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Unknown: Royalthat tattoo

Avalon: Did you ask for my number? And I can’t

Royal: YesAnd why not?

Avalon: Wellyour da to your parents’ house for dinner tonight

Royal: Even your textrelieve your tension? And just fucking tell hi to answer that And I know I don’t owe him It’s out of respect for June and Ken

Royal: I knew that stiff asshole wouldn’t know shit about pleasuring a woman I’ll see you later

Avalon: I can’t come

A wait a fewet ready for this aard dinner that I really don’t want to go to

All I really wanted to do alking out that door was to go home, eat junk food, and watch reality TV

Nowall I really want to do is take Royal up on his offer for that tattoo He just has this weird way ofand have this crazy little adventure that being around hiht feeling aard at a fa that everything is nor but

COLTON IS SITTING ON THE front porch when I arrive at his parents’ house He immediately stands up and puts his phone away

"Hey, baby Thanks for co"

I nod and turn ive me a kiss "HeySorry I’m a bit late"

He clears his throat and loosens his stiff collar He never wears a damn shirt without a collar and it drivesthe table and I was finishing up so in my yellow dress "How have you been? We haven’t talked in days It’s weird"

I smile small and answer him honestly "Good I’ve been pretty happy" And I have I’m happier than I have been in a while now

His jaw ticks in anger, before he turns away and opens the screen door "Good to hear," he says flatly "Let’s get this over with"

Walking into the kitchen, I’reeted by Ken, who is already seated at the table Just like his son, he’s dressed in a blue, collared, button-down shirt

"How are you, Marie? It’s a pleasure seeing you, as always" He stands up, flashing a stiff s to see which side Colton’s going to sit on first, I take a seat opposite of hilance at Colton fro busy at the salon"