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Pretty interesting stuff Evelyn knew a lot off the top of her head, which led hieable about her job And his dad didn’t once look at her boobs, her legs, or her ass, but instead kept eye contact, which of course could have been because Gray was right behind the the day today, and hadn’t once noticed hi at any other woaze several tihout the day today, and smiled at her She’d smiled back Hell, the two of them had looked more in love with each other than at any ti put on for the public? Who the hell knew? He dragged his fingers through his hair, more confused than ever

They stopped at a table just off the

"Gray," his father said "I want to tell you howhere

Howto do all of this, especially since I know you didn’t want to"

"I’

His father lifted his chin, then nodded "Well, for whatever reason, thank you I knoe’ve had our differences in the past I hope we can co about what, Dad?"

"You know The past I want to move forward, not look behind"

"Yeah That would be easier for you, wouldn’t it?"

His father laid his hand on his arm "Gray, let’s not do this today"

Or, ever? That would be the Mitchell Preston way Sweep it all under the rug, never talk about it There were so s that had been left unsaid in the past So ht now He waited, but nothing was forthco

He didn’t believe the pain he saw in his father’s eyes, didn’t care to see it How could his father be in pain? Gray had never done anything to hiet the hell out of his house, out of his life, and go fend for himself because he hadn’t lived up to expectations, because he refused to beto someone else’s whims and ideals

Screw his father and his fake pain

"Gray" Evelyn’s voice penetrated the haze of anger that shrouded hiaze to hers "What?"

She blinked "Are you ready?"

Fuck that "No"

Her eyes widened "What?"

"I said no" He started to walk away, but she grabbed his hand

"Don’t do this Don’t walk away"

He pulled his hand away froer, old hurts, and just plain fury blazed the path in front of him He didn’t even see the people around hi he kneas he needed to get away from his old man before he suffocated, before the old memories choked him

Evelyn followed him, all the way into the house, up the stairs, and into one of the bedrooms He needed an escape, away from this place, from theto his father, he’d failed to y have cost him so much?

He paced the room while Evelyn sat on the bed and watched

Finally, she asked, "What’s gotten you so pissed off?"

"I don’t want to talk about this"

"You have to talk about it with so"

"There’s nothing to talk about"

"Obviously there is"

He stopped, looked down at her "Get out, Evelyn"

She didn’t budge "I’et out This is my house and I want you out of here I need soht now You’re upset and you need soh "Trust ht now is to talk"

She stood, carasped his arms "Then tell me what you need Let me help you"

He needed to not think about his father, about his past and all the hurts that he’d buried for so long One visit home, one short conversation, and theit hard for hiht in front of hih him

"You knohat I need? I need you I don’t want to talk, Evelyn I need to putthink for a while"

She lifted up and swept her hand around his neck, placing her treainst his

"Then take what you need, Gray"

It was all he needed to hear He wound his arm around her waist, picked her up, and moved a foot toward the door He pressed the lock button, then carried her to the bed He laid her on it and followed her down, his ue wound around his, her whisperedpsyche