Page 26 of Peaches & Pistols

He’s ridiculously attractive, and the way I’m practically drooling over him doing this G-rated strip tease is downright embarrassing.

I whip my head around before he catches me staring.

“Day go okay?” he asks, walking to the kitchen, dead on his feet.

“Yep, got the school shopping done, the girls ate well and went to bed without issue. It was a good day.”

He fills a glass with water from the tap and downs it in one long pull.

“The receipts are by your coffee pot with your credit card. I hope I didn’t go overboard.”

I’m wide awake at the realization he might be upset with the amount of money I spent on Harper today. Carter was 100 percent in charge of our finances. He never even let me grocery shop alone, let alone give me a bank card, and never cash.

The money I socked away was stolen from his wallet. Carter carried cash in a way that made him appear important; like he could throw money at anything and get his way.

He carried so much, I probably could’ve stolen more, faster. But I went to great lengths to avoid the consequences of getting caught.

“Where’s the rest of the receipts?” Greyson asks, my spine stiffening like lead.

“That’s all of them. I was careful to get one for each transaction.” My anxiety’s spiking, my temperature rising, nausea clawing up my throat.

Turning to face me, he flips through the receipts again and pins me with a glare.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t think I spent much, you can take whatever you need to from my pay⁠—”

Greyson interrupts me, barking, “What the hell are you talking about?”

The words die in my throat that’s constricted so tightly I’m gasping for air.

“How the hell did you get two sets of school supplies for this cheap? I swear last year we walked out of there for over a hundred bucks, just for Harper.”

I’m too focused on getting enough oxygen in my lungs to respond.

“I appreciate you getting Harper some new school clothes. I’m sure she had more fun shopping with you than her dumb old dad. In the past I’ve been tempted to send her with my sister, but Olivia would max out my credit card in the blink of an eye.” He chuckles wryly.

“But there ain’t enough items on this receipt for you to have gotten much for Everly.”

I avert my eyes too quickly. Whatever I’m feeling is always written across my face in bold lettering. I can’t lie to save my life.

“You didn’t buy anything for Everly.” He’s disappointed, but not angry, he’s…sad.

“You haven’t even gotten your first paycheck, I wanted you to get her all set for school just like Harper. No strings attached, just tryin’ to be a decent person.”

He’s so much more than a decent person.

“I got her a few essentials and new sneakers with the money I had…” I stop before saying the money I had left, but he sees through me anyway.

“You’ll have an advance on your first check by tomorrow morning,” he says, tossing the receipts down like they burned him.

My face floods with the heat of shame. “I can’t open a bank account until I have my legal documents.”

He pinches the bridge of his nose so hard the skin blanches. I know he isn’t angry at me, but my nervous system can’t differentiate that from him being angry at my situation.

“Right. Fuck. I’m getting them as fast as I can,” he bites out.

“I wasn’t implying⁠—”

“I know.” He holds his hand up to stop me. “I know. It isn’t your fault. I’m just trying to help. I don’t like you walking around without any money. It isn’t safe.”