donate ninety percent of your income, right?”

“You said Viv told you this?” he clarified, wondering how in the hell her sister had that information.

Grace nodded.

“How did Viv know…”

“Kenzie. She said that she was relieved because your family has always worried that you’d end up with a gold digger who only wanted you for your money. Which, as Viv pointed out is ridiculous, I mean look at you.” She motioned her hand up and down his body.

Easton was a little confused. He knew that technically what she’d said was a compliment, but the way she was saying it was almost as if she was irritated about his appearance.

“She wasn’t saying it in a gossipy way, or anything,” Grace continued. “She thought Viv knew, because, you know I’m your girlfriend.”

Easton was still confused. This time because of how Grace had emphasized the word girlfriend. “So are you upset because she thinks you’re my girlfriend or…”

“I don’t know…” Grace’s face softened. “It just…it doesn’t even make sense to me why I’m acting like this. This whole ‘situationship,’ which is a word I learned from Blake today that I think is the accurate term for what is going on between us, is just confusing to me. I’m not your girlfriend. We’ve only known each other a few weeks, and I don’t know why but it hurt my feelings that you hadn’t told me that part of your life.” She exhaled and her shoulders dropped. “I told you. It was stupid.”

“It’s not stupid. It’s sweet.”

Grace stared at him like he was a few cards short of a full deck. “Me giving you the silent treatment for a totally nonsensical reason is sweet?”

“Yes.”

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