Page 23 of Worth Loving
But one of these days his grandfather would see that his namesake was like him in personality, but that didn’t mean he had to take after him for his career.
That day wasn’t today though and there was no reason to even think it’d come in the next ten years.
“Then do what I said. If not, get used to being squished under his thumb.”
“What happens if he says no?”
“Then if it’s what you want to do, you find a way. Maybe you could pay for it yourself with your trust fund money.”
“I don’t want to use my money for school. I shouldn’t have to.”
The pout in her voice just grated on his nerves.
“I don’t know what to tell you, Willow, other than these are first world problems that most would laugh you out of a room with. You need to grow up.”
“It’s easy for you to say when you’ve got your own millions.”
He was losing his patience. “That I earned on my own.”
“I know, I know. I’m sorry.”
“Was there anything else you wanted? I need to get Jonah up and get started on our day.”
“No. Thanks for listening, Dean.”
“Anytime,” he lied.
He hung up, filled his cup with his dark roast coffee and took it into the bathroom with him to drink in the shower.
When he was in the kitchen making breakfast to have ready for Jonah, he thought of Willow and her problems.
Most of what he lived with and grew up with also.
His grandfather, D.T. Easton, who he was named after and everyone thought he’d replicate like a freaking clone.
Hell, even D.T. stopped operating when he was in his fifties because he invented a tiny device that was making him damn close to a billionaire. That device and many others his grandfather consulted on and patented were being used in open heart surgeries all over the world.
The lure of having Dean follow in his shoes was so his grandfather could have him be the face of his legacy when he was gone.
Dean was no one’s face but his own.
Talk about a turnaround in attitude about life.
Once the pancake batter had been poured onto the griddle, he climbed the stairs and rounded the corner to his son’s room.
“Hey, Jonah,” he said, shaking the small shoulder. “Time to get up. Breakfast is ready.”
Jonah turned over, opened his eyes and stretched. “Hi, Dad. Is it just you and me today?”
“Sorry, bud. Not yet. But we’re going to eat and get your haircut and then we can play before Carly comes over.”
“Can I go to work with you today?”
He loved Jonah wanted to be such a part of his life and career. “It’s not really the place for a four-year-old.”
“But if the bar isn’t open, I can still be there right? I’ve done it before.”
He had. When Carly had an appointment in the morning. He tried to be as flexible as he could. Now with Jonah being in Pre-K, Carly had more time off. She didn’t even start her day until it was time to pick him up at two on those days.
