“I’m not much of a rule follower. I kinda do my thing. But with you, I don’t want to fuck this up.”
“If I give this a real chance, promise not to talk to other girls.” She shakes her head as she speaks. “No more dick pics or any other body parts of yours. I don’t want to end up in Dethroned because of you.”
“Me either. You think I want that blogger posting about my life online? I have a career to think about. Plus, my dad will kick my ass.”
She tilts her head back until it’s on my shoulder and smiles up at me. “I have a hard time believing anyone can kick your ass.”
“Wait until you meet my dad. You’ll see.”
“You’re already planning to have me meet your dad? Oh… you must like me more than I thought.”
“I didn’t mean it like that. But I will take you to meet my parents. My mom will love you.”
She will also kill me if I fuck this up with Taylor. I can see them hitting it off. My family will love her. Taylor has a magnetic personality that draws people to her. Her usage of humor in awkward situations also helps. She doesn’t know it yet, but my mom does the same thing when she’s nervous or doesn’t know what to say. I see so many similarities between them, and that makes it easier for me to lower my guard around Taylor.
“I wouldn’t mind meeting your mom. I love her books.”
“You’ll like Chloe, too. She helps my mom write half of her books now.”
She bites her bottom lip as if deep in thought and then sits up in my lap. “Wait, your sister’s name is Chloe? Oh, my God… Chloe Donovan writes the Dark Desires series with your mom? Holy crap, I didn’t even make that connection before when you told me your mom and sister write together.” She covers her mouth with both hands, her eyes wide before she lowers them. “Damn, so everyone in your family is like famous. That’s crazy.”
“Yeah, it kinda sucks, though. Imagine having to live up to my father’s legacy, and my mom and sister are New York Times bestselling authors. My mom’s side of the family is also mega loaded.”
“So, you have money coming out of your eyeballs, huh? What a hard life,” she deadpans with a snort.
I shrug against the shower doors. “I guess. I have a trust fund. Two of them, actually. One from my parents and one from my mom’s parents. My grandparents don’t want me to play hockey like my dad. They think it’s an unsuitable profession. But they also said the same thing about my mom being a writer.”
“So, how did she get into it?”
“Tucker and Trent’s grandfather owned a publishing company about twenty-five years ago. He lost all of his money, though. Our moms were best friends growing up, still are, and that’s how my mom became a writer. She even wrote for a blog with my Aunt Kennedy. But that shit was nasty. You should have seen the stuff they wrote on it.”
“What’s it called?”
I sigh, shaking my head at my mom and the foul words she wrote on her hockey-themed sex advice blog. “Long Sticks Hard Shots.”
Taylor laughs so hard she squeals into my ear. “That’s hilarious.” She slaps my knee. “Oh my God, I seriously can’t wait to meet your mom.”
“Her parents hated that she became, of all things, an erotic romance author. My grandparents are those old rich snobs everyone hates. My grandfather thinks my mom’s writing is beneath the Carroway name, and he still doesn’t like that she married my dad.”
“Why? Your dad was a pro athlete. They make tons of money.”
“Not enough for Grandfather. He comes from a family of Wall Street bankers. The Carroways have private yachts, houses all over the world, and more businesses than I can count. It would take ten lifetimes to spend the money. So, when you compare their wealth to my dad, we’re poor.”
She chuckles. “Not quite, Drake. My dad was in the Marine Corps. We lived on military bases and ate our meals in the chow hall. You are definitely not poor. You probably don’t even know how poor people live.”
“I doubt you do either,” I challenge. “Living on a military base isn’t that bad.”
She shrugs. “My dad works for a contractor, but nothing like what you must be used to.”
“He must have some money if he can afford to send you to Strick U,” I point out.
“Most of my tuition is free,” she admits. “I qualified for a ton of grants and scholarships because of my dad.” She presses one hand to my chest, staring into my eyes. “Look, Drake, I don’t care about money. So, if you want to impress me, do it without using material things. I’d rather know you than how many zeros are in your bank account.”
When have I ever had a woman say this to me? Never. Yep, definitely never. Most of the girls on campus lead with, ‘So, your dad’s a famous hockey player’ or something that was all about their interest in my money.
“Good. Because I wasn’t planning to win you over with money.” I plant a kiss on her lips and then rise to my feet with Taylor in my arms when I hear the ding on my phone from the app. “Your pizza is here.”
After we eat, I lean my back against the headboard and Taylor curls up beside me in bed. I cradle her head in the crook of my arm, smiling like I’ve just won the lottery. I was a mess before I met her. In a short amount of time, I’m certain I can’t let her go. I want to do everything in my power to make her mine.
