𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℝ𝕠𝕒𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕌𝕤

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕋𝕨𝕖𝕝𝕧𝕖 | ʀᴇᴄᴋᴏɴɪɴɢ

Colton

I'd just wrapped up the grand reopening of Phoenix Cycles.

It was officially back in business, and the day had been a huge success. All the hard work we'd put in had paid off... The only thing that could have made it better was having Hudson here, but he was tied up with work at the library.

At least we had plans for him to come over tonight... I was very much looking forward to that.

The day had been a whirlwind of excitement, and I was buzzing with the adrenaline of it all. The showroom was finally filled with the new bikes we'd built, gleaming under the lights, and the energy from the crowd was electric.

My dad and Chuck had been with me through it all, helping with the last-minute touches and cheering me on. I couldn't have dreamt for a better re-opening.

But I had a nagging worry at the back of my mind.

We'd been so consumed with working, pouring time into the custom build inspired by the magazine photo from the library, that I hadn't had a chance to look into the fire that had destroyed the shop. I had intended to visit other bike shops and start my own investigation, but that would have to wait for now... And it really fucking bothered me.

During one of our breaks, as Chuck, Jerry, and I sat around with a few celebratory beers in hand and the noise of the crowd in the background, my dad suddenly turned the conversation at the table we sat at in a direction I wasn't expecting.

He casually glanced over at Chuck, "You know, Chuck, you'd be a much better fit for Colton than Hudson."

I choked on my beer, some of it possibly coming out of my nose as I struggled to breath.

Chuck laughed it off, but the weight of my dad's words awkwardly hung in the air... I raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything, wiping beer off of my face and looking over at Chuck, who just continued to sit there and smile.

My dad went on, like an idiot, oblivious to the tension his remark had caused.

How much had he been drinking today?!

"Hudson's a nice guy and all, but he's a distraction. He's not the right kind of guy for Colton." He turned to me, "You need someone extroverted, driven, and adventurous-someone who matches your energy. Someone like Chuck. Otherwise, you're going to end up struggling with motivation or not making it because your partner's bringing you down."

My heart sank.

It wasn't the first time my dad had questioned Hudson and me, but hearing it so plainly stated in front of Chuck... I was fucking humiliated. I set my beer down, feeling a surge of determination rise within me. I couldn't let this slide.

Taking a deep breath, I looked my dad squarely in the eye. "Dad, Hudson and I are official. He's my boyfriend, we're together, and I'm not breaking it off. I'm not going to let you dictate who I should be with..."

"You two are dating now?!" My dad's expression shifted from surprise to a stubborn frown. "After I told you not to get distracted? Colton, you're not thinking clearly... You're letting your feelings cloud your judgment."

I shook my head firmly. "No, Dad. I'm thinking clearly... Real fucking clearly. Hudson makes me happy. He supports me in ways I never thought I needed. I'm not going to let you or anyone else try to tell me how to be happy... Give it a rest, man."

"You always think you know everything, don't you?" My dad's voice grew louder, his face flushing with anger. "This isn't just about your happiness, Colton. It's about your future. Hudson's a distraction, and you're going to end up struggling because of him. I've seen it before-people making bad choices that ruin their lives. You're blatantly disregarding my direction. You're distracting yourself with something pointless, just trying to get laid-"