For The Love of Easton (For the Love Of #2) - A.M. Hargrove Page 0,50
week, waiting for them to show up. They finally did, but I froze my ass off.”
His mouth curved up as he said, “I sure can’t tell by the looks of you.”
I was confused momentarily, until it smacked me in the head. “Haha, funny.”
When he took me home, I expected him to come inside. We’d had such a great evening, I didn’t want it to end, but unfortunately, he was too much of a gentleman. After walking me to the door, he waited for me to unlock it, then kissed my cheek and left. I’d never been so disappointed in my life. Only the thought of dinner tomorrow night made my spirits lift.
But on Saturday my crazy-as-hell dad ruined everything. What was going on in his head? When did the father ask the guy to marry his daughter in the twenty-first century? This was bumfuck insane.
“Dad! What did you just say?” I shouted.
“Beck! I thought we were both going to talk to Tristian privately.”
“Mom! Are you in this too?” I was furious. My mom, who had always backed me up in everything, was obviously a part of this insane scheme.
Then all eyes turned toward Tristian as he stood there looking gobsmacked. It could not have been worse. How had this all gone so wrong?
“Tristian, I’m so sorry my parents have both lost their minds. Maybe we should leave and start this evening all over.”
“Um, er, actually, English, I was going to talk to your father tonight about something.”
I did not care for the sound of his tone. “Oh? About what?” He shuffled his feet, unsure of things. “Spit it out. It can’t possibly be as bad as what Dad said.”
“It was on that same subject. I was going to ask him about marrying you.”
Now I was the gobsmacked one. “Wait one minute. Why is this discussion taking place between you two? Don’t I have a say in the matter?” I crossed my arms and tapped my toe. Since I was the one who would be getting married, had it not crossed either of their idiotic minds to explore this with me? “What the hell is wrong with all of you?” I didn’t wait for an answer. I grabbed my purse and stomped out of the house.
“English, wait.” Tristian followed me. I ignored him. I didn’t live far and it was within walking distance. But I wasn’t going home. I was going to Banana and Geepa’s. They were the best to talk things over with, and maybe they would take my side, as it seemed everyone else in the Bridges household had jumped on the crazy train.
When he tugged on my arm, I had no choice but to stop. “Tristian, we have nothing to say to each other. I’m appalled that you didn’t consider talking to me first.”
“I wanted to ask for your hand. And besides, I wasn’t sure what your reaction would be.”
Humph. “Now you have your answer. Apparently I’m not… honestly, I don’t know what I am, but you must not think highly enough of me to consult with me on our marriage!” By the time the sentence ended I was shouting.
“That’s not it. Can I be honest?”
“By all means, because until now, I’m not sure what you’ve been.”
He paralleled his hands. “It’s difficult to explain and you’re going to think the worst of me.”
“I already think that.”
“I understand, but this is different.”
“Fine. Go ahead.” My clipped tone should’ve been an indication my patience was at an end. Only he still took his time.
“My brothers and I have sort of been estranged. My mother and sister are… let’s just say they’re a different breed altogether.”
“Tristian, what the hell does this have to do with us?”
“Please, bear with me. I’m getting to that.”
I put a hand to my forehead and took a long cleansing breath. Why did this conversation remind me of when I’d been in labor? “Okay, go on.”
“My father and I were never close, never saw eye-to-eye. I wanted to be a photographer and he wanted me in the family business, so I left and he disowned me. I made it on my own, obviously, but at the reading of his will, I was the one who inherited it all.”
“Tristian, this all is very interesting, but again, what does this have to do with marriage?”
He finally dropped the bomb and it was an atomic one. “In order for me to inherit, I have to be married or everything goes to charity.”