Page 6 of Gaming with the Gargoyle in Hallow's Cove

His girlfriend looks at him, confused. “What? I feel—”

“It’s OK, we can call it early.” From where I sit at the DM’s seat, I see him nudge her gently with his elbow and roll his eyes toward Gwen, who is barely paying attention because she’s clearly upset. Jake’s never been one to stick around an uncomfortable situation if he has any say in it, but I’m particularly appreciative today.

Hayley’s mouth opens in an O and she nods her head. “Yeah, you’re right. We should get out of here. It was really fun though.”

Poor Ted looks confused, but he nods and starts packing up anyway.

“Oh, OK,” Gwen says. “Maybe an early night isn’t a terrible idea. Apparently, Gabe and I have some shit to figure out, since I’m not conveniently pregnant with Preston’s heir.”

It’s such bullshit, if my dad and my brother hadn’t been such assholes she wouldn’t be in this situation.Wewouldn’t be in this situation. Then again, if they hadn’t been such assholes, we would probably have never met, so I guess I can’t be too ungrateful.

It takes a few minutes for everyone to clear out, and then I’m left with the group of teenagers by the TV and a very dejected looking Gwen at the table.

“Hey guys," I say walking up to the teens. “We have had a bit of a situation come up and we need to close early tonight, sorry.”

They groan, they are teenagers after all—but clear out quickly nonetheless. A pang of guilt makes me squeeze my lips together. I know that there aren’t a ton of places for teens to hang out at night in Hallow’s Cove, but Gwen and I need some time. I flip the open sign to closed and shut the door. By the time I return back to Gwen at the table, she’s crying. Big fat tears roll down her cheeks and splat onto the letter open before her.

“What are we going to do? I don’t understand. Who else could be listed in the will?”

“Hey… uh, guys?” We turn and Brooks is back, tail hanging limply behind him, and wringing his hat in his hands. “Can I talk to you for a sec?”

I duck my head so he can hear my whisper. “It’s not a super great time, dude. I think—”

“It’s about Preston.”

“What about him?” Gwen moves to stand but Brooks motions that he’ll come to the table.

“I might have an idea of who the contested party is…”

“What?” I sit down too, this time next to Gwen so I can be there for her if she needs me.

“Well, you guys know how he was trying to buy the farm… and how he was pretty shitty to Syd and blackmailed her so that she almost failed the certification? Well… there is a reason that didn’t work out.”

This man could win an award for being vague, which is hilarious because he’s also the biggest blabbermouth I know. If he’s been keeping a secret, it’s been really hard for him to do, so now he is acting like he needs to do some big ass reveal about it.

“And that is…” Gwen waves her hand in a circle, though her tears are drying, and that’s something.

“So Syd and Preston knew each other from school. And she was kinda confused when she met you, because she knew him as being with this other woman, Cecelia… I am pretty sure they never broke up…”

I look over at Gwen, expecting her to start crying again, because honestly, that’s devastating news. It’s one thing to know your husband is an asshole, it’s another to hear that he’s an asshole that wascheatingon you. Instead, she rolls her eyes and sits back in her chair, laughing.

“Are you fucking kidding me, he just keeps getting worse and worse!” She wipes tears from her eyes, but she’s also laughing… which honestly feels appropriate.

“Yeaaaaaah,” Brooks says. “That’s kind of why we didn’t say anything. We debated what all we should tell you, and Syd didn’t want you to be sad. She didn’t want you mourning the asshole, either, so she told you about the blackmail.”

I guess I can understand

“And you think that this other woman might be the one contesting the will?” I wish I was surprised, but honestly, this is just like Preston.

“Yeah, she’s pretty well off, if what Syd says is right, so I imagine she has a lawyer going through it with a fine tooth comb.”

“Well, fuck.” Gwen sits back, and I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Chapter three

Gwen

Halfanhourlater,Brooks is gone and Gabe and I are up on my balcony. Everything is so complicated and I’m so overwhelmed it’s not even funny.