“You want to try for a restraining order on your parents?” Adams asks. “Might be hard. They’ve got some pull.” He gives me a sympathetic frown.
“I’ve got more,” Rory says as he comes back into the apartment to stand next to Shy.
I can actually feel the anger pouring off Shy. I reach up and grab his hand, pulling him back down onto the sofa to sit next to me. He comes willingly, and I climb into his lap, wanting to calm him down. I don’t want him to be so angry, but it’s nice to see someone so worked up over me.
“Love you,” I say into his ear before I place a kiss on his neck. I can actually feel some tension leaving him at my words. I’d planned to tell him tonight, but after what happened I’m not letting another second go by without letting him know how I truly feel.
“I love you too.” He wraps his arms around me. “I swear to god if they show up here, I’ll—” I quickly put my hand over Shy’s mouth before he can make any threats in front of the police officers and Detective Adams.
“I think that’s enough for today. Carrie and Shy can come down to the station tomorrow if you need them to,” Rory says. I can tell Adams wants to push for more information, but it’s not going to happen. My parents might have a lot of pull, but the Crew last name carries far more weight, and everyone knows it. We've all had enough for the day.
I stay put in Shy’s lap as Apollo shows everyone else out.
“You believe what that guy said?” Rory asks when the door closes and it’s only family left. I open my mouth, but no words come out.
“You don’t have to say anything, kitten. I’ve been there, and I hate that you have to be there too. It’s one of the worst things to not know if you can trust your own mother.” I turn my head to lock eyes with him. I find the strength to face this knowing he’s at my side.
“It’s possible, I suppose. The whole boyfriend plan she had clearly wasn't working.”
“It was never going to work.” Shy’s fingers grip me tighter. Something warm stirs down low, and I know now is not the time, but I can’t help it. Not with Shy. Especially when he gets all possessive with me. I fight not to wiggle in his lap and sit still.
“All of this only pushed me further away. The last place I ever want to be is back with my family. I don’t know why my mom thought I’d run there.” If anything, I’d run back to London. It’s where I went to boarding school. At least there I know people.
“You know not all trust funds are set for an age?” Rory says, drawing my attention away from Shy. “Sometimes it’s based on academics if you meet those requirements before you hit the age listed.”
“What are you getting at?” I know I have a trust fund.
I think I’m supposed to get it when I’m twenty-five. It was something my grandparents set up for me. I’ve never pushed to know more about it. My parents were not happy about my choice of college. They thought it wasn't necessary for me to have a degree when all I would do is marry anyway. But they still surprisingly helped with the cost.
Honestly it doesn't sound terrible. The idea of being a wife and mom is my main goal and drive in life. I know being a wife and mother is something Celeste wants more than anything else. I want that too with someone I love. I didn’t have that, so college was my path. I wasn't going to be shoved into a loveless marriage for some namesake. To raise children to grow up the same way I did.
“Part of your trust has clauses. One being if you want to go to college the trust covers all expenses. Even extra cost. It’s how some draws can be made early,” Rory answers. Guess that explains why they paid up. “Once you graduate with a degree, you get your shares in Smith Equity Life.”
“Wait, what?!”
“That is unless you marry before you graduate. Then your husband would get them.”
“Sexist,” Celeste and Anna say at the same time.
“I get shares in the insurance company.” It’s been in the family for so many generations at this point.
“A lot, since you’re an only child. In fact, you’ll have more than your parents since your father sold some of his a while back. I’m guessing things got tight at some point for them to have sold them.” He shakes his head like that was clearly a stupid move on their part.
“I don’t even know what to say to all that.”