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CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

GARY

Tonight was the 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 me once 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 parents practically 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…”

“Oh! Easton!” Brienna practically squealed, bouncing a little when Easton came to join us. His eyes were on me, and I could see the muscle ticking in his jaw. I didn't want him to lose his temper and forget how he was supposed to be acting, so I forced my head up and gave him a pained smile.

“Hi.”

Brienna didn’t give him time to respond to me before latching onto his arm and batting her eyelashes at him. “Will you introduce me to people? I’m a little shy.”

Angel snorted outright at that one. He’d only ever met Brienna at her party, but he knew plenty from the stories I told him about her.

There wasn’t a shy bone in her body. Which was proven just by the dress she wore, which was so tight, you could easily tell she wasn’t wearing a bra, and there were cut outs on the sides and back showing as much skin as possible without being completely indecent.

No shy person would be caught wearing that.

Brienna must’ve thought the sound came from me, because she shot me a scathing look that flipped into a smug smirk as she rubbed herself up against Easton’s arm. Nope. I wasn’t going to stand around and watch that. I jerked away from the group and nodded at Angel.

“A walk sounds good. I could use some fresh air.”

I felt Easton’s eyes on me as we walked away. I wished him better luck than I had, because if this was how the next few days would go, I didn’t have much faith that the plan would work. I’d start crying before we got to that point and humiliate myself.

EASTON

Watching Gary walk away, seeing the hurt in his eyes, made me see red, and I was so close to breaking character, it wasn’t even funny. A server passed by, and I grabbed his arm, drawing him back to growl out a request for a whiskey neat. I’d need the alcohol to get through tonight.

“Easton, son. Have you met Gary’s parents yet?” my old man asked. When I turned to face him, his expression was blank, but I could see the twitch in his eye. He was irritated. Good. I warned him that Gary’s parents were dicks. He should see it for himself.

“I have. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson, it’s good to see you.”

I dislodged myself from the sister so I could shake their hands. She tried to latch back on once I was through, but I side- stepped her and came to my old man’s side instead. He leaned in closer so we wouldn’t be overheard, even though Gary’s parents were straining to listen in.

“Is there something I’m missing? They’re being cruel.”

“I told you I didn’t want them here. Now you know why,” I growled low.

He sighed, resigned. “Well, we’ll play nice for now. We won’t have to see them after the wedding. Can I trust you to behave?”

I flashed him an irritated look. “You gonna protect me from her?” I gestured subtly to the sister, who was pouting beside her mother.

“If you need a rescue, give me a signal. I’ll send you on an errand,” he offered.

I appreciated that and relaxed a little, nodding.

With a plan in place, my old man straightened and offered Gary’s family a smile, speaking louder.

“I apologize. There’s always work to be done. So, are you excited for the wedding?”

“Of course,” Mrs. Nelson said with a bland smile. “Brienna has been helping with the planning, and she’s told us so much about what to expect. I’m honestly surprised Gary has had so little to say about it.”

Victoria flashed us a confused look, so while my old man whispered to her what was happening, I explained to the Nelsons, “Gary’s been busy with school. We hired a wedding planner so he wouldn’t have to put off his education.”

“That’s right,” my old man agreed. “Easton told me he finished the semester with a stellar GPA. You must be so proud.”

“Really?” Mrs. Nelson asked, her expression borderline annoyed. “That’s surprising. He was such a poor student in high school. I hope he’s not doing anything illegal to get those grades.”