Page 10 of Protecting Gina

“Same. You’re saving me from having to go through my mom’s clothes. Aaron is finishing up in the closet. Most of her clothes are old, but he convinced me to take a few items that he thinks I might want in a few years. Want to see them?”

“Yes. I really do.”

Cass led her to a room down a long hall that was at the front of the house. The room was large, and she could see a huge bathroom in the far corner. Though the house was about fifty years old, it was nice, though a little worn.

“This place is big.”

Wave stepped from the closet. “Yeah. I’m not sure how she afforded the place considering the way we lived. Maybe it was given to her or something. I never asked.”

“Oh, I know,” Cass said, then pressed her lips together as she tried to hold in her excitement.

Wave’s eyebrows rose. “You know?”

“Yeah. When Mom got sick a few months ago, and it was bad, I talked her into giving me details. The house was bought by one of her gentlemen friends and put in her name. He also left her money, which she still has in an account.”

Wave grunted. “Wait, why did I have to have a job when I was in high school just so I could eat?”

Cass shrugged. “I told you she was different with you. I mean, she didn’t buy groceries all the time when you left. So for two years—that was before you set up the account for me—I had to beg and steal food. She did buy me a few things here and there, but stingy would be a mild descriptor of her.”

Wave shook his head as his lips pressed tight. The man looked pissed. “Shit, I wish I had known.”

Cass nodded. “Sorry, Gina. My mom was fucked up. I made sure I was named in the will, same for you, too, Aaron. She wanted to cut you out. Said you were ungrateful. But I never took her to the lawyer’s office, so she didn’t get that done.”

Wave shook his head, looking disgusted. “Thank you for making sure she didn’t write you out of the will. Me, I don’t care about. I just want to make sure you’re taken care of.”

Cass chuckled. “You’re a good guy. Even if you weren’t around much.”

Gina shook her head. “How did you stay so even and calm with your mom in the hospital knowing she’d done some questionable stuff? I mean, I’ve seen people yell at their dying relatives, cursing them out because they did stuff like that.”

Cass shrugged. “Maybe because I knew if I pissed her off, she would do something stupid like call in a lawyer and take away my right to any of the money or property. I’ve been dealing with her for years. And at the end, I didn’t see the point. I’m young and free now. I can do whatever I want. She has no hold over me.”

Wave stood close to the closet, his hands on his hips, shaking his head. “I can’t believe she had money. I really thought…” He blew out a harsh breath. “It doesn’t matter.”

Gina moved to him and wanted to give him a hug, but she couldn’t touch him. They were just friends, if even that much. If she hugged him, it would be obvious she wanted him. “You can be upset. It’s okay.”

Wave held her gaze, sending a thrill through her. She shouldn’t be this excited about a guy she didn’t know. He wasn’t sticking around, and she had no clue where she would end up. Showing interest wouldn’t serve her. The last thing she needed was to allow her emotions to get involved.

His lips thinned even more, and he snorted a breath. “I know. It was unfair, but it’s over. It’s a shame. We could have had a better relationship. I wish I knew why she was the way she was.”

Cass moved to him and bumped his shoulder. “It doesn’t matter. She was selfish. I don’t think she really wanted kids.”

Wave nodded. “You’re probably right. I don’t think she wanted us messing up her life.”

Cass’s cheeks turned red. “I did some snooping at night. Did you know about Brady?”

Wave shook his head. “Who?”

“Apparently, she got pregnant right after you were born. She gave birth, but the baby died a few weeks later.”

Wave blinked at Cass, then shrugged. “I’ve got nothing. I don’t remember that. Of course I was a baby, so I wouldn’t.”

Cass turned to Gina and gave a shy smile. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything with you here.”

Gina smiled, hoping to show she wasn’t upset. “You’d be surprised what I hear on shift. Your family drama is minimal.”

Wave chuckled. “You know, we tried to keep it civil.”

“You did. I usually don’t grow attached to families, but you two were great.”