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When I told Eden and Seth about the season tickets, their jaws dropped in identical stunned expressions, which ot up to refill my coffee cup Just then, soe and Flora, and I called, “I’ll get it”
I flung open the door and exclaimed, “Holy shit!” Instead of a pair of senior citizens, a very tall,on the front porch, and I blurted, “You’re Hudson Royce! I’ve followed your career for years!”
He played in the NFL and had been traded to San Francisco earlier this year, although he’d been benched most of the season with a knee injury His father had also played pro football and was a legendary Hall of Famer, as well as a commentator for one of the major networks
Royce colored slightly He was dressed in a wrinkled, light gray suit and a white shirt, and there was a flexible brace around one of his knees He shifted the rectangular tote that was slung over his shoulder as he muttered, “Um, hello Is Kellan Cho home?” Oh So, this must be the closeted boyfriend
I stepped aside to let him in as Kel joined us in the foyer My roo hi at him There was clearly a lot these two needed to work out
Kel crossed his arht, but he squared his shoulders and stared down the blond giant as he said, “I thought you were in Illinois with your parents”
“I spent the last few days with thes with you, Kel I ht of spending Christmas without you”
Kel’s posture eased, just a little I tried to slip out of the foyer to give theht my sleeve “You don’t have to leave, Casey In fact, if everyone wants to join us, they’re welcome”
Every single person in the living roo to eavesdrop on that conversation, and they all got up and clustered around Kel in a show of support Royce turned red as hewe could talk in private”
Kel shook his head “If you want to say so to me, you can say it to my friends, too”
Even though Royce looked mortified, he said, “If that’s what you want, fine” He stepped forward, then aardly dropped down on his good knee, while trying to keep the one in a brace stuck out to the side “I’ else I know I haven’t been fair to you, and that e impact on our relationship You deserve so much better than that You deserve better thanon iveness”