The Road to Us

✨ Chapter Twelve | Reckoning

— Colton —

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

The shop was officially back in business, and the day had been a huge success. All the late nights, busted knuckles, and stress... it had all been worth it. The showroom was packed, the new bikes gleaming under the lights, and the energy from the crowd had been electric.

The only thing that could've made it better was having Hudson here.

But he'd been tied up with work at the library, and I couldn't blame him for that... At least we had plans tonight. The thought of seeing him later made me grin like an idiot, and I wasn't even trying to hide it.

The day had been a whirlwind of excitement, and I was still buzzing from the adrenaline. My dad and Chuck had been with me the whole way, helping with last-minute touches and cheering me on. The pride in their voices, the way Chuck slapped me on the back every time someone complimented the builds... it meant a lot. I couldn't have asked for a better reopening.

But there was still that nagging worry in the back of my mind.

The fire.

We'd been so consumed with rebuilding and working on the custom bike inspired by that old magazine photo Hudson had found that I hadn't had time to dig into what had happened. The fire had destroyed everything I'd worked so hard for, and I still didn't have answers. I'd told myself I'd start visiting other bike shops, asking questions, maybe poking around for clues, but there hadn't been time.

And it really fucking bothered me.

During one of our breaks, Chuck, Jerry, and I sat around a table outside with celebratory beers in hand, the distant hum of the crowd fading into the background. It should've been a relaxed moment, a chance to soak it all in. But, of course, my dad decided to open his mouth.

He glanced over at Chuck, casual as ever, and said, "You know, Chuck, you'd be a much better fit for Colton than Hudson."

I choked on my beer so hard I thought I might pass out.

Chuck just laughed deeply, shaking his head, but the weight of my dad's words hung in the air. I wiped my face with my sleeve, setting my beer down before I could spill it, and shot a look at my dad...

He didn't even notice. He just kept going, oblivious—or maybe not—to the tension he'd just created.

"Hudson's a nice guy and all," my dad said, his tone the kind people use when they're pretending to be reasonable... "But he's a distraction. He's not the right kind of guy for Colton. You need someone extroverted, driven, 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."

It was like he'd rehearsed the speech, waiting for the perfect moment to drop it.

I clenched my jaw, my stomach twisting.

This wasn't the first time my dad had questioned Hudson, but hearing it said so plainly, and in front of Chuck... it felt like a punch to the gut.

Chuck, to his credit, stayed quiet, just sipping his beer and letting my dad dig his own grave.

Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to look my dad in the eye. "Dad," I said evenly, though my voice felt tight in my throat. "Hudson and I are official. He's my boyfriend... We're together. And I'm not breaking it off."

My dad raised an eyebrow, his expression shifting from surprise to stubborn disapproval in record time. "You two are dating now?" he asked, his voice dripping with judgment. "...After I told you not to get distracted? Colton, you're not thinking clearly. You're letting your feelings cloud your judgment."