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CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

GARY

I was hiding from my family on the balcony of the art museum the gala was being held at, sitting on the ground with my back against the railing.

Angel was with me, and he tried to make me feel better, but it wasn’t really helping.

Every time I convinced myself my family couldn’t get any worse, they did.

Acting that way in front of Easton’s family?

I’d never live it down. I was so embarrassed, I couldn’t force myself back inside.

“Gary?”

I jumped when I heard Mr. Warner’s voice.

The doors to the balcony were open, and I could hear the noise from the party inside, but I didn't expect anyone to come out here to join us unless they were coming outside to smoke. Mr. Warner didn’t smoke.

I launched to my feet, hastily brushing my face to check for any stray tears.

I tried not to let them get to me, but a few may have slipped out when I was contemplating running away.

“M-Mr. Warner. Did you need something?”

He stepped up to us, looking fantastic in his dark blue suit and tie. He flashed Angel a polite smile and nodded at him.

“Hello, Angel. It’s nice to see you again. Do you mind if I have a moment alone with Gary?”

Angel pressed his lips together and nodded, squeezing my hand as he passed me and headed back inside.

I almost wanted to call him back. I didn’t want to face Mr. Warner alone and have him tell me he changed his mind and didn't want me as part of his family. It’d break me, because I couldn’t be the reason Easton didn’t speak to his family again. I’d rather leave.

Stepping past me, Mr. Warner rested his forearms against the rail, staring out over the lawn. The museum had exhibits outside, lit up with display lights, and guests milled along the paths, laughing and talking. Nervously, I stepped up beside Mr. Warner. Maybe he was waiting for an apology.

“I’m sor–”

“Did my son ever tell you anything about his grandfather?”

I snapped my jaw closed, shaking my head quickly when he glanced over his shoulder at me. He nodded.

“I didn’t think he would. He didn’t get to spend much time with the man before he passed.

My father, Charles Warner Senior, was a…

difficult man to be around. As his only son, he saw me as a reflection of himself, and if I didn’t give him perfection in everything I did, he made sure I knew how disappointed he was. ”

I winced at the implication. It sounded like his dad used to hurt him.

“I was never good enough in his eyes. Even after I took over the company, and we saw record breaking profits, he still had something to complain about. It’s why I made the decision to do things differently with my own children.

I didn’t want them falling into the same pattern I did, forever trying to make me proud but never quite making the mark.

I let them make their own choices, and they thrived in their own ways.

Not always in ways I expected or understood.

” He flashed me a meaningful look. He was talking about Easton.

“But they all became better people because they weren’t beholden to my expectations. ”

He straightened, giving me his full attention.

“Your parents said some harsh things about you in there. Things that I’d heard out of my own father’s mouth.

I want you to know that isn’t how we see you.

You may have started a little late in going to college but that doesn’t diminish who you are.

You are kind and patient, you work hard, and you understand my son, who isn’t an easy person to understand, if I’m being honest. No matter what your family says, we’re glad you and Easton found each other.

And we are happy you’re joining our family. ”

My eyes swam in unshed tears, and it felt like a spiky lump was lodged in my throat.

Easton’s family had been kind to me since we met, but I always felt a little like an outsider.

Like I didn’t belong because of my upbringing and financial status.

I thought when they met my family, they’d realize I wasn’t good enough for Easton and put up a fight.

Instead, Mr. Warner came out here specifically to reassure me, and I didn’t know how to handle it.

A gentle hand rested on my shoulder. “If you want, I can rescind their invitations. You shouldn’t have to suffer their opinions on your wedding day.”

Sucking in a shaky breath, I shook my head.

“N-no. I don’t want to do that. Th-thank you, though, for the offer.

And for… everything. I…” A few stray tears escaped, and I wiped them away with a grimace.

“I appreciate you making me feel welcome. It’s…

not something I have a lot of experience with.

I’m sorry I’m being emotional. I must be tired. ”

He chuckled and offered me a handkerchief.

Because, of course, he was fancy enough to own one of those.

