Chapter 19
KATIE
“Hello?”
“Hey, Katie! You need to give me your number so we can skip the boys. Plan a girls’ night out.”
I frowned. “You want to do a girls’ night?”
“Hell, yes! But that’s not why I called. So don’t be mad.”
“Um, starting off with that doesn’t bode well.”
Bray frowned, only hearing one side of the conversation.
“It’s not bad. I promise. But when you talked with Hayes earlier, he was here with me and Trig.”
I didn’t know where here was, but I was following.
“He didn’t say anything since you’re his client now, so don’t worry.”
“Okay.”
I didn’t think there were many secrets in the Wilder family, lawyer confidentiality or not.
“Anyway, I want to give you money to pay for your fight against Conrad Trout.”
My eyes widened in surprise and Bray stole the phone, hit a button.
“Hello? Are you there?” Ellie said.
“Yeah, Bray put you on speaker. I’m here. I can’t take your money,” I said right away. When I glanced up at Bray, I gave him a quick recap.
We stood in my kitchen, only the hum of the fridge filling the room.
“It’s not my money,” she clarified.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I’m sure you know of what happened back in the winter, with Mr. Trout and my dad.”
Lainey had told me all the gossip about that one. For a while, I was glad Trout was only fucking with my water and suing my butt instead of wanting to marry it.
“Yes,” I said.
“Well, he gave my father money to pay off his debts in exchange for marrying me. As you know, that didn’t work out. I still have that money. A half a million dollars.”
My eyes widened and I kinda freaked. “I don’t want a half a million dollars!”
She giggled. “I know. But I don’t want it either because it’s filthy dirty, but I’m not giving it back. I think it’d be ironic to use that money to pay the bills for the legal issues he’s caused.”
I thought of what she was saying. Bray looked amused. We were quiet long enough that she kept going. “I truly have no intention of touching that money. In fact, I’m trying to figure out how to give it away to a charity. Not that you’re a charity,” she added hastily.
“Ellie…”
“It’s not my money. You wouldn’t be taking it from me. It’ll make me feel really good knowing that we’re using Trout’s money to pay for his own bad behavior. Don’t you?”
I wouldn’t be taking the money from Ellie. I’d be taking it from Trout. I looked to Bray, who nodded.
“Okay, as long as I can tell him where the money came from.”
She gasped. “Oh yes. Please let me be there so I can see his face!”
I heard Trig grumble in the background.
“Trig, too.”
“Thanks, Ellie,” I said, feeling something I hadn’t ever before.
“You’re my sister now. I’ve always wanted one. I got Lainey and Molly, too.”
She hung up and I flung myself into Bray’s arms. I couldn’t help the sniffles and watery eyes.
“You okay, kitten?” he asked, stroking my hair.
I nodded. “I’m great.”
“See? Family.”
“Yeah, family.”