I chuckle under my breath. “Naturally. Love at first sight?”
He returns the chuckle. “Something like that.”
“Does he always come to our house for supper, or do you go to his?”
I don’t miss the way his nose wrinkles when he says, “Definitely here.”
My eyebrow curves up into my forehead. “You don’t like his parents?”
Turning down the volume on the game, he turns to face me, giving me his full attention because, clearly, I’m not going away any time soon. “They’re snobby, so no.”
I frown. “So you’ve met them?”
He laughs, but there’s no humor. “Oh, I’ve met them. In their mansion, surrounded by expensive cars.”
“So he’s rich.”
“Who?”
“Reid.”
His brows pinch together. “Well, yeah, I suppose. Sort of. I mean, his parents’ money is their own. The only money he gets from them is a weekly allowance.”
I roll my eyes. Of course he’s rich. And he’s probably used to getting what he wants because heisrich. “I bet it’s more than what the average American makes in a year.”
“Hey, don’t be like that.” He taps my nose with his pointer finger. “It’s not what you think. He’s a good guy, Avery. Nothing like his parents. Don’t judge a book before you’ve read the words.”
“So you’re telling me that what? They give him money for food and gas, and that’s it?”
He shakes his head. “I mean, they do, but they pay for his apartment too.”
“And school?” I don’t know why I’m acting so bitter. Maybe it’s because I had to wear a bikini to pay for mine, and Ivy had to take two years off of school just to pay for hers.
“Avery…”
“What?”
He leans in. “He got into college because he earned it. A full ride because he put in the work.”
I glance away, shame gripping me. Well, don’t I feel like an asshole now? “So his parents…”
“Yeah, they’re a whole other situation.” He blows out a breath. “Do you know they want him to marry wealthy? You should have seen them with his last girlfriend. They’re totally controlling now.”
My heart sinks, though it shouldn’t because I’m not interested in him…right? “Oh yeah?”
He turns back to the game and settles back into the couch. “He’s not some posh dude like his parents want him to be, and he’s not some wealthy ass like you’re making him out to be.”
“I’m not?—”
He glances over at me. “You are. Get to know him, Avery. He’s a cool guy once you get past his fancy car and an apartment all to himself.”
I bite my bottom lip. “Yeah. We’ll see.”
Once I fall silent, he turns the volume back up, leaving me to my own thoughts. I mean, if Dustin hadn’t told me he was wealthy, I would have never guessed. He doesn’t flaunt his money. He doesn’t seem like a guy who would, either.
As if he’d overheard us, or fate just has a funny way of sticking him into my life when I’m thinking about him, Reid comes into the living room, his hands in his pockets. “You about ready, Dustin?”
He may be speaking to Dustin, but his eyes are on my face. I squirm a bit in my seat but pretend to be watching the game. I’m not ready to confront the feeling I get when surrounded by all things Reid.