“Relax. Unlike my son, I’m not uncomfortable with other people’s emotions.

Come on. Let’s go enjoy the party. You can stay with me.

I’ll keep your family at bay. I’d love to introduce a few of my friends to my future son-in-law. ”

He waited until I pulled myself together before leading me inside with an arm around my shoulders.

It was comforting and fatherly, and when he introduced me to his friends, he sounded proud.

I’d never had that before, and I had to fight back tears most of the night, wishing this was real.

That this kind man and his loving wife were actually going to become my family.

That I wouldn’t end up all alone if Easton decided to move on in the end.

I wish it was real.

If I thought my parents would be better behaved at the rehearsal dinner, I was fooling myself. They hovered around Easton’s parents, acting pretentious and making vague comments about how cute Brienna and Easton looked standing near each other and what cute babies they would make.

Brienna was even worse. Apparently, in her wedding planning, she made herself my maid of honor so she could walk down the aisle before me, and when she got up to the front, she stopped to flirt with Easton until the minister cleared his throat and forced her to move on.

My stomach fluttered a little when I walked up the aisle.

Even though I was alone, and I knew all eyes would be on me, all I could focus on was Easton.

He ignored Brienna completely and gave me his full attention, a smile tugging at his lips as I walked down the aisle toward him.

When I stepped up to join him, he leaned in close and whispered, “Nice shirt,” making me blush straight to my hairline.

“I forgot to do laundry. Shut up,” I murmured back.

This was a casual rehearsal, no fancy outfits required.

I didn’t realize I should’ve done a load of laundry until I was getting ready, but I wasn’t willing to come to this thing in a plain t-shirt or hoodie, so I stole one of Easton’s rarely used button ups instead.

It was a little big on me, but tucked in and left a little billowy, I thought it was cute.

And it made me feel better to be surrounded by Easton’s smell while dealing with my family.

Easton chuckled. He never minded me stealing his clothes. I actually thought he liked it, because he gave me heated looks whenever he noticed I was wearing his things.

“Alright, everyone. After the grooms arrive at the end of the aisle, I’ll start in on my speech.

The couple has made a request that the ceremony itself is short and sweet, so I promise I won’t let it drag on.

I’m not that in love with the sound of my own voice,” the minister teased.

There was a reason we ended up choosing him.

He was funny, had no problem with gay weddings, and didn’t bat an eye when Easton told him to ‘keep the sappy shit to a minimum’.

I only slapped my forehead once when he talked that way to an actual minister.

A sharp nudge to my side surprised me, and I jerked, almost stumbling as a result. Easton frowned, confused, but couldn’t ask what was wrong while the minister was still talking.

When I was nudged again, I realized it was Brienna elbowing me.

She was practically up against my back, trying to physically move me out of the way, so she stood in front of Easton.

The minister shot me a questioning look, and I forced myself to smile and gesture for him to continue.

Easton’s hand, which was holding mine for the ceremony, tightened almost to the point of pain, and he looked pissed.

Without warning, Easton jerked me against him, so I stumbled into his arms. Because of the way Brienna was leaning against me, she lost her balance and fell, landing on her hands and knees behind me.

“Gary!” she screeched, seething at me. “What the hell?”

“Why would you push your sister over?” my mom demanded, hurrying onto the altar to help Brienna to her feet.

“From where I was standing, she fell,” Angel pointed out. He was standing behind Brienna, and he had a sneer on his face that said he wasn’t going to let her get away with blaming me.

“Gary made me! He did it on purpose to embarrass me! What did I ever do to you?” she wailed. She did a pretty decent job at acting like a victim, but I felt my temper rise, and my spine straightened.

“You really want to ask me that question? Should I start listing things off?”

It was a warning, and to my surprise, it actually worked. Her jaw snapped shut, and she let our mom lead her to a bench out of the way to nurse her crocodile tears.

When I turned back around, flushed and frustrated, Easton smirked at me and leaned in to whisper, “I’m rewarding you for that later.”